any sa-xr570 owners bi-amp their 340s?

[mark]

I tried it today and notice an overall improvement in sound. I know there are a love hate relationship with digital amps. What are acendies view on them?

[Asliang]

I can't bi-amp my speakers since they are the smaller 170s =P

However, how would you describe the difference with bi-amping? Less distortion? Louder? Brighter?

[curtis]

I am not using digital, but I have been using NuForce amps for the L/R channels, which are class D, and just switched to an ICEpower based amp which is also class D.

[Jonnyozero3]

I don't want to take things OT (okay...I do ), but, Curtis, I'm curious if you've noticed any differences between the NuForce and the ICEpower-based amps. Was it a positive change for you? I'd love to upgrade to some separate amps for my L/R/C in the future and I like what I've been seeing about these class D setups.

[curtis]

I don't want to take things OT (okay...I do ), but, Curtis, I'm curious if you've noticed any differences between the NuForce and the ICEpower-based amps. Was it a positive change for you? I'd love to upgrade to some separate amps for my L/R/C in the future and I like what I've been seeing about these class D setups.

Well, the amp has more than 5x the power.....so I tried some crazy high volumes for a few seconds and everything sounded clean and effortless.

I could also swear I hear more detail....especially on not so good and older recordings, because I think I hear more "crap". When I get the chance, I am going to try and test this out.

The NuForce amps sounded great, but they also had a couple of quirks.

[Jonnyozero3]

Sweet. The detail thoughts are intriguing. What are "crazy high volumes" for you? I've found that hitting ~95dB with my 170s makes them sound strained.

I didn't know the nuforce amps had quirks....care to share the dirt on them?

Mark - I aplogize for the OT...

[curtis]

Crazy loud means I can not listen for more than a few seconds. I didn't use a meter. I never tried cranking up the 170's with the amp.

The NuForce amps, I could not use the remote trigger on my power conditioner for them. If I cut power to them, and then powered them back on, they would look like they were on, but the sound coming from them sounded weird or no sound at all. I would have to use their switches to reset them. So I left them on all the time...which was not recommended unless you leave your pre/pro on...which I did not do.

Also, when they were on, you had to make sure they were hooked up to speakers. I had thoughts of my kids disconnecting them when they learned about the cables.

A nit pick thing was their LED lights..the two units did not look the same. No lights on the new amp.

The ICEpower module goes into stand-by mode when it doesn't have a signal from the pre/pro.

There is another Ascend owner, Ad-Rok, that is going to be trying/building Hypex UcD based amps for his speakers. I am interested in how that turns out. Hypex UcD is more friendly to the DIYer.

[Jonnyozero3]

Ahh, I've heard good things about the Hypex UcD units. I'd be very interested in seeing (hearing) how that project turns out. Hey AdRok, keep us updated

[BradJudy]

You got rid of your free expensive amps? I've heard lots of good things about the Hypex stuff and considered building a kit from DIYcable, but I should have an Outlaw on the way soon, so I should be set for power. I'd still like to try some decent "digital" amps sometime - I like the idea of high efficiency and low heat.

ICE stuff is kind of funky too - I'm assuming yours have plastic binding posts? Their output is balanced, so there's a potential between either binding post and ground - they have to use plastic or plastic covered binding posts to avoid users shocking themselves. Although, they may have changed the design in newer revisions - I don't know.

[Eddie]

I tried it today and notice an overall improvement in sound. I know there are a love hate relationship with digital amps. What are acendies view on them?

I bi-amp my 340s with my xr55 and do notice a slight improvement too. The electronic phase correction feature is pretty cool but I can't honestly say I hear any difference when I use it. The High/Low Frequency Balance controls make more of a difference, I have it set so that slightly more power goes to the woofers than the tweeter.