Seeking thoughts on Apogee Caliber Ribbon speakers

Br3098 THANKS SO MUCH for your research and results. Such a comprehensive article on these speakers. I really appreciate it. I am anxious to find a "mega watt" amp to really try them out. Now I am using 65wpc, one per input. It needs "something" and I'm pretty sure that "something" is more power. Sadly my hearing is not good enough to hear and appreciate what these speakers are capable of. After I am sure that they are working properly I'll probably have to find a new home for them. Thanks again!!

Dear Br3098, it is obvious that your knowledge of ribbon speakers is far above mine. With that in mind I'd like to ask you a question. At moderate volumes and above I will get substantial "breakup" when bass is anything but flat. I have examined the woofer and there is nothing loose. The ribbon seems to be as taught as a person would want it to be (without any definite knowledge of that). I am using a 63 watt rms amp for the woofer and the same for the mid/upper. I cannot compare the two speakers just yet. I don't want to do anything to the second one before I have had a chance to remove it from the case and check for any problems. Just a little anxious here. The amp I am using I am assuming is the problem. I don't think it can cope with a 3 ohm load. It a Phast 8 channel x 63 watt unit. Might you have any thoughts on this situation? Ribbon Newby

Since I did not know if the 65 wpc 8 channel amp I was using was capable of 3-4 ohms without biting the dust I chose to take that chance. I had a mono signal feeding two of the channels and the outputs for low and high of each 65watts going to the Caliber. On a ribbon speaker, without any voice coil to bottom out I was under the impression that occasional distortion, while testing, would do no harm to the ribbons as long as the "excursion" was not obviously excessive. It wasn't. Perhaps you are concerned about the crossover networks? However, I AM going to take your advice and shelf the amp and try another amp that I have somewhere. It is rated at 185 watts at 4 ohms. THAT ought to do the trick I imagine. Since I have never listened to ribbon speakers before I don't know what to expect other than the reviews I've read. I will admit that I like a LOT of bass due to my love of pipe organ music. I do know that these speakers will not have a great deal of spl at low frequencies. I'll try the 185 wpc amp and report back with my observations. Thanks again for taking your time and giving me advice. :)

Everyone....I hooked up a stereo amplifier that I mentioned that is rated at 185 wpc rms each channel operating. One channel for speaker low and one channel for speaker hi. 370 watts to the speaker. Everyone was completely correct. I DID need far more power. Everything sounded 95% better! Also improved was the muddiness that was heard in the bass when volume fairly high and the bass boosted. It now occurs at a much higher volume level only. Maybe it STILL requires more power!! I have the power company on the way out here to give and estimate on three phase power to run the new amps. ;)

R.I.P. They were more trouble than they were worth to me. I donated them to Habitat for Humanity. I have no idea who bought them or what they charged for them. I'm just glad they are gone. But I DO appreciate the in depth advice that I have received on them. Now, to get back to putting a new metal tread on my wagon wheels.