Can I Use One Channel Of A Stereo Power Amp?

You should check with the manufacturer, but I beleive that you can. We used a Crown amp for many years using just one channel without harming the amp in question. More importantly however, I suggest that you choose an amplifier by listening to it and then deciding how it might work in your particular situation rather than choosing one merely for its "spec power" rating. If the first watt of a particular amplifier sounds bad, why in the world would you want 300 more? Just my 2 cents worth. Happy Listening,

I think you can also. Currently I use a Krell KSA 250 stereo amp for the center channel on one side and the sub-woofer on the other side. Occasionaly I disconnect the sub with no apparent problems for the center channel.

I haven't had any problems doing this a few times over the years...there is no input signal into the extra channel, so no signal to output?

A single mono amp is a better option maybe? How about this:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1259865296&/Marantz-700-Mono-Block-Like-ne

Note: Not mine, and I don't know the seller.

I agree on the single mono amp. Another alternative is a lower power amp that is bridgeable to provide 300 watts. Just be aware that many amps are not happy driving loads below 8 ohms when bridged, so make sure that either the amp chosen is capable of driving lower impedance loads, or the speaker impedance does not dip much below 8 ohms.

A mac 7106 is 100 wpc into 6 channels or bridged to 375 watts for 3 channels. Beat that? Cost is around $1250-$1500.

Some of the NAD stereo power amps are bridgeable into mono.

I have had excellent success running one channel each into two Sunfire stereo amps.

The 300 watt version can be had for $800 or less.

Finding a good RF-reducing power cord will greatly enhance their performance. The ones from Marigo are superb, but they are expensive.

Use a dummy load on the unused channel.

what's the theory behind a dummy load? if there is no input, there is no output except some cross talk that made it into the unused channel which is minute. if using dummy load, one would need a fairly high wattage resistor I assumed.

Although not cheap, the MBL 9007 can be used both ways. Generally they are sold as 440 wpc mono amps but they can also be used as a stereo amp. When in stereo mode the power is greatly reduced to somewhere around 130 wpc.

Play it safe and call the manufacturer of the amp if they are still in business.

I always use a dummy load on any unused outputs. An 8ohm, 10 watt resistor is all you need to protect your amp from accidents. This, by the way, is more necessary with tube amps than with solid state. I do not know the theoretical reasons for this.