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Planar Speaker Asylum

Magnepan MG 3A w/ tube amp w/c output tap 4 or 8 ohms

112.198.223.72

Hi fellow inmates using tube amps for their Magnepan . I have a rebuilt by the factory (2008) MG3A and I was experimenting w/ the output tap of my ARC D79B's . I recently tried the 8 ohm tap but at the end in my system it sounds best at the 4 ohm tap . It more musical , organic presentation w/ more bloom and liquidity . I found that at 8 ohms it was mechanical sounding and dry . Though it was more dynamic . Here is a picture of my setup .

Follow Ups:

RE: That is bcoz the MG 3A is a 4 ohm spkr. nt - andyr 17:16:29 11/06/20 (3)
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- RE: That is bcoz the MG 3A is a 4 ohm spkr. nt - mondial 17:34:22 11/06/20 (2)
  Hi Andy thank you for your reply . My amp manufacturer told the Magnepan are a resistive load what does this mean ? And ARC tube amp in their experience , 4 ohms are best when driving Magnepans . With other speakers like Magico & Wilson's the ARC factory prefer to drive them via the 8 ohm tap instead of the specified by the specified by the speaker manufacturer . Others said the 8 ohm tap is the most suitable output for a tube amp .
  
  Edits: 11/06/20
  - RE: "Magnepans are a resistive load what does this mean? " ... - andyr 17:58:18 11/06/20 (1)
    A resistive load is one which does not have an inductive or capacitative component - and so is a good load for an amp to drive. (Electrostatics, for instance, have a very high capacitative component - and so many amps do not cope. Your typical cone speaker has an inductive component - as well as resistance.)
    Because your IIIAs are resistive (without much in the way of an inductive component), your ARC amps can make use of their 4 ohm taps. Magicos & Wilsons use cone drivers - which, bcoz of their inductance, require the 8 ohm taps on ARCs (and other tube amps) to be used.
    The only issue that makes Maggies a 'difficult' load is their tendency to drop to 2 or 3 ohms at certain frequencies; this causes them to pull a lot more current than if they were a constant 8 ohms - however, ARC amps have great power supplies! :-))
    I actively triamp my "Frankenpans" (think of them as IIIAs but with the mid panel on a completely separate sheet of mylar to the bass panel).
    Which means I needed:
    * a ribbon amp which was happy driving 2 ohms, plus
    * a mid-panel amp which could cope with 3.2 ohms.
    Andy
    
    Edits: 11/06/20
    - RE: "Magnepans are a resistive load what does this mean? " ... - mondial 18:21:36 11/06/20 (0)
      Thank you Andy for the explanation now I understand what a resistive load is .

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