The Bel Canto REF500Ms use the third gen ICE modules. I use one for my centre channel vs the REF1000Ms for my main L/R speakers. It does sound less lean than the REF1000Ms. I'd choose the REF500Ms over the REF1000Ms unless I really needed the headroom.
That said, I recently switched to Electrocompaniet Nemos to drive the same speakers and noticed that while the bass was as tightly controlled as the Class D, it sounded more authoritative and had more weight than with my Bel Canto.
That said, I recently switched to Electrocompaniet Nemos to drive the same speakers and noticed that while the bass was as tightly controlled as the Class D, it sounded more authoritative and had more weight than with my Bel Canto.