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2,5 Ω Amplifier advice

tabby

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Mar 12, 2021
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Hi all, I have just got a pair of Triangle Concerto speakers and just discovered that they are:

Nominal impedance

4 Ω

Minimum impedance

2,5 Ω

and I have a Emotiva DR2 amp that is:

Minimum Recommended Load Impedance (per channel): 4 Ohms.

I dont wanna damage speakers or amp and my speakers a very expensive.
Can I run them without damage or do I need an other amp.?
I need a advice for a new amp maybe.....
 
The Crown XLS 1502 is stable to 2 ohms.
 
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Hi all, I have just got a pair of Triangle Concerto speakers and just discovered that they are:

Nominal impedance

4 Ω

Minimum impedance

2,5 Ω

and I have a Emotiva DR2 amp that is:

Minimum Recommended Load Impedance (per channel): 4 Ohms.

I dont wanna damage speakers or amp and my speakers a very expensive.
Can I run them without damage or do I need an other amp.?
I need a advice for a new amp maybe.....

Most amplifiers are rated for nominal impedance and will tolerate loads below that. The best thing would be to just ask Emotiva, but at normal listening levels I really doubt you'll be stressing the amplifier even with a 2.5 ohm minimum. Personally I'd hook them up and enjoy.
 
Tmcfig02.jpg
 
You're not going to damage either your speakers or the amp, hook 'em up and see how they sound. The recommended impedance is the level where the amp will perform at full power specification - it doesn't fall off a cliff when the speaker goes lower. That said, if you feel like you're not getting the sound or performance out of the combo once you've tried them, then it's time to start thinking about a different amp.
 
Can I run them without damage or do I need an other amp.?
It does put more stress on the amp but you are very unlikely to hurt the speakers.

The only way the speakers would be damaged is if the amplifier "blows" in a way that it puts-out DC, or if it goes into oscillation. That could happen but usually when an amp blows it also blows a fuse (or something else) and shuts-down completely and after a moment your speakers are safe.

The most-likely "bad outcome" is that the amplifier overheats and shuts-down (hopefully temporarily).

The Emotiva website says:
Protection
Audiophile-grade fault protection is entirely transparent under normal listening conditions, yet protects the amp and your other equipment from virtually all common faults.


...I've had an "8-Ohm" amp driving 4-Ohm speakers for several years. It's an old amp and if it blows I'll just replace it. ;) If I replace it now I'll have no use for the old one.
 
Likely the amp will not be continuously playing content that has a particular frequency that causes a dip in impedance like that in real music. So if the amp can support that load for short bursts of time as it occurs in music, it should not be a problem.
 
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My speakers are also 2.7 ohms through most of the range and I use an Apollon amp based on Hypex NCore NC500 modules that output about 600W for them.
 
Because the DR2 is bridged, each amp module will be loaded with half the speaker's impedance. I agree it's worth a try (with a careful touch on the volume knob), but I suspect they're not an ideal match. Ncore, Purifi, & Monolith are all good-value alternatives.
 
Because the DR2 is bridged, each amp module will be loaded with half the speaker's impedance. I agree it's worth a try (with a careful touch on the volume knob), but I suspect they're not an ideal match. Ncore, Purifi, & Monolith are all good-value alternatives.
I have run them for some months now and the amp is not blownt up yet, but I Will buy a amp to match the speakers.
 
I have run them for some months now and the amp is not blownt up yet, but I Will buy a amp to match the speakers.

If you've run them for months without problem then the only reason to buy a new amp is because you want (not need) one. That is not a problem, but it sounds like you've already pretty well vetted the amp driving your speakers.
 
If you've run them for months without problem then the only reason to buy a new amp is because you want (not need) one. That is not a problem, but it sounds like you've already pretty well vetted the amp driving your speakers.
Yea your right.
I want to get the Max out off the speakers and I can use the dr2 som other room.
 
And someone does not know how to design a benign load. The impedance phase is flat and unwavering except for the normal swing at drivers' resonance, so at least that's good. But wide range in the midbass and 3(!) other spots dip to about 2 ohms, and that's not going to make a lot of amps happy. At least the speakers are sensitive and don't require a lot of juice.

When I design, I try to make my minima 3.3 ohms or higher, make it/them narrow in bandwidth, and keep the z-phase inside the +/- 30° range if at all possible. This means most 4 ohm stable amplifiers will remain happy.
 
When purchasing speakers, a possibly useful selection criterion might be that its impedance characteristic not be so stupidly low in places that it rules out many amplifiers that can handle it, including the very expensive one you may already own and like.
 
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