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Would you change your amp selection knowing...?

OK - so this thread was promted by some comments on another thread - not wanting to hijack that thread I created this one...

ISSUE: some high current designed amps have an issue with speaker cables that have a high capacitance.
- the amp can be driven to self destruction because of internal oscilation caused by the high capacitance of the speaker cable
- this does NOT apply to Tube amps - i.e. to my knowledge

The amps I know of that are affected in this way are Ayre, Gryphon and NAIM
- only NAIM warns of this up front AND instruct their dealers to let customers know about it

So why don’t other brands warn about the possibility?

QUESTION:
- would it put you off?
- would you select a different amp if the manufacturer warned of this "issue" up front?

Cheers



williewonka
wspohn's avatar
wspohn
610 posts
 
Selecting a different amp to suit your cables is like buying a new car because you can't get spark plugs for the old one in your favourite brand.

If the amp is a good one, toss the cables, There are lots of cables out there but finding a really good sounding power amp can take patience (and money).
unsound
7,336 posts
 
^While I agree with your point, there’s no need to even consider replacing one’s amplification. As I’ve said before: there’s no sound reason not to use the provided RC networks (zobels). 
2channel8
759 posts
 
What would be considered high capacitance in, say a 10' speaker cable?
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Zip Cord is ~15pF/ft, Belden 1311A ~22pF/ft so 150 to 220pF for 10' is 'normal'. Some Goertz is 100 times as much and that is high.
williewonka OP
3,082 posts
 
A few Cardas cables can be pretty high...

http://www.cardas.com/clear_sp.php
This one is  278 pf / foot x 10 = 2780 pF for a 10 ft cable- that's pretty high

This is probably their highest capacitance cable

By comparison - The Van den Hul D352 is  32.5 pF / meter. so that's about 100 pF for a 10 ft cable

Don't let that put you off Cardas - some of their cables are much lower

At least Cardas makes the capacitance of their cables knowm
- which makes me think they are aware of the issue
- and feel the audiophile should know about it

Many companies do not 

Regards - Steve
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