What Class D amps will drive a 2 ohm load

It's also interesting that Stereophile didn't bother reporting specified power rating at 2ohms, but did mention THD rises into 2ohms at higher frequencies.

This is true of all amplifiers; if high fidelity reproduction is your goal, lower impedances should be avoided so as to reduce distortion from the amplifier. The distortion generated by driving a lower impedance is mostly higher orders and is audible as brightness and harshness. You really don't want to make any amplifier work hard to drive a 'difficult' load. The result can be seen in measurements of any amplifier.

Can I make the same comment that higher impedance is receptive to noise, in the same context that lower impedance adds distortion.

Probably not. The impedance of a 16 ohm loudspeaker will not affect noise floor at all. But many 16 ohm loudspeakers are also fairly efficient, and if there is noise efficiency means that you will hear it.

thosb wrote:"..hopefully you have checked out the Thiel users group thread, lots of good discussion on amp pairing, lots of good discussion on how to get the most out of the CS5s, more focus on what listeners are hearing rather than technical debates..."

Thank you for the reality check. There is a lot of good technical advice here from a variety of folks who responded on this thread. The problem, of course, is how much a non-tech type can absorb. For example, I still do not understand phase angle and its implications (among other topics).

I guess I was hoping for a magic bullet to my original post but that, of course, is unfair to everyone. 

I am not sure the pocket book can deal with a switch to a more efficient speaker and all the opportunities/changes that might require; so I probably will wade through all 6800 plus responses on the Thiel Owners thread again...I am retired so that should not take too long...😊

Thanks for listening, Dsper

dsper
Trying to learn. Seriously.
Thanks for listening,
Dsper

These are the facts Dsper. you have a great speaker that demands in turn a great Linear amplifer to get the very best sound out them, not one that has compromises.

1:Stereophile bench tests the CS5
"Means that the amplifier with which it is used MUST HAVE ample TO SAY THE LEAST current capability, if the sound is not to become anemic. Amplifiers with limited current delivery to become starved in the low bass <2ohms, with a potentially disastrous effect on dynamics."

2: I have yet to see a Class-D measured by Stereophile to do what good linear amps can into loads <2ohms and that is to "almost" double wattage for each halving of impedance, 8 to 4 to 2ohms.

3: Stereophile I also do not think have ever shown a Class-D full power wattage into 2ohms without it freaking out or switching off, this proves they are not comfortable into 2ohms like linear amps can be.

Cheers George