Forte Model 1a class A power amp.

[Joe Wong]

Is it safe to use a 1990 era Forte model 1a class A amp to drive those late model 4 ohm and presumably capacitive load ribbon tweeter equipped speakers by Golden Ear n Martin Logan?

 

[Blumlein 88]

Is it safe to use a 1990 era Forte model 1a class A amp to drive those late model 4 ohm and presumably capacitive load ribbon tweeter equipped speakers by Golden Ear n Martin Logan?

Not sure, but you may be confusing ribbons with electrostatic panels. Ribbons are usually just resistive though often of low impedance. ES panels are usually very capacitive.

The folded ribbons in Golden Ear speakers don't appear to be too terrible a load from Stereophile measurements of them. The Forte should work with that.

Martin Logans can be highly capacitive and have less than an ohm impedance at higher frequencies. Might be more of an issue with the Forte.

Also with any amp over 30 years old, it would be worth looking into or having someone look into the amp and see if power supply caps are going or have gone bad.

Oh, and welcome to ASR as this looks like your first post.

 

[windansea]

I use a Forte 1a sometimes with my Maggie 3.6R (R is for ribbon). No problemo.

 

[Joe Wong]

Is it safe to use a 1990 era Forte model 1a class A amp to drive those late model 4 ohm and presumably capacitive load ribbon tweeter equipped speakers by Golden Ear n Martin Logan?

Thinking of the Martin Logan Motion speakers with the folded motion tweeter rated at 4 ohms. Can the Forte 1a handle this low impedence and supposedly capacitive?