2. amps-preamps
  3. 1102111021

Using two out of three channels--bad for the amp?

I'm putting together a small system for my parents. Source is a Sony SACD/CD player, speakers are Mirage Omni-60's, and the amp is a Jolida 1703 hybrid integrated. My question is... the Jolida is a three channel amp. Can I use only two of the channels, with nothing hooked up to the third channel tap, and be okay? Will this in any way harm the amp, or create some sort of dangerous electrical scenario? Would it be better for me to go inside the amp and disconnect the third channel, or leave the third tube out, or connect a dummy load to the third channel speaker tap?

On a side note... I went to my local Tweeter store to see what they had, and I found the Mirage Omni-60's on clearance for $299. I am really impressed with these speakers... Excellent build quality, and the omnipolar design really creates an expensive soundstage with very precise imaging. The speakers use titanium drivers, and the sound is a little thin right now, but I am hoping that break in will fill in the sound. For $300 though, I am very impressed. A very smooth, detailed speaker with good bass, and (as mentioned above) exemplary soundstage and imaging.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

-Eric
ewha
3 responses Add your response
sean
6,231 posts
 
El's suggestions are right on the money. The only thing that i would add would be to change the 10 ohm resistor to one of a higher value. By increasing the load resistance, even if the amp were to try and reproduce some type of signal i.e. RFI induced noise, the higher value load resistor would limit how much current the amp would be able to produce. You have less potential to damage the amp should something go haywire along with less potential to smoke the loading resistor at that same time. You don't need to worry about the specific value of the resistor so long as it can handle a few watts of power. If it were mine, i would use something between 30 - 100 ohms. Sean
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eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Solid state (output stage) amps don't mind having no load, especially if no signal is input to that channel. I do remember that no load conditions were considered a problem with tube amps. To be completely safe, put a shorting plug on the input and a 10 ohm 5 watt resistor on the output.

By the way, the two remaining channels will be improved by having the power supply all to themselves.
slv
87 posts
 
It certainly won't hurt the amp by using only two out of the three available channels. As a safety concern though, just make sure that nothing comes in contact with the speaker binding posts. :o)
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