What People
Are Saying

“What it does very well- space very big, what ever was recorded, fantastic attack and tone. It is very relaxed there’s no grain, if the music is really big and bold thats what you get. I listen to a lot of Scandinavian trio jazz, very spacious it just opens up well everything, the tone of well recorded acoustic instruments is just beautiful.

What it does bad- nothing that I can find. One of its great quality is that it plays well with any amp, some autoformers and regular preamps have trouble with certain impedencies this one does not.”

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/icon-4-pro-autoformer-preamp.14420

I do remember speaking to you last year, and I sensed then that beyond your technical skills and knowledge, you were so diplomatic in describing how I ‘may’ prefer the sound of your design.
Well, of course I do ‘prefer’ and it’s my pleasure to acknowledge the creative talent that made that happen.
I’m sure I will back for more ic0n innovations in the future, enjoy life being creative!
Also to assist Agnes I would add the ic0n4 design aesthetically, is a triumph of minimalist form concealing a sophisticated set of functional attributes.
The absence of graphics is vitally intriguing; without power, the mysteriously blank screen is terminated with a rotary knob that registers no positions, spins infinitely and gives nothing away. How Cool is that!
Powered up the digital display welcome message flashes by but still the purpose is not fully revealed.
We need to read the hand book and use the remote, and then with sensor or remote commands, the ic0n4 silently displays with the brilliantly bold orange digits, we can now switch inputs change channel balance, mute and sweep through 40 levels of attenuation.
No clunks no clicks just seamless functionality, just a a joy to use.
You can sit back and especially marvel how the music is so coherent even at the lowest volume level.
Understated elegance is an art but combined with this microprocessor controlled, real world functionality, surely for audiophiles it is, a dream come true.

Definitely it would be unwise to name the competitors directly, my views are true to what I have experienced nothing more.
Almost all players in the audio landscape offer great solutions , its just that Pal’s ic0n4 , HI-End technical achievement so fairly priced, is as subtle as a brick through the window of the competition.

best regards as always
Michael.

Dear Pal,
I think by now I have a clear idea as to what I have got with your preamp. To cut the long story short – everything is great. Since I was always connecting my phonostage directly into the power amps, it was really easy to establish what – if anything – has changed with the introduction of the Zen. And the answer is: nothing. The only difference is a positive one – I can now listen to much lower volumes without any degradation in tone or dynamics. And that is not a small thing. Now, in addition to that, I can also connect a better DAC into the system, without being constrained by the need to use a DAC with its own volume control. And so I did, by, first, (re)introducing Metrum’s Pavane into the system, and then swapping it for Metrum Amethyst. Amethyst is a lesser DAC, of course, but then I can make use of Pavane’s balanced outputs to better effect where it really matters – in a headphone system in the office. So, all in all, I am really happy with what I have now.
Thank you very much again!
Alex

While the icOn 4 was away, I have been using my previous Preamp, the MFA classic.
Now the icOn 4 is restored in its position with my system once more I can confidently say it looks and sounds way better.
Actually I was very happy using the MFA for almost nine years, for me at the time it was a game changer upgrade performance from using an integrated amp.
Early in 2020, I was starting to lookout for an MFA Reference, definitely a used one, at £6k out of my range for a new one! Also via Ebay, I tried a Townshend Allegri +, that was returned as I felt the Tonal balance was not right, great autoformer clarity but it failed to win me over.
However while browsing for news, of the soon to be cancelled Hi-FI shows for 2020, I stumbled on a link to Pals, icOn 4 preamp.
It was the deposit paid trial that proved my next preamp would not come from MFA, and thankfully no where near as costly too!
So in retrospect I feel lucky to have discovered Life-Changer Audio, my experience using and owning this icOn 4 , leads me to conclude this little gem of Pal’s creative genius will prove to be legendary in its own right.
many thanks and best regards
Michael

Hello to Pal and Agnes
Hi there, I hope you guys are fit and well despite the winter chills.
Owning an original Ic0n 4, as I have since early 2020 hopefully you can agree that it’s hard to find reason to buy another!
Given the opportunity though, I always share the love for your amazing design and I’m sure many other happy owners do too.
Having said that, it seems less of a likely topic with the younger generations.

I have looked at your range as it has expanded and can see basically a Pro brings more steps of attenuation ( I like that) and more input output options but sound wise, I assume my Ic0n 4 is the same.
Honestly after two years with the Ic0n 4, I am still supremely happy and confident this silver box of magic will not be bettered unless Pal tells me he has just created something that will.
Keep me posted on any good news down the line.. But for now you have my best wishes to all at Life- Changer Audio.
Sincerely
Michael

Yes, you read it right.

Not because icOn would be expensive, on the contrary.

Not because of the looks; while not Electronluv style, it has a minimalist post industrial bijou presentation, which should prepare you for the …surprise.

Did I write “surprise” ? Wrong, we are talking about an electric shock! You unpack it, connect it, then it’s not there anymore …it really disappeared !?

Yes, free way to emotion on sound from my SD card direct input of an APL custom made DAC, till the end.

And believe me, the David Berning VT-52 ZOTL didn’t do anything to hinder it, then the Cube Audio single driver orgasmotrons were completing the trip.

Did I say trip? Yes, completely legal and real, and heavenly musical.

You don’t have to believe me, but at your own peril.

I spent the last 30 years learning and passionately experimenting (usually financially unwisely, says my accountant here) , I built 12 m long bass horns, browsed more than 50 amps and preamps searching for that elusive cost no object, “perfect” sound.

You’d ask, why the “worst” review; well, after Pal and Agnes sent their icOn to me, I had to get rid of its 20k predecessor, and my journey, which was so frustrating and rewarding at the same time, came to an end as well.

Don’t buy it, unless you’ll accept this is the last purchase you are making.

On the other hand, now my music flows noise and virus free, and makes me happy, my true companion which I can hug, without any kind of inhibitions or masks around.

Dan S.

First, it is such an easy and fuss-free unit to use. It is a real pleasure.

Sound-wise, it is so natural and much closer to the real thing. It is so quiet that it let you discover everything which is on the recording.

Just to tell you how pleased I am with the sound quality of the Icon.  It’s remarkable!!  I’ve always believed the passive preamps do not have a signature sound of their own, but rather simply convey 100% of the source material without veiling or loss of resolution, etc;  Obviously I’m wrong.  The Icon is delivering an amazing quality to my system.   It’s much like the tube sound I had years ago.  Congratulations on a terrific design!
Thanks, Tom