Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:03 am

Nate Dort wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:48 am

TylerDeadPine wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 7:28 pm

I have also thought about these two much, as I acquired a stack of 150w power amps that aren't dis-similar.
Even the single ended ones look like they expect balanced, and their example has the balancing on the 'customer application' for the input signal
https://shop.icepoweraudio.com/product/700as1/

The rest is generally what you described, audio in, audio power, power connections - and you're good to go unless you want to take advantage of the LED usage.

You don't have to supply a balanced signal to the input of these. You can drive it with a singled-ended signal and just ground the negative input.

You think you could use the phase inverter from a standard guitar amp to provide a balanced signal? I know it wouldnt be strictly necessary but guitar amp phase inverters do lend a character to the sound.

I don't see why not, assuming the voltage range is appropriate. You'll get +6 dB more SNR if you use a balanced signal.

Nate Dort wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:08 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:03 am

Nate Dort wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:48 am

You don't have to supply a balanced signal to the input of these. You can drive it with a singled-ended signal and just ground the negative input.

You think you could use the phase inverter from a standard guitar amp to provide a balanced signal? I know it wouldnt be strictly necessary but guitar amp phase inverters do lend a character to the sound.

I don't see why not, assuming the voltage range is appropriate. You'll get +6 dB more SNR if you use a balanced signal.

Right that's what I was figuring. Could always trim the signals coming out of the PI if it's out of range. Well shit now I need to get one of these things and see what happens.

Nate Dort wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:48 am

TylerDeadPine wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 7:28 pm

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:21 am Man...I am also thinking about getting one of those ICEpower things out to test some bass amp concepts. Similar to the V4 clones that was posted on here....basically just make a tube (or SS) preamp and just use one of those modules for the backend. I dont know how simply they can be used, though. I just havent done any research. But if it could be as simple as using only audio in, audio out, and power connections that could be sweet.

Also I know it has a balanced input but does that mean it HAS to take a balanced signal or can you just feed it a single signal like from a Rusty Box?

I have also thought about these two much, as I acquired a stack of 150w power amps that aren't dis-similar.
Even the single ended ones look like they expect balanced, and their example has the balancing on the 'customer application' for the input signal
https://shop.icepoweraudio.com/product/700as1/

The rest is generally what you described, audio in, audio power, power connections - and you're good to go unless you want to take advantage of the LED usage.

You don't have to supply a balanced signal to the input of these. You can drive it with a singled-ended signal and just ground the negative input.

Yeah I guess Lower gain = not a problem, given driving it with a preamp?

TylerDeadPine wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:22 pm

Nate Dort wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:48 am

TylerDeadPine wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 7:28 pm

I have also thought about these two much, as I acquired a stack of 150w power amps that aren't dis-similar.
Even the single ended ones look like they expect balanced, and their example has the balancing on the 'customer application' for the input signal
https://shop.icepoweraudio.com/product/700as1/

The rest is generally what you described, audio in, audio power, power connections - and you're good to go unless you want to take advantage of the LED usage.

You don't have to supply a balanced signal to the input of these. You can drive it with a singled-ended signal and just ground the negative input.

Yeah I guess Lower gain = not a problem, given driving it with a preamp?

Right, you might not ever be able to hit the max output, depending on the input sensitivity and total input-to-output gain of the ICEPower module.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:21 am Man...I am also thinking about getting one of those ICEpower things out to test some bass amp concepts. Similar to the V4 clones that was posted on here....basically just make a tube (or SS) preamp and just use one of those modules for the backend. I dont know how simply they can be used, though. I just havent done any research. But if it could be as simple as using only audio in, audio out, and power connections that could be sweet.

Also I know it has a balanced input but does that mean it HAS to take a balanced signal or can you just feed it a single signal like from a Rusty Box?

All i know for sure is when I told Kerry (Dulin, the amp guy) what I wanted to do, he said he made one years ago, and with the ICEPower wiring harnesses it is dead easy.

He said the hardest part would be picking out an enclosure and where you want the knobs etc.

I think Parts Direct is the only supplier of single boards, maybe. Or one of 'em.

FMR has shut down, may be bought by someone else.

RIP RNC, RNLA, PBC6A. Mostly the RNLA.

eephus wrote: Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:17 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:21 am Man...I am also thinking about getting one of those ICEpower things out to test some bass amp concepts. Similar to the V4 clones that was posted on here....basically just make a tube (or SS) preamp and just use one of those modules for the backend. I dont know how simply they can be used, though. I just havent done any research. But if it could be as simple as using only audio in, audio out, and power connections that could be sweet.

Also I know it has a balanced input but does that mean it HAS to take a balanced signal or can you just feed it a single signal like from a Rusty Box?

All i know for sure is when I told Kerry (Dulin, the amp guy) what I wanted to do, he said he made one years ago, and with the ICEPower wiring harnesses it is dead easy.

He said the hardest part would be picking out an enclosure and where you want the knobs etc.

I think Parts Direct is the only supplier of single boards, maybe. Or one of 'em.

Update: driving the raw ICEpower module requires a higher level than the preamp pedal I'm using can manage.
Very low impedance input on the amp module.
So Kerry is making a little super-simple gain stage for the front end.
Will advise!

This seems like it could be interesting gear. But the guitar sound, and examples, are so bad that maybe it's just a very boring pedal. A modern-looking, boring, pitch shifting pedal that uses advanced technology to make your guitar or bass go chug-chug-chug-dee-dee-dee-chug-chug-chug-dee-dee-dee

https://www.boss.info/global/products/xs-100/

eephus wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:34 pm

eephus wrote: Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:17 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:21 am Man...I am also thinking about getting one of those ICEpower things out to test some bass amp concepts. Similar to the V4 clones that was posted on here....basically just make a tube (or SS) preamp and just use one of those modules for the backend. I dont know how simply they can be used, though. I just havent done any research. But if it could be as simple as using only audio in, audio out, and power connections that could be sweet.

Also I know it has a balanced input but does that mean it HAS to take a balanced signal or can you just feed it a single signal like from a Rusty Box?

All i know for sure is when I told Kerry (Dulin, the amp guy) what I wanted to do, he said he made one years ago, and with the ICEPower wiring harnesses it is dead easy.

He said the hardest part would be picking out an enclosure and where you want the knobs etc.

I think Parts Direct is the only supplier of single boards, maybe. Or one of 'em.

Update: driving the raw ICEpower module requires a higher level than the preamp pedal I'm using can manage.
Very low impedance input on the amp module.
So Kerry is making a little super-simple gain stage for the front end.
Will advise!

This is done. I was able to make the amp cut out, which was a bummer, but on restart...i couldn't. So there's some gremlin.
The boards have pretty robust failsafes, so it's probably overheating a tiny bit or something. The module I used is 1200W soooo it do get hot.

Will, again, advise.

Oh also--I drive both channels by using one of the EA passive splitter boxes.
Jensen transformer, no notable loss in level when using it vs running directly into a given channel.

EDIT: I'm pretty sure I was pushing the input too hard. I tried tapping back the pedal input into the little gain stage that Kerry added, and I couldn't make the amp gag.

It sounds terrific.

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed Sep 17, 2025 9:10 pm FMR has shut down, may be bought by someone else.

RIP RNC, RNLA, PBC6A. Mostly the RNLA.

Good run. I have a RNC and RNLA, also really lover the RNLA. Great little comps. They are actually the only outboard comps I still have around aside from the "LA2A" in my LA610 preamp. I almost never use outbox processing anymore, but it was just too easy to keep these 2 little boxes sitting on my desk just in case.

RIP RNC