My impression is that these amps are run a lot in bridged mono mode, and that indeed Benchmark may recommend this. I seem to remember a recent review of the DAC3 mentioning this. They may not react to bridging the way conventional amps do.
Running Benchmark AHB2 in bridged mode and 4 Ohm Speaker
Does running this amp in bridge mode mean each channel will see half the impedance i.e 2 Ohm each when connected to a 4 Ohm speaker. If so will this cause a problem when the speaker dips to 3 or 2 ohms?.
Anyone running Benchmark AHB2 in bridged mode with low impedance speakers?.
Anyone running Benchmark AHB2 in bridged mode with low impedance speakers?.
Showing 7 responses by twoleftears
Test results unbridged and bridged. https://www.stereophile.com/content/benchmark-media-systems-ahb2-power-amplifier-measurements "But the power output doesn’t stop there. With the flick of a switch you can transform the AHB2 into a monoblock amplifier. Unlike so many other amps with a bridged mono option, the AHB2 does not limit you to just 8 Ohm nominal speakers. In bridged mono, the AHB2 is rated for 6 Ohms, but there’s a bit of an asterisk to that.In bridged mono, the AHB2 will deliver 380 Watts into 8 Ohms, and 480 Watts into 6 Ohms. Technically speaking, you can even drive speakers whose variable impedance dips into 3 Ohm range. However, if you try to exceed 486 watts into 3 Ohms bridged mono, you will trip the 18 Amp over-current protection and the amplifier will shut down." |
I’ll leave the technical discussion to the boffins. The point I was trying to make, as I said before, was that, by all accounts, Benchmark seems actively to promote the use of their amp in bridged form. Why else would they send pairs of them out to reviewers? Surely this indicates--perhaps against the electronic engineering evidence--that they have confidence in their product performing well in bridged form under most circumstances. BTW, am I right in noting that there has been little discussion here, until just now, of vertical or horizontal bi-amping, which are other possibilities, no? |