2. amps-preamps
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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 wspohn

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wspohn
579 posts
 

As I understand it when you bridge an amp you will double its output at 8 and 4 ohms, but not 2 ohms. 

That is not always the case - it depends on the amp. If you have one with a sufficient power section it will 'double down'

I own a pair of amps that put out 40 W into 8 ohms stereo, and 230 W into 1 ohm. I run them in bridged mode and they put out 160 W into 8 ohms and 500 into 1 ohm loads.  I am not using them with speakers that require that but when I bought them they were happily driving one of the harder speakers, a pair od Apogee Scintillas in 1 ohm setting.  The poster would have to research the amps he is considering to know whether they will be happy with a particular load.

You are correct, though, in thinking that it isn't always a strict doubling of power. My bridged amps put out 160 - 280- 400 - 500 W into 8 - 4 - 2 - and 1 ohm loads.

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