Bridged amps vs stereo vs monoblocks.


I don’t have any real issue, but I’m curious about how the bridging of an amp functions. I have a 80 W stereo amplifier, which can be bridged to provide 220 or so power into a load. This amp also has a hefty power supply which makes it work beautifully with my Magnepan’s. However, I used to have two of these amps bridged.  One of which I lost due to it breaking so i replaced with an unbridged stereo amp, which I’m only using one channel. So what a strange hodgepodge of connections, right? It sounds great and I am have no problems but I’m curious if I was doing some thing that is easily changed to provide benefit. Mixing two different amps for example.  Or I read when an amp is bridged it is sensing a four ohm load as a two ohm load and therefore what does that even mean? Also, using one part of a stereo amp is odd, but does that change anything, especially if there’s one power supply? Curious, if there any principles I could learn about this from those more familiar with those equations thanks!

dain

Showing 1 response by elliottbnewcombjr

OP

Your original setup, two identical STEREO amps bridged MONO makes sense if more power was needed. A great solution if you start out with one, change your speakers to inefficient ones.

Balancing volume L/R was an issue (as is any stereo amp with separate Gain for L/R like my McIntosh mc2250. Happily, full gain matched (as advised by McIntosh: use preamp for volume). That MC2250 tested 305 wpc within specs, dead silent. I changed speakers, back to very efficient horns, sold the SS, moved back to tubes.

Lack of remote volume is why I finally changed from my wonderful pair of MONO amps (fisher 80az) Steve at VAS checked them for me pre-sale and made me sell them to him!

Now Stereo Cayin Tube AT88T, with remote volume behind a vintage McIntosh tube tuner/preamp mx110z.