A question about the autoformer output taps

[jlovda]

Can someone tell me what the effect is (on both the amp and speaker) if a speaker is connected to the wrong output tap on a Mcintosh amp?

Second, I just bought a nice MC2200 to replace my MC2120. I never realized the 2120 has 2, 4, 8 and 16 ohm taps while the 2200 has 1, 2, 4 and 8 ohm taps. This makes it appear that you cannot use a 2200 in a 400w bridged mode unless your speaker is 4 ohms or less. What use are the 1 or 2 ohm taps; commercial sound reinforcement?

Thanks

 

[jdandy]

There are many electrostatic panels, which actually act like capacitors when being driven, that will have an impedence curve that goes that low. It may have been the McIntosh design engineer's intent at the time to accomadate ES panels with those outputs.

 

[Face]

Yes, there was a speaker by Apogee(?) that was 1 ohm and a pair of speakers I've been eying dip down to 2.7 ohms, so those lower taps can come in handy. Too bad I'll probably never get to use the 1ohm taps on my 7270.