Help with speakers Martin Logan SL3


I have a set of ML SL3's. These speakers contain a 10" bass driver. I have been reading several responses about these speakers and am confused.

I am using a California Audio Labs CL-2500 (500x5) amplifier of which 50 watts operates in class "A".
The speakers can handle up to 200 watts. When I crank
the volume up, maybe a classical or jazz piece, the amplfier clips! Here is the kicker. My preamp is a CLASSE
SSP-50 and when I run it in 5 channel stereo (which includes the ML Logos and Scripts) ONLY the two front channels clip. Is it strange the two front channels are being run to my preamp through balanced cables while the others are not?

Any ideas/suggestions/help?

Dan
nbt
Dan: Even though your amp has 500 watts it still has only 100 perchannel. M.L. are noted for their difficult impedance loads they present to an amplifier. a truly powerful amp will double down or come close to it. An amp that is capable of this will for example be rated 200 watts 8 ohms & 400 watts at 4 ohms. Look at your amps owners manual & see what it puts out for 4 & 2 ohms. A good HIfi shop will probably let you borrow an amp for a day or two which is what I did & even though I was lighter in the wallet there was no hesitation on my part once I had heard the difference.
Once again, I am confused. Per the manual, "The CL-2500 Multi-Channel Amplifier (MCA) provides 500 watts RMS to each of five
channels making this unit the most powerful home theater amplifier on the market today."

If I am getting (knowing price does NOT indicate quality) 500 watts per channel from a $7,500 amp, is it truely possible it is NOT ENOUGH?

Dan
I am using a SL-3 for the front Logos for Center and Scripts for rear. Have driven them with the following amps:
1) B&K 7250
2) Aragon 8008BB and 8008x3
3) Proceed HPA 2&3
4) EAD PowerMaster 2000
It never clip for any of these amps. It could be a bad amp if I am not wrong. Since Martin Logan are hard to drive. Wish you the best of luck in resolving your problem. If you need more advice feel free to email me.

Bill
Dan, didn't know much about this amp but I did some searching on the net for reviews. From everything I read that amp should have plenty of power to drive your Logans. You might want to check with Cal. Audio to see what they think. How loud are you trying to play these? Does the amp actually go into "protection" mode and shut down?
Thanks No_money and hifinerd,

As for loud, lets say reference levels. I can give a better description of what happens. First off, I get very little bass out of these, not uncommon. Using a Velodyne 18 for Home Theater, I am not concerned, however, in 2 channel, all low frequencies leave the room. So as I turn the Classe SSP-50 up to about -35 to -40 (-60 is the max) with each channel set at about +6dB (problem? should it be 0?) the two front channel, using balanced cables, clip. This means, the speaker continue playing, the amp still works, but the two dummy (good for people like me) lights come on sporatically reading CLIP. When I look at the bass driver it is COMPLETELY maxed, moving as if there is TOO MUCH power.

Keep in mind, the volume is VERY loud at this point! I just find it odd that the other speakers do not clip. I believe I have them all set at LARGE?!

Ideas?