2. amps-preamps
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Why dosome high pwr amps fail to drive some spkrs?

I have Audio Artistry Beethoven speakers. They are dipoles with main panel, active xover and separate unpowered subs. In the main panel ther are 2 10´ woofers covers the range 100-200 Hz. This speaker A A Beethoven was Speaker of the year by Stereophile 1998. According to S. test the speaker has a sharp drope in impedance in than region 100-200 hz to about 3 ohm. The problem is that some amps fail to move this 2 10´woofers. A Rowland 8TiHC (high current) of 400 w and lots of current fails to drive the woofers resulting in a lack of midbass (otherwise the Rowland was very good). Also "the worlds best amp (Stereophile cover)" Halcro DM 68 at mega bucks also fails to drive the woofers. Halcro says that this amps has no problems down to 2 ohms. BUT a 10 year old Classe 300 (300W) at budget price drove the woofers with no problem.I finaly settle with big Krell monos and they have absolute no problems in this area.
I was told by a well know audiophile on Audio Asylum that he had the same problem with the even bigger Rowland model 9 that fails to deliver midbass to Big Avalon speakers.
Can someone explain this to me or has anyone similare experince?
I can also say that the speakers are truly world class now with the Krells!! I use a Krell KSA 300 to power the dipole subs with exellent result and 20Hz wall shattering bass.
128x128ulf

Showing 3 responses by ulf

ulf's avatar
ulf OP
103 posts
 
Both Rowland and Halcro was used with Rowland Synergy pre and in the case of 8 TiHC that would be hard to call it a mismatch.IC was standard 1 meter long both btween pre and xover and 1,5 m to amp. I have asked Rowland about the problem but they never answered. Halcro deny that there should be a problem. In Stereophile august 2005 Wilson MAXX test they say "the combination of 3.8 ohms and 33.4 capacitive phase angle at 162Hz, a frequency where music has considerable energy, will also demand an amp that can sorce a good amount of current".Perhaps Beethoven has the same "problem" and perhaps Rowland and Halcro has problems with handling "capacitive phase angle" (whatever this is).

Philefreak:
When properly driven the AA Beethoven outclass evey other speakers I have listen to. Have you have a chance to listen to them?

My point is that some of the best high end full range speakers like Wilson, Avalon etc can t be driven by some high end amps in spite of the normal sensitivity (Wilson has a high 90 db) of the speakers and i spite of these amps high watt and current figures.
ulf's avatar
ulf OP
103 posts
 
"May 17, 2004

As I'm in Europe, I will be pleased if you can help me. I own one system made with EMM Labs, Halcro dm10 and dm68, and Avalon Eidolons, and sometimes I think that the sound is a little thin, that it needs more weight. As I know that you have written about the new Lamm M1.2 Reference and you also know well the Halcro electronics, I will be very happy if you can tell me how these amps compare. Another amp I'm thinking about is the Tenor Audio 300Hp. If you have heard it, also please let me know your opinion. Sorry again, but here right now it is impossible to compare both amps.

Felix"

Sorry to be so persistant but I just found this asking letter on www.ultraaudio.com It seems that this guy has the same problem with Halcro that I have. I am thinking that if you pay 40K or 50K for amp it should drive even the most difficult speakers on the market
ulf's avatar
ulf OP
103 posts
 
With drive I mean the ability to drive my 2 10`in each main panel of my speakers. I know that Audio Artistry used Rowland on shows 1998-99 so my logic choiche was the 8 TiHC where HC stand for High current" "more then double the current output" to the model 8TI. On paper there would be all the juice for a powerfull midbass but the cones hardly move. So I assume there is another problem (perhaps phase angle derivation). I make this tread to report my findings and hopefully it will help somebody the chose the rigth amp- speaker combination.
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