Thanks Rory, your evaluation and observation is certainly helpful. Thanks for the detailed notes.
Thats some high praise for such an affordable amplifier. I think I’ll hop on the band wagon. Any idea how hot it gets?
The 200AS2 module in the Ghent case gets barely warmer than room temp. You can touch the top of the case and feel it’s a bit warmer than the surrounding air, but certainly not ‘hot’. The Ghent aluminum case is enough heatsinking for it. I used a little bit of heatsinking compound between the heat spreader plate on the bottom of the module and the aluminum case itself, not enough to get messy.
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Rory, the 200AS2 looks like a great entry level kit. I am planning to get one. Are these the parts required? Do we also need the wiring kit from PE or what comes with Ghent Audio is comprehensive?
Amp board from PE $140: https://www.parts-express.com/ICEpower-200AS2-Class-D-Amplifier-Module-with-Built-In-Power-Supply-2-x-215W-326-272?quantity=1
Ghent Audio Case #1 $85 + 36.5 ship: (A215-S4) DIY Stereo Case-kit for ICEpower 200AS2
Ghent Audio Case #2 $100 / $110 + 44 Ship: (B180b-S4) DIY Stereo Case-kit for ICEpower 200AS2
wiring Kit from PE $27: ICEpower Amplifier Module 100AS2/200AS2 Wiring Harness Kit
The second case seem to be a bit bigger and has a few customization options, swtich is on the back. The first one a bit smaller with switch on the front. Both seem to include harness.
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The Ghent case kits include wiring, so the additional wiring kit isn’t necessary. I did have to extend one pair of the Ghent kit speaker wires by a couple inches. I used the B180b-S4 but you can choose whichever kit strikes your fancy.
The 200AS2 module would also be perfect for a 2-way active powered speaker. That’s not my preference - I like keeping the amps outside the speakers because there are fewer problems to solve - but if you were building one, it would be a great choice and plenty affordable that you could put a 2-way active DSP setup in each speaker.
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These are interesting, should be less than 300 to build one.
Roy, is the 200AS a tpa3255 based amp?
Hi, The 200AS1 and AS2 modules are based on TPA3255, and the 100AS1 and AS2 modules are based on TPA3251. This does not mean they are “the same as any other” TPA3255 board; not every TPA3255 board includes an onboard SMPS of good quality, and the IcePower modules are using good quality ancillary components, like the components in the output filter. Also there is very good performance documentation for the IcePower modules.
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I didn’t mean to imply that all tpa3255 based amps sound alike. I was just curious as to what. iCE used in that amp.
Dang it, now you guys got me wanting one of these. It’s tempting to do the 2x 200as2’s or the 200as2 and 200as1 (figured 2 channels plus 1 sub). I have the css sdx12 with PR’s, you think that single channel 200 has enough nuts to drive it? I like how compact they are. I don’t have much room in my entertainment center for my big of 5channel amp and inuke etc.
I’ll list some HTR’s on marketplace and look into building one of these.
I doubt a 200AS1 will have enough power to drive the SDX12. The power supply is limited to 300W. For an SDX12 I’d like to have 500W-1000W on tap. You’ll hear the difference in the dynamics; that is what I noticed most when I built a really powerful sub with AE Speakers AV12 woofer and 500W back in 2005.
What about one of the DSP-enabled 500W plate amps from Dayton Audio?
I picked up a couple BDM8-A amp boards and a seperate smps to do super cheap 4 channel amp. TPA-3255 boards, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are “meh” grade. They appear to be like the KAB-2150 but with all the bluetooth and extra stuff stripped out.
I’ve been out of the game for like 5-6 years Rory I haven’t kept up with the new Dayton plate amps are they nice and reliable? My Inuke 6k dsp is doing well with the 12” CSS sub but it would be nice to get that amp out of there since the lights are always on 100% of the times its plugged in
As far as the 200AS1 power output I also have the CSS Typhons so they can take some power to drive as well. Is the 200AS1 a good amp for those or is there a slightly more powerful option that has the great sound qualities you hear in this amp? I can always just try it and then use it for my PC speakers if it doesn’t drive them well.
My main AMP I have an outlaw 5 channel amp (model 5000) its (120 WPC @8ohm, 180 WPC @ 4ohm All channels driven OR is not using the other 3 channels its 240 x 2 channels at 4ohm) since I got the 3td center channel (haven’t built it yet) I would like eventually have 5 channels hooked up be be able to play in 2channel mode as we. I have an adcom 5 channel amp with one amp board missing I can’t notice much of a difference between the two amps.
The Dayton 250W/500W DSP subwoofer plate amps have held on while some of their other DSP amps have come and gone. The processing has some decent smarts as well. I wish there were a 1000W, 1500W, etc., but some things are not to be.
I think the CSS Typhons will sound decent on the 200AS1, it didn’t have trouble driving the big Legacy speakers. There’s a practical laws-of-physics limit in there for sure, but Steve and I didn’t find it.
Any thoughts on the 1200AS1 vs the 1200AS2? They both seem to have the same power rating and everything. For stereo would 2x1200AS1 hold any significant advantages over 1 1200AS2
2 AS1’s would be dual mono, so no power supply cross talk. As to how much that really matters🤷🏻♂️
Even though most probably both the mono’s would be plugged into the same dirty power strip?
There’s isolation in the power supplies, the amplification side wouldn’t see anything
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I recently disassembled a dual mono ICEpower amp to repurpose the case for an Orchard Audio Starkrimson 25 build. The case has a bunch of holes predrilled for various layouts of the specified amp brand and none of the holes lined up in a way that made sense for the repurpose, but I was still able to shoehorn everything in. The final product looks good and sounds spectacular. I haven’t had the chance to work on auxiliary power for the RTX module to convert single ended RCA input to the balanced that the amp board wants. That’s a project for another day.
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