2. amps-preamps
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Why dosome high pwr amps fail to drive some spkrs?

I have Audio Artistry Beethoven speakers. They are dipoles with main panel, active xover and separate unpowered subs. In the main panel ther are 2 10´ woofers covers the range 100-200 Hz. This speaker A A Beethoven was Speaker of the year by Stereophile 1998. According to S. test the speaker has a sharp drope in impedance in than region 100-200 hz to about 3 ohm. The problem is that some amps fail to move this 2 10´woofers. A Rowland 8TiHC (high current) of 400 w and lots of current fails to drive the woofers resulting in a lack of midbass (otherwise the Rowland was very good). Also "the worlds best amp (Stereophile cover)" Halcro DM 68 at mega bucks also fails to drive the woofers. Halcro says that this amps has no problems down to 2 ohms. BUT a 10 year old Classe 300 (300W) at budget price drove the woofers with no problem.I finaly settle with big Krell monos and they have absolute no problems in this area.
I was told by a well know audiophile on Audio Asylum that he had the same problem with the even bigger Rowland model 9 that fails to deliver midbass to Big Avalon speakers.
Can someone explain this to me or has anyone similare experince?
I can also say that the speakers are truly world class now with the Krells!! I use a Krell KSA 300 to power the dipole subs with exellent result and 20Hz wall shattering bass.
128x128ulf
ulf's avatar
ulf OP
103 posts
 
Both Rowland and Halcro was used with Rowland Synergy pre and in the case of 8 TiHC that would be hard to call it a mismatch.IC was standard 1 meter long both btween pre and xover and 1,5 m to amp. I have asked Rowland about the problem but they never answered. Halcro deny that there should be a problem. In Stereophile august 2005 Wilson MAXX test they say "the combination of 3.8 ohms and 33.4 capacitive phase angle at 162Hz, a frequency where music has considerable energy, will also demand an amp that can sorce a good amount of current".Perhaps Beethoven has the same "problem" and perhaps Rowland and Halcro has problems with handling "capacitive phase angle" (whatever this is).

Philefreak:
When properly driven the AA Beethoven outclass evey other speakers I have listen to. Have you have a chance to listen to them?

My point is that some of the best high end full range speakers like Wilson, Avalon etc can t be driven by some high end amps in spite of the normal sensitivity (Wilson has a high 90 db) of the speakers and i spite of these amps high watt and current figures.
ulf's avatar
ulf OP
103 posts
 
"May 17, 2004

As I'm in Europe, I will be pleased if you can help me. I own one system made with EMM Labs, Halcro dm10 and dm68, and Avalon Eidolons, and sometimes I think that the sound is a little thin, that it needs more weight. As I know that you have written about the new Lamm M1.2 Reference and you also know well the Halcro electronics, I will be very happy if you can tell me how these amps compare. Another amp I'm thinking about is the Tenor Audio 300Hp. If you have heard it, also please let me know your opinion. Sorry again, but here right now it is impossible to compare both amps.

Felix"

Sorry to be so persistant but I just found this asking letter on www.ultraaudio.com It seems that this guy has the same problem with Halcro that I have. I am thinking that if you pay 40K or 50K for amp it should drive even the most difficult speakers on the market
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
Hi Ulf,- it remains a fact that not all amps will drive all speakers, in fact, you have to be very careful to make sure that the amp and speaker interface is doing what it should.

Speaker cables, the length of the cables, the use of negative feedback, input impedance (already covered), load reactivity, output section stability and literally a host of other issues define the arena of your question.

There are speakers that transistor amps cannot drive and there are speakers that tube amps cannot drive. As you have seen, the speakers that you might think would be OK for a given technology are not always what you might predict. Generally there are more speaker products on the market then any other type of high end audio product, and you simply cannot blame an amp manufacturer for not knowing how well their amp will interface with a speaker, especially if it is a little bit more obscure! There are just too many speakers out there for that. Of course the manufacturer is the one to ask first, but your experience is important too.
snook2's avatar
snook2
626 posts
 
Ironic but the Rowland Model 6 is the first amp I have had that gives me the bass and midbass control. Major slam and can also sound delicate. I have not heard the 8ti so I am not sure while it would fail. I also use the Manley steehead preamp which is an excellent match.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
Interesting discussion. Ulf, what exactly do you mean when you say drive? To some extent it sounds as if you don't like the tonal balance of certain amps with your speakers and you're attributing it to a fault in the amp. It makes sense that you might prefer one sound over another, but it doesn't appear that you've established any reference to which sound is more accurate to the source material.
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