Can the Manley Neoclassic 300B handle a 2 ohm load

muralman,

While I share your enthusiasm for the H20 amp, It would not be my recommendation it for some one with 96db speakers looking for a SET 300B based amp.

250wpc would be a bit much here.

Loudandclear, Mondie's speakers dip down to 2 ohms. That is not SET territory. The question here has centered around that disparity. I just believe there are better ways than going with autoformers.

Loudandclear. On the contrary...there is no such thing as too much power regardless of the speakers sensitivety. To begin with.... I am sure muralmans recommendation of the h20 was not even power related. While I have never heard the h20 amp, given the fact that Mondies speaker's impedence load can dip down anywhere near 2 ohms,I would think Muralmans recommendation is a certainly sound one[pun intended]! Hell...a 2ohm impedence load is getting dangerously close to a dead short for crissakes. Seems like Mondie would like to marry his speakers to a tube amp. Unfortunately... there are very few push/pull tube amps that can remain stable driving a 2 ohm load [let alone a set amp] without oscillating itself into china syndrome. Mondie... The only set amp that I am aware of that may be able to handle your speaker is the KR amplifiers. There are a few push/pull ones as well. Just be sure they have no less than 4 ohm impedence taps off the transformers and preferrably a 2 ohm tap. The original quicksilver 60 watt monos,the ones that employed the 8417 output tube[not the kt88] were champs at driving loads below 4 ohms. They were very musical even in stock form; and with a little updating with modern caps and resistors they should be a real treat. The older vac pa90 mono's are another great amplifier that would easily be up to the task. These el34 based amps can be used in pure triode or ultralinear at the flick of a switch. They also have a 2 ohm tap from the transformer and massive power supplies that are fully regulated. I am sure there are a few others out there as well. Best of luck in your search and have a very Merry Christmas!

Hi all,

Thanks for the interesting discussion.

My speakers are Equinox Jupiters, link here;

http://www.equinoxaudio.com.au/products/speakers/jupiter.php

Eccletique, l have decided not to go down the autoformer road. Decware's amps look like a possibility, going SS is also. Never heard of KR aplifiers, will do dome more googling!

Merry Christmas all.

Cheers Simon

Hi Mondie. It's Christmas and some food for thought! The KR Enterprise amplifiers were developed by the late Dr Kron in the Czech Republic. His tube designs are perhaps the most unique in the industry and sound very special indeed. Certainly worth some investigation if you plan to use tubed amplification. I believe there is a pair presently in the Gon classifieds. The individual has a well written caption accompanying his add. You may want to check it out. Personally... I wouldn't use an autoformer either as it does indeed have some sonic liabilties . I am not that well versed with the current crop of solid state stuff. The only solid scrape amplifier that I ever really cottoned to was the 25 watt/ch Bedini 25/25[it's a real honey] and perhaps the original 25watt Mark Levinson M2 monos.I used both of these pure class A amplifiers to drive stacked Quad 57's in their day. I still have my Bedini to this very day and listen to it periodically for comparison purposes. I will probably keep it another 20 years as well. Regardless of the tube or solid scrape choices, the lower powered examples of each have traditionally outperformed their higher powered bretheren in my experience. Looking at the high sensitivity of your speaker choice,you may want to investigate looking into David Bernings designs as well. Audiogon member Twl uses a custom version of Berning's brilliant OTL design that is very very unique . Tom is a very accomodating individual with many years experience in the audio arts per sey.He uses a speaker design with a similar sensitivity rating as yours. Enjoy the Holiday! cheers David