I do have the ensemble library too - bought it during a previous 30% off sale.
The ensembles are useful for sketching, but some of the patches are not my cup of tea - and to my ears a bit artificial sounding. So I've found the ensembles a bit of a mixed bag, but for what I paid for them I'm reasonably content.
If you are considering an ensemble library then there are other choices out there I would pick first if it were my only one.
I've never used the Play 6 convolution reverb - so I can't help there. I bought a copy of Spaces before I used the EWHO, and it's so good I've used it for most things ever since.
I doubt you'll see Iconica on a 50% sale though....
BTW, Iconica is balanced - making it much easier to get cracking.
EWHO is a fabulous piece of kit - but it takes a lot more time and effort to use. With Brass & Strings this effort it worth it. Percussion & Woodwinds far less so.
Wow Iconica Ensembles would be really affordable with a 30% sale! I understand it's not the best sounds you have ever heard in your life, but for a not-so-experienced user like me, don't you believe that it sounds better than, say, if I mix myself Full Strings + Full Brass + Woodwinds in 3 different patches? Isn't it true that in most of these ensembles products, the musicians are actually playing at the same time, sitting in the ideal positions? And isn't it less power hungry to have one patch of a full symphony than, 5-10 (or many more) patches of violins, violas, celli, honrs, trombones, bassoons, etc...?
I am struggling to save money to buy my first semi-pro full orchestral library (including the extra sketch library for fast workflow and nice inspirations - come on, this "Pirates" ensemble of Iconica Ensembles is really catchy!), and I think a bonus for Iconica Players is the fact that it can be "naturally combined" with Iconica Ensembles!
Isn't the above a more "sure" combination, than say (just a random not-so-expensive example will follow) combining Spitfire Studio Orchestra Core (or EWHO Gold) with Sonuscore the Orchestra?
Crap, I am sure we will need a few years to see Iconica with a 50% sale, it's a nice new product, and already very reasonable priced!
I know, EWHO gets all this respect, but aside from the simplicity to use more modern libraries and have nice results much faster, there is another factor that I am leaning towards Iconica Players! It's because I love woodwinds, and as far as I know (from EVERYONE, now including also you), woodwinds are the worst part of EWHO, and at the same time the best part of Iconica Players (which is anyway a balanced and easy-to-use library as you mentioned)...
Thank you so much for your input! It's nice to have all this help from people who have actually used these products! So now I can tell you my secret: It's NOT that I am LAZY to download 150GB and try it myself, it's the fact that I am afraid to have this experience, because I am sure that I am going to love it (unless you tell me that Iconica sounds worse that Garritan Personal Orchestra 5!!!!), and it's almost impossible that I can afford it before the sale expires...