Home > Consumer Reviews > NuForce Icon (Integrated Desktop Audio Amplifier, Black Color)

If you're looking for "headbanging" thunder bass out of a small bookshelf system, this ain't it. I already own audiofile gear (Channel Islands, Arcam, Tyler Acoustics...) and didn't want to drop another $10K for a computer stereo. Caught this while surfing for music purchases here at Amazon. I was very aware of Nuforce and immediately went to research mode. In the end, this and the matching speakers got me out-the-door for $500. I'll spare you the audio speak- This little system rocks, very nice highs and mids, adequate bass, it's portable w/an I-Touch as the source, and the footprint is economical (no small deal with my desk). This little dude is my computer audio for life.

The Icon has worked exactly as promised from day one. It has been confidently powering my Energy bookshelf speakers and Creative earbuds. I can hear the details in my music clearly and at a reasonable volume. This is a great product I would recommend to anyone looking for a starter music system to consider it. The small footprint works great on my desk next to my laptop. Loads of clean power from this little guy!

This is a very high quality product at a low price. Check the web for more reviews, but it lives up to them -- clean beautiful sound in a tiny package, competes with amps that cost much much more. The build quality is great too -- nice solid feel to the knobs, sturdy but smooth aluminum case. No cheap plasticky stuff.

BUT ... a big caveat is that it needs to be coupled with efficient (low-wattage) speakers. I connected mine to the small and very highly-rated bookshelf speakers from Era (D4s) and the Icon simply couldn't drive them to a room-filling volume. So I ended up returning the Icon. The amp I replaced it with was quite a bit more expensive, though, so if I hadn't had the Eras already it might have made sense to buy the Icon and pick speakers for it.

As I write this review I'm listening to reggae music with this amp through some Grado 325i headphones. The unit is connected to my computer via the USB connection so the unit does the DAC
work. Very good sound. Now here's the kicker. This will power small external speakers and allows a line in 3.5mm connection. Perfect for ipods. Three different uses all in one small mini amp. An excellent job. Do not get lured in and purchase the portable battery powered headphone amp that nuforce also makes. That product is subpar. This product however is perfect if you need a small footprint and high quality audio. Smooth and full sounding is the best description. I can recommend this product without hesitation.

From beautiful industrial design to truly sweet sound, the Nuforce Icon is not only an amazing value, it is a great piece of gear in its own right. Every music lover should have one. Or one in every room in the house, at this price. The Icon's sound is fast and responsive with clarity, detail, and natural character, and it handles a variety of speaker systems with ease. No aspect of the audio spectrum is neglected- every note is in place from top to bottom. Anyone who has enjoyed low-power switching amplifiers like the Tends TA-10.1, Sonic Impact T-amp, or KingRex T20 will find that the Icon sings with a wider variety of speakers and has all the low-frequency solidity and realism that these other amps (no matter how much we'd like them to!) simply don't. I LOVE the Icon- hats off to Nuforce for providing such a tasty audio treat for the rest of us! Oh yea- definitely invest in the 42W upgraded power supply- it allows the Icon to become even more dynamic and enjoyable to hear in action.