This is a very enightening thread. I have followed along as I used to be real SS die hard, considering even to delve into ultra ML or Classe stuff until I heard a pair of excellant tube amps that were designed to operate on 4 ohms, and drive low impedence speakers:
Push-pull mono output stages with new driver electronics for the output tubes. This all-new design improves the transient response with complex loads and reduces distortion - particularly when low impedance speakers are connected. Ideal for critical loudspeakers such as Martin Logan, Avalon, Audio Physik, Caldera, Isophon Vertigo and Europa.
Clearly, I can agree with Atmasphere on how a design is capable of perforimng such tasks as driving low impedance speakers, it is most likely the topology in that implementation that needs to be considered. My amps, the Octave MRE 130 are rated at 130, tested and reviewed at 140, but 100 watts into 8 ohms.
All I can say is with technology like that, I can drive easily a pair of B&W 800's in my 25x18.5 listening room with thunderous bass and more than enough volume to make it concert level. The addition of the so called "Super Black Box" and their promised benefits in bass control and 2-ohm stability. The Super Black Box has an additional 100 plus amps of current and capacitance. I am not sure how other companies would implement such a feature, perhaps larger power supplies, but this concept works with these amps.
I believe that that tube amp builders who design amps capable of driving low impedance speakers from the start are actually doing the audio community justice.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life
Push-pull mono output stages with new driver electronics for the output tubes. This all-new design improves the transient response with complex loads and reduces distortion - particularly when low impedance speakers are connected. Ideal for critical loudspeakers such as Martin Logan, Avalon, Audio Physik, Caldera, Isophon Vertigo and Europa.
Clearly, I can agree with Atmasphere on how a design is capable of perforimng such tasks as driving low impedance speakers, it is most likely the topology in that implementation that needs to be considered. My amps, the Octave MRE 130 are rated at 130, tested and reviewed at 140, but 100 watts into 8 ohms.
All I can say is with technology like that, I can drive easily a pair of B&W 800's in my 25x18.5 listening room with thunderous bass and more than enough volume to make it concert level. The addition of the so called "Super Black Box" and their promised benefits in bass control and 2-ohm stability. The Super Black Box has an additional 100 plus amps of current and capacitance. I am not sure how other companies would implement such a feature, perhaps larger power supplies, but this concept works with these amps.
I believe that that tube amp builders who design amps capable of driving low impedance speakers from the start are actually doing the audio community justice.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life