Proton d1200 to drive double stacked advents?

[honestabe316]

Hi guys,
Ive read that running double stacked new large advent speakers in parallel drop the impedance down to between 3-4 ohms. Im pretty sure my proton d1200 could handle this, but more importantly im curious as to whether its bad for the amp in the long run.....also, would it be safer to run two speaker wires from each speaker terminal on the amp, or to run one wire from amp to speaker, then piggy back with another wire from primary speaker to the second speaker in the double stack?

Thanks

Scott

 

[daveshel]

I can't speak for your amp but I have been running stacked Advents for a decade without any problems. I started out with a Dynaco Black Box 410. Then I got a van Alstine OmegaStar 170EX. Later I regretted selling the 410 and eventually got a Dynaco ST-400 with the Van Alstine Double 416 mod. All these amps are well known for being able to handle low impedance loads. YMMV

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Proton similar to NAD. Not 3 ohm capable with something that inefficient.

 

[motorstereo]

A 1200 in good operating condition will have no problem driving a 4ohm load long term. I had mine running a 4ohm load for several months with one output transistor not soldered in. And I was also lighting up both of the secondary lights pretty often. The only sign of distress was it getting rather warm after a night of serious abuse.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

But Proton is also built like NAD. Not high current. One pair yes, two pairs not ideal. Two pairs use something like a Crown DC 300A which can handle it.

 

[Baron K Rool]

It will work no problem. Unlike many amps, the Proton D1200 is actually rated for 2 ohms operation. It's such a crazy amp, it could probably drive a short circuit.

 

[AudioGeek]

I like crazy amps.

 

[motorstereo]

But Proton is also built like NAD. Not high current. One pair yes, two pairs not ideal. Two pairs use something like a Crown DC 300A which can handle it.

First hand experience tells me different as does the test report from Stereo Review Sept. 1986. They tested the 1200 and it clipped at 155 wpc @8ohms, 175wpc@ 4ohms and 350wpc@ 2 ohms. Doubling down from 4 ohms to 2 sure fits my description of a high current amp:yes:
I won't even mention the short term bursts the amp put out. But they did say it was "one of the most powerful amps made for home use despite it's 100wpc rating"