Running 4 ohm speaks on bridged amp...ok?


I am contemplating using a Classe CAV-75 to drive a pair of Magnaplanar 1.6 speakers. Since the Maggies need lots of power, I plan to bridge two of the amp's channels to 150w. However, since these speakers are already 4 ohm, does the bridging effectively make them 2 ohm, and can the amp handle it?
mzallen
I find some of the posts so amusing. Half the people don't have a clue of what they are talking about and the other group is right on electronically speaking.

Bridging the amps does NOT change the Z of the speakers, nor impact the amps ability to drive it. All decent amps can handle 4 ohms. but not all amps should be bridged. Also a speaker may be nominally 4 ohms but over the entire 20 to 20K range the Z can dip to one or two ohms. This is the point where some amps have trouble. Also some amps cannot deliver high current. Some speakers need high current. Best to make sure what the speakers really need and what the Z curve is. Lastly, listen at home BEFORE YOU BUY.
I'll try again. When you bridge an amp and use it to drive a 4 ohm speaker, the amp sees a 2 ohm load. NO, the impedance of the speaker doesn't change, but the impedance load the amplifier sees driving the speaker is halved. I have had several conversations with dealers here in Phoenix, and I did talk to Jeff Rowland (the man) when he came here one weekend, specifically about this issue.
Some amps sound worse bridged, some the same, some better. I used a Parasound 1200II THX to drve a pair of Snell Sub 550THXs. Everyone who heard the system agreed the amp sounded stronger in stereo versus bridged.
Yes, a big power supply helps, but the quality of the bridging circuit counts too.
As always, listen & trust your ears....
Another unexpected problem of bridged amps is heat. Recently I added a second amp and bridged them and they heat the room up way to much.
Wow. Thanks for all the responses. I should have known better than to expect a unanimous opinion. I did finally contact Classe, and the tech there suggested I shouldn't have any problem. Of course, the proof will be in the pudding. When I get everything set up my ears will be the judge.
When you bridge amps you increase the distortion.bi amping is perferable.