Amp keeps shutting off


I have the Schiit Vidar powering two 98db 1w/1m speakers. This thing will turn into fault mode so quick once turned up. Only using 4-10 watts per channel, it will turn off after 20min with a box fan blowing on it. I took the cover of the amp off, which I didn't want to do, and that didn't help at all (again with a box fan blowing on it). Once using anything above the 30 watt per channel range, the thing will last 1 minute before shutting off (although that 1 minute sounds really good). The amp is rated for 100w RMS per channel into 8 ohms. I'm not expecting it to actually sustain that rated power, but come on. Why isn't it at least sustaining 20 or 30 or even 10? Am I doing something wrong? Or am I out of luck?
oedstrom11

Showing 4 responses by georgehifi


I had a Schiit Vidar used as a monoblock

If he has stereo amps bridged into monoblocks, then there’s the answer.
Don’t know how many times I’ve said this to the Odyssey monoblock crew, a bridged stereo amp is worse in all amplifier specifications (except in 8ohm wattage), they basically become a PA amplifier and can’t handle low impedance like they could when they were stereo.

oedstrom11 OP
Make them stereo again and use one only to see it turns off, my bet is it won’t.
As any stereo amp bridged into mono will not handle lower impedances as well as the same amp left in stereo, they will become unstable when bridged into lower impedances.

If you have 2 sets of speaker binding posts then you could use both amps in stereo still, but vertically or horizontally bi-amp instead, I prefer vertically with exact same amps as the whole power supply is used for one bass drivers transients, where it’s needed. https://ibb.co/3R6D4xw
If only 1 set of terminals you can’t do it without internal surgery on the speaker and another set of binding posts

Cheers George
oedstrom11 OP

The Klipsch Epic CF 2.
OK easy as pie to drive, go way back to my first post and do what I said.

Cheers George

After trying search all posts to find what speakers the OP has, I believe it’s the speakers, causing amp shutdown.
As every post the OP does says nothing about what speakers he has, mentions models of everything else, the only thing said by the OP about the speakers he has is that they are

" My speakers take 200w continuous with peaks to 800w or 1000w"

Something just don’t smell right here.

Cheers George

oedstrom11
This thing will turn into fault mode so quick once turned up.


Sounds like the bias has drifted, and the thermal cutout is activating. Send it back for service with your explanation details of it reaching cutout stage.

Cheers George