From JA at Stereophile.
"McIntosh specifies the MC462 as being able to deliver 450Wpc (26.5dBW) into a load matched to the nominal output Autoformer tap. With clipping defined as being when the THD+noise reaches 1%, fig.6 indicates that the MC462 exceeded its specification even with both channels driven, its 8 ohm output clipping at 516Wpc into 8 ohms (27.1dBW). The trace in this graph stops at 1%, as that is when the amplifier’s protection was triggered. Into 4 ohms (fig.7), the McIntosh’s 8 ohm output clipped at 720Wpc (25.6dBW). It’s fair to note that I don’t hold the wall voltage constant for this test; with both channels clipping into 4 ohms, the wall voltage had dropped from 121 to 115.4V. The MC462’s 2 ohm output delivered 190Wpc (22.8dBW) with both channels driven into 8 ohms at 1% THD+N, 298Wpc with both channels driven into 4 ohms (21.7dBW, fig.8), and 536W (21.3dBW) with one channel driven into 2 ohms"
This type of amplifier (On paper) is truly the opposite of the kind of amplifier the Cube Audio designs of the Nenuphar had in mind to drive this speaker. Single driver crossoverless with intentionally easy impedance load and highly damped driven design.
It will be very interesting to see how this pairing works out. You just never know until you listen. Best of luck @kragon.
Charles
