2 ohm rated solid state amps

[kevzep]

Pretty much any McIntosh amplifier with Autoformers will drive 2Ω loads all day long.....

 

[ThaddeusSmit]

with a speaker that efficient, you may not have have much to worry about since you're never going to use more than a few watts. it would help to see the impedance vs. frequency curve of the finished product -- do you have that?

Assuming this is for me, no I don't. I inherited the cabinets and am still saving up for the drivers/horns, amp(s), DAC/Preamp. It's definitely a 1-3 year project.

You can check these threads to see if they answer your question though.

The speaker will basically be this 2-way Cornscala http://www.critesspeakers.com/cornscala-style-d.html, but with this Cornwall double bass bin http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/135226.aspx?PageIndex=1.

Each bass bin is isolated and independent, presenting 6 ohms - but when wired in parallel drops the overall impedance to 3 ohms. The top end will be the 16 ohm version of the Faital, so no worries there. If I can't figure out a decent solution, I'm thinking about only using one woofer in each cabinet and basically having an oversized Cornscala in my room. It's a small-ish space with the listening distance about 7ft from the speakers - so it's not like hitting 85db is going to be all that difficult.

I agree that with their rated efficiencies I should be able to use just about anything (the Yamaha A-S2000 certainly has my eye), but I'm worried about spending that kind of cash on an amp and burning it up by being foolish.

A guy on the Klipsch forum drives a similar version of my bass bins with a McIntosh MC-250 and says it's great, if not slightly lacking in power. A McIntosh MC-2100 should also fit the bill, both of which are are around the same 1000-2000 after you factor in the initial purchase plus an overhaul.

Too many choices.

 

[ScramMan2]

GAS Son Of Ampzilla will handle a 2 ohm load.

JimFet, I used to work for Koss in the 70's. Much of the listening we did on them was with a GAS Ampzilla and Thaedra preamp. In a huge board room.

 

[ThaddeusSmit]

Scratch that, I may have found something sort of useful. Click the pictures to see larger - do keep in mind that I'm going to be using Crites branded woofers and these particular graphs were made from Kappalite 3015LF drivers. Should be similar-ish though.

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/p/135226/1413381.aspx#1413381

 

[ehoove]

I drive the ribbons (2 ohms)in my Magnapan MGIIIa's with a Acurus A200 and it never gets more than warm at high volumes. FWIW
Regards,
Jim

 

[tomlinmgt]

Threshold s/300's have no problem driving the DVC Watkins woofers in my vintage Infinties and pretty sure I've read they dip down to 2 ohms (perhaps less). Same can be said for my Aragon 8008 and Soundcraftsmen MA5002.

 

[rushfan]

The Yamaha M-65 is rated down to 2 ohms...

 

[Bugler]

I have a buddy that has Kappa 9's that he is looking for an amp for. The speakers have all been rebuilt/refurbished by local vintage expert. He has a huge inventory of Carver and Sunfire but for a reasonable price he recommended my buddy watch ebay for a McIntosh MC-2300. He said it will handle loads to a fraction of an ohm

 

[rnorton]

Most high quality solid state amps will do 4 ohm loads no problem. :yes:

Does anybody know any manufactuers of vintage amps that will do 2 ohm loads? :scratch2:

Soundcraftsmen comes to my mind.

Hafler. Particularly the XL-280 and DH-500.

 

[jessearias]

Thanks for all the info

Thanks for all the great information!:yes:

The Haffler's seem to be the most reasonably priced. Mac are nice, but very expensive. :tears:

I put the hurt on my SAE running it to hard at too low of an ohm load. :tears: So I need to either split the load between two amps or one that will handle the lower loads. :yes:

Looks like its time to UPGRADE! That's why I go to work, to buy more expensive audio gear!:thmbsp:

 

[Vinylcalle]

Many Accuphase amps will.

 

[sax6]

Anybody mentionned NAD.

My 2200PE would handle some 2 ohms but, I would not try it, for it's sake !

 

[albowlly]

Anybody mentionned NAD.

My 2200PE would handle some 2 ohms but, I would not try it, for it's sake !

Both the 208 and 2700 that I use on my Kappa 9's are 2 ohm stable and have been handling the load for close to two years without issue.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Most N.A.D. amps can easily handle 2 ohm loads.

 

[jdurbin1]

My Tandberg 3016A will do 2 ohms all day, if the house AC supply can stand up to it. Has a 1 ohm rating too but I've never put that to the test.

John

 

[hifitommy]

i cannot believe that nobody mentioned the ADCOMs. back in the day, ahc needed an amp to drive the apogee scintilla, a ONE ohm ribbon speaker. an adcom 555 did the job.

also as i understand it, dan d'agostino designed the krell for just that purpose.

 

[brhalltx]

Does anybody know any manufactuers of vintage amps that will do 2 ohm loads? :scratch2:

Proton D1200.

 

[FauxHall]

Sony TA-N80ES

Rated 800WPC dynamic power at 2 ohm

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-N80ES.html

 

[PDRCanada]

This will do it, they come every so often.
Picked one up a couple years ago for 300 bucks.....monster.

 

[jessearias]

What a beast

This will do it, they come every so often.
Picked one up a couple years ago for 300 bucks.....monster.

Man that thing is a beast!:yes: Over 1000w at 2 ohms.:sigh: