braintheory
Well-known member
I prefer IIC+ mode too (mine doesn’t even have a ++ mode), but I felt the ++ on the IIC++ I tried can have it’s place too and honestly would choose it over the ++ mode of the mark iii++’s coliseums I had. I found it to still be more or less the same relative pros and cons to me of of a iic+ vs iii+ with iic++ vs iii++ modes, but I guess like all this stuff it’s debatable how much the difference is and whether it’s worth the huge extra cost. To each their own with thatIIC+ have a clearer gain character but IIC++ just do not sound good to my ears. The extended highs of a blue stripe III can actually take advantage of the ++ mode and put the gain to use. It’s not as razor defined as a IIC+ but it’s still its own thing that I just prefer more.
There is a clarity and extra detail/complexity to the iic+ like you said and to me also this more liquid quality where the leads are some of my favorite of any high gain amp. I think the byproduct of all these qualities gives that feel many talk about with them that I guess can seem easier to pick up on sometimes than the actual sound differences. Either way, congrats to the OP for finding what looks to be a really good example IIC+