Class warfare. "Before placing his order for an icOn, the German owner of this 'dream audio system' organized a week-long listening test. This was his short conclusion: "Your device is definitely better than the preamp from Bespoke Audio. I also made the comparison between my Allnic L-10000 and your icOn 4Pro. After putting the 'Satellite-Q stops vibration' from BFly Audio on its lid, it now sounds just fantastic…"

This and the next photo enlarge via mouse-over loupe or when opened in new tab via right click.

… "here is the moment when David defeated not one Goliath but two."

It ain't bragging when true. Overlook 'middle-class' icOn to your own detriment. Owning the single-ended direct-coupled Vinnie Rossi version of this listener's balanced DHT preamp which I reviewed, I know just what he heard. It's only shocking when one overlooks that simpler—fewer parts, no active gain devices—can be better if resolution and energy transmission trump mild euphony and textural enhancements. How things bed in remains a function of all ancillaries and taste. The icOn concept is for when a source/amp/speaker combo needs zero extra voicing, just precision volume via remote control. As another owner put it, "between totaldac D1 Direct and Nagra Classic Amp, the icOn 4Pro shines and any of the very expensive preamps I tried were unable to better it. It's an immense pleasure to use and of course hear – or maybe not hear as it doesn't interfere with the music."

Another owner with a horn system fronted by open-reel tape finds that "the icOn pre is an incredible machine; a new dimension in sound and handling. I owned an Audio Innovations passive preamp years ago but it isn't comparable. I never bought a device for my rig that had such a positive impact on my sound."

For a gratuitous mini plug from my end, Pál's Gradient Box aka smart subwoofer crossover is as good at its job as the icOn 4Pro is at preamplitude. Of course for the Gradient Box one uses subwoofers; and real aka serious audiophiles just don't. I'd simply challenge anyone to dispute this 2×15" cardioid sound|kaos sub's real seriousness. So there; plug in vain.

The default 'Joy' display is part of my unit's custom firmware and can be disabled by selecting night mode to show just a small decimal point.

Of course real audiophiles don't use passive preamps either. When you're Pál Nagy, you just can't win. People even insist that an outboard linear power supply improves his icOn's sound. Not only is it just the display and microprocessor which run off his wall wart. There's a hidden part in series with the icOn's power port which completely kills any chance of line-noise contamination. But audiophiles always know better. For some a switching wall wart is the devil's spawn. That makes a costly outboard power supply holy water; or a pitchfork. To amuse himself, might Pál just mint his own, shore up shaky audiophile cred and benefit from discretionary fool's gold? I wouldn't blame him. He and the judge are very good friends. They talk all the time.

Because it's fun being snarky, here's another icOn 4Pro system with vinyl and reel-to-reel analog sources then ultra-efficient horns run off tube power to be super critical of noise. This customer opted to have his icOn autoformers wired in silver. Once again associated hardware expense far outshines the more modest preamp. It's one more indicator that some discerning listeners don't take Pál to task for not splashing out on bling construction. For those who do, our man already has plans. "Looking back I feel that until now I stayed on the middle of the road with no-nonsense science-based general solutions. But I see and feel a quite big demand for more exotic more 'faith' than science-based designs and solutions. Because I love new challenges, I started to conceptualize a few."