Anyone use a Belles 150A to drive a difficult load


I have been driving a large ribbon-hybrid (Flatline 175's--you never heard of them) with a Music Reference RM-9 (tubes, 100W/side) and the amp really can't hanndle the weird load (down to 2 ohms)though , at low volume, the sound is beutiful. The Belles is not a high current design but current isn't everything. Has anyone tred to use this amp for Maggies, or other cranky speakers? I listen mostly to large scale classical stuff and value timbral accuracy and beauty of sound above all other considerations but I like dynamics and bass, too. I have a VPI 19-4, Moerch arm, Grado cart, Mod 3 preamp, Flatline and Luminous Audio cables in a 2300 cubic foot moderately dead room. Thanks, folks.
rpfef
I recently set up the 150a hot rod with a Quicksilver line stage preamp and a pair of 1.5qr maggies. I would say the sound quality is very good and there is no strain on the amp.
i had tried it on a pair of alon II's. a speaker that is not easy to drive and it did fine.

the amp is very dynamic and has a sweet sound for the price.

may want to consider a pair of muse monos or pse studio v monos.

good luck,

mike
The new 150-Reference was developed to handle difficult loads, Dave claims 1 ohm loads pose no difficulty for them. I have used the 350-A to drive Martin Logan CLS II's and Magnepans and find that the bass control is the best I've heard. A recent use of the 150-R's on Vandersteen 3A's shows the ability to control bass to a degree that subwoofers seem to be an unnecessary addition. For that difficult load try a 150-Reference.
As I can't agree with the above statements to the tonality of the Belles 150A, I will agree it is not the amp for extremely demanding loads. I used the 150A Hotrod with my Vandersteen 3A Signatures while being between amps. I thought its harmonic structure and truth in timbre was excellent. It just didn't have the ultimate in transparency. I'm now using a Belles 350A which is light years ahead of the 150A. Can't believe they come from the same family. It replaced my Theta Dreadnaught. I found it to be a more accurate amp while still maintaining a truth in timbre.
I used it as loaner with Vandy 1C. Couldn't stand it for more than 10min. The absence of tonal balance everytime present in Belles will not certainly provide timbral accuracy. As to bass it's so shallow that many tube amps of half-power will do it much better and deeper.

For tough loads curent means a LOT.
The much better alternative is NAD S200 or NAD S300 that will care less about 2 Ohm than Belles.

A good approach will be if you want to bi-amp your ribbons using electronic crossover tube or ss. Tough loads benefit form active bi-amplification. Thinking of passive bi-amp only complicate things and make system sound out of balance ESPECIALLY with heavy speakers that after bi-amp become even more heavy.

You may also find Plinius SA100 worm as tube amp with all SS drive benefits you're aiming towards accuracy dynamics and bass but certainly pricey. Don't pay attention to 100W/ch ratings since it's only for class A margin. If you look-up its power supply you'll realize that it can work as welding machine.