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It would be interesting to find out from some of the novice members what they know of the Pros and Cons of Low Impedance (resistance) and bridging stereo amplifiers to mono operation. Let's see what type technical audio terminology will be used, or missing? Those of you that have dealt with the issue previously, sit back, kick your feet up, grab a brew and learn what others feel.
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Posts: 1057 | From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'eh | Registered: May 1999
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Has anyone ever bridged an amp into a component set before. (Not mono of course, but use a Y-Connector so the amp has two of the same inputs eg. two left or two right) How does this set up sound? Is the greater amount of distortion noticeable? Does the power double (Or I guess the components would now be trying to dissipate quadruple the power they did off of one channel at 4ohms) just as it does into a sub?
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Posts: 76 | From: Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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Shadow, In 1996, I used an Orion 250HCCA in bridged mono to power the separates in my right door and a second 250 HCCA on the separates in the left door. I've never heard so much clean power on top end, and it would keep up with my sub set-up at the time (24 XTR twelves). It was still a STEREO setup using a right signal into the right amp and a left signal into the left amp.
Steve
Posts: 219 | From: Monroe,NC USA | Registered: May 1999
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Thanks KOB. So you didn't notice any extra distortion from the amp? So what happens when you try to push 200W into a set of seperates rated for 50W? They are in very small volume sealed kick panels. Will I hear lots of distortion before they blow?
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Posts: 76 | From: Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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I have heard of, and was going to do at one time, a setup using a mono amp per channel (specifically, Power 50.1's in my case ) I would think that a component set rated for 50 watts would NOT handle 200w, simply because this would blow the tweeter, quickly.
ShadowStar
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Computers are a lot like air conditioners.. Open Windows and they become useless..
The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacuums.
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Right now I've got a dinky little Alpine amp (45W * 2) running my front stage. The front stge consists of 8" PG's, 5 1/4" Alpines, and 1" Alpine tweets. The staging and imaging is second to none (that I've ever haerd) but it's just not freaking loud enough! I was thinking of getting another of the same amp and running each side bribged. This would quadruple the power to the setup. The trouble is that the darn 5 1/4 " Alpine seperates are only rated for 50 Watts. Do any of you think it will sound louder or do you think i'll just wind up blowing the mids or tweets.
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Posts: 76 | From: Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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Ok, the following is OPINION and SUGGESTION, before anybody kills me
You sound like you've paid attention to detail (the three way front stage), and I think you should continue that in the rest of your system. To that end, I would suggest this-
TWO amps on your components, with the following options-
Option 1- A four channel on the component set (4x50) and a two channel amp for your midbass drivers (2x50 or preferably as much as they can handle, like 2x100 or 2x150), and an external crossover to divide the signal up for each signal, one of high slope. This will give you a well balanced, and HIGH POWER, setup. Also- It will be EXTREMLY clean.
Option 2- Run a two channel amp for your components, and a two channel amp for your midbass, with a 2x100 or 2x50 power rating on the comp. amp, and 2x100 or 2x150 on the midbass.
Option three- seen this before! Run a four channel amp of approximately 4x100 to your mids and midbasses and a 2x50 to your tweets (as tweets are USUALLY 3db more efficient and located closer to on-axis) This will give you the loudest overall frontstage, however it will require the most crossover work to avoid compressing your midranges.
Option 1 would be my preferrence.
Remember, these suggestions require you to inject *more* time and a LOT more money (crossover AND two different amps) into your system. If you're planning on doing this, don't sell yourself short- buy amps that are clean and will push your components to their limits, then use the crossover, and the volume control, to keep them safe and loud.
And, as always, listen to your ears, wallet, and may you have good luck!
ShadowStar
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Computers are a lot like air conditioners.. Open Windows and they become useless..
The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacuums.
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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