switching between two amplifiers; issues of power


Hello and thanks for your insight.

I am ordering a second amp, an inexpensive class D amp, fueled by two Icepower modules, the 300AS1, I believe, which outputs 150 watts into 8ohms and 300 into 4 ohms. It can handle a load as low as 2.7 ohms.

This is a Swiss-assembled amp that I've ordered because my almost utterly amazing Nuforce STA200, also a $500 amp, runs hot when I play it a little into the loud.

My question: when the new amp arrives and I want to swap the speakers to the new XTZ amp, can I leave the Nuforce plugged in and "on," while there are no speaker cables affixed, and visa-versa with the other amp. I would like to compare the two amps and I don't want to damage an amp for lack of speaker load.

Thank you and best regards,
listening99

Showing 5 responses by listening99

Very helpful. Many ways to cause damage with wires floating between amps in the power "on" position, although technically no harm arises in having the amps on without interconnects. 
@millercarbon 

So, the first amp is the lovely STA200, outputting 80wpc, and I've got it pushing a 4ohm nominal, down to 3.1 load. The amp does fine at modest volumes. I've been posting about this, from a variety of angles, for the past several weeks. It's a struggle because the amp's sonics are about as good as I would expect to do, for under maybe $3000.00 I could be mistaken and I'm eager to hear some suggestions, but I can't go the direction of tubes in this very hot climate, so we are talking ss or class D suggestions.

Back to the Nuforce: it is not recommended to run this amp on 4ohm speakers, but when I bought my Tekton's I was told the speakers run so easily it shouldn't be a problem. 

I am understanding that class D 300 wpc will run quite a bit differently, owing to crazy high efficiency, compared to SS in the Nuforce. 

1 watt into an 80% efficient amp would seem to yield 1/5 watt in heat?
@tomic601 That's interesting... Mrdecibel convinced me to stay away from the Job, suggesting it would have similar difficulty, owing to the low impedance of my speakers, dropping down to 3.1 ohms, according to claims by one owner of Tekton Moabs. I also understand they not longer make the Job 225, and I understand this might be related to design flaws and reliability. I've heard a variety of reliability comments on the Job, and your comments come out on the positive side...

It seems the Job would have an easier time supporting LARGE LOUD bass notes, like the kind that open the live version of Styx's "Snowblind" (song 5, on the first disc), on their Caught in the Act, album. I'm actually more 'asking' if the Job amp would do better, specifically in terms of handling LOUD BASS and in managing heat at louder play. The Nuforce STA200 is wonderful, vivid, clear, particularly skilled in rendering the music and imparting a feeling of the space, but things shift a bit when  I'm asking for average delivery levels of 90+ db, with peaks in high 90's or above. Give it an hour in that territory and the heat sinks are VERY hot, maybe not burning, but very hot, and the entire chassis is also hot. I've always brought the volume level down at that point and things seem to cool well.

I want to clarify that aside from the heat, the other issue is that I want to be able to play the very biggest bass notes without difficulty. The NuForce does not play Royals by Lorde particularly well. I do not pursue this kind of music but rarely, but if I'm going to buy another amp, I think I want it to be able to handle the big stuff. That's the primary motivation, although I'm intrigued by class d. As mentioned, things are too hot in my home for tubes, during the summer. This is why I've got what some are reporting is an excellent low-cost decently powered class D amp heading this way...
Yes, my use of high nineties was for projection out of windows into my backyard. With alleged 98db speakers, I didn't think this would be a problem (for the Nuforce), but it did heat up (considerably) over the hour... 

Within the 12x14.5 room of primary listenership, Peaks are more in the high eighties, or lower, for most of my listening. I should try Royals in that context, but truth-be-told, I'm fairly tired of the song. It's more a sonic biceps flex than anything else.

Just received Trio Jeepy CD from the culture of Amazon, and the hints of the original space of recording come through. Love the distance-impression of the sax, out on the left, the chunky and springy percussion off the right, the sweet double-bass in the midst. The Nuforce is perfect for this. 

I'd be interested to learn more about how the RTA of Royals interacts with an amp. 

@tomic601 You mention, "Van Alstine IF the class D disappoints." I did a search, nothing came up that matched... 
@boomerbillone - your post is appreciated... maybe I should have opted for the 800wpc d-sonic, given your spirited claims. I will have the new 300wpc amp for a 30-day trial, so we will see how it goes. Should be here Thursday and I will definitely set it in motion that evening.

Thanks for sharing,