Can CLASSE Amps Drive.......


....a continous 2Ohm load without any problem/concern? To Classe owners out there, would you kindly share your valuable experienced.

I am looking at the CAV series (75 or 150) multi channel amp to do duty on this http://www.linkwitzlab.com/orion_us.htmfor HT and 2 channel.

The required amp for this is 6-CH minimum. Most owners use 8 channels which makes individual channel driving a 4 Ohm load each. Now for 6 channel, 4 will be driving a nominal 4 Ohm load independently while two of the channels will see a 2 OHM load continously (Peerless sub drivers X 2 connected in parallel).

I am considering the Classe because of budget contraints (they are now available at around $1800 used!). Besides, the CAV 150 Six-Channel amp for example at 150 wpc(8 Ohms) continous as rated by the manufacturer will double up at 4 Ohm load, so it means that it is safe to say that its capacity is about 1.8 kW at 4 Ohms and with say a factor of safety of about 30% (which is a lot of room) will give me aroun 1.2 to 1.3 kW. Assuming that I am using 50W for the tweeter and mid (that must be very loud already!) each, which at 4 Ohms becomes 100w x 4 is 400 watts. From the estimated available power above, I still have around 900W at 4. So that will be 450 per of two which seems to be more than enough to drive a 2 Ohm load. Does that sound right to you?

Comments please!
amandarae
You can check with Classe they should be able to answer your questions. I used a Classe CAV150 for about 4 years in a home theater system with all Thiel speakers and had no problems at all. I checked with classe prior to purchase and made sure that 4 to 3 ohm loads were ok. I did not ask about 2 ohm load because thiels do not go that low. Good Luck
Should not be a problem, only thing is make sure they are very high current is the key, and they may heat up a lot more driving the lower ohm's, but should easily perform that low.
I have a pair of 2.3's and am utilizing Classe CAM 200's,. Very pleased so far.
I have a rarely used Classe CAV 150 multi channel amp in excellent condition for sale. I have been storing it in my home for the past several years. it was bought in the mid-late 1990's and used for several years with my Vandersteen speakers that I just sold on ebay. This amp was not driven hard and has few hours of listening on it. 6 X 150W. Black face. It has a few scratches on the handle; this will not affect performance. Can be bridged to 3 X 300W. Fantastic amp.

Buyer to pay shipping costs. I will send out by UPS ground as this is a very heavy amp. let me know if you're interested.