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icon Audio
HP 8 MKII
Instructions
Pure Triode Headphone Amplifier
No Compromise High End Pure Valve SE Headphone Amplifier
About the HP8 MK II
Thank you for purchasing one of our amplifiers, a
lot of care has gone into the design, selection of
components and production of this amplifier. We
are sure that you will hear the difference.
Designed in Leicester by David Shaw
The conventional way to provide a headphone
output on an amplifier is to drop the power
through a resistor. This has a big problem that it
provides very high source impedance (rather like
a weak battery) the effect of this is to give very
“Low FI” results. Ideally headphones should be
driven from small high quality amplifiers. Many
headphone amplifiers use small “microchip”
amps which although are a better solution still do
not provide ideal matching to the wide range of
headphones available.
Our HP8 MK II is in fact a small integrated hi fi
amplifier. We use a custom wound multi-tap
output transformer which provides perfect
matching to virtually any headphone load. We
start with a substantial mains transformer with
matching power supply and two output
transformers. The HP8 MK II tops the scales at
6.5kg, giving you an idea of how much iron you
get for your money!
Like our other models the HP8 MK II has no
printed circuit board and is all hard wired with top
quality components. We use silver PTFE audio
cable, gold plated terminals and the famous
“ALPS” volume pot for sonic purity.
The first stage gain uses the excellent ECC83. This
wonderful valve has exceptional detail and fluidity. Its
smoothness complements the super 6SN7. This
combination will give you a simply stunning insight
into inner detail of your favourite
recordings whether
Analogue or digital.
Like other Icon Audio amplifiers, close attention has
been paid to the finish of the HP8 MK II. It uses the
same “Bullet Proof”* build (*Hi Fi News/Hi Fi Choice)
as our other amplifiers with a combination of anodised
alloy plate, stainless and painted steel. We do not use
“tin and plastic”!
For space saving we have used the same
“lengthways” chassis as our phono pre-amp so it will
fit nicely alongside your existing equipment, with the
connections on the rear, and headphone socket at the
front.
The HP8 MK II is very versatile. It may connected to
your hi fi in several ways:
1, In a normal hi fi system you would connect to the
“record out” of your amplifier. This will then be directly
connected to the “source” that you have selected.
2, If your amplifier does not have a suitable output,
splitter leads may be used.
3, With “Pre and power” systems a connection may
be made from the pre-amplifier.
4, As a stand alone unit you can directly connect to
any CD/MP3 player.
