2. amps-preamps
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Driving 1 ohm

Hi,

I'm actually driving my recently refurbished Acoustat 2+2 electrostatic speakers with a Conrad Johnson MF 2500A. My Acoustats have been completely modernized with new more rigid frame, new electronics in the interface, Medallion transformers and other tweaks.They really get down low with a lot more dynamics than before.

A lot of electrostatics owners will often chose pure Class A amplifiers to drive the load these speakers command. The 2500A plays beautifully and doesn't get very hot at the task.

My question is : am I slowly damaging the amp without noticing it ?
andr

Showing 2 responses by simontju

simontju
257 posts
 
" am I slowly damaging the amp without noticing it ?"

Not really - you do put some additional stress on this amp but if it did not failed during initial period then it was designed properly to deal with the stress so enjoy and don't think about it. If you amplifier will ever fail it will be due to lightening or other 10,000 reasons why amplifier cam fail.

Good Luck
Simon
simontju
257 posts
 
Best amp to drive ESL?
Roger Sanders (http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0702/index.html) of course suggest to use solid state amplifiers, specifically his own design.

I believe that Andr did not strated the tread asking advise to help him to find different amp then one he uses and enjoys - rather what harm it can endur by driving 1 Ohm load.

...of course when I owned Quad ESL 63 I used only tube amps (heh, heh, heh...)

Regards
Simon
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