Tube amps and low impedances


Audio Research lists its flagship Reference 600 amp at 500 wpc at 16 ohms....Do tube amps double with each halving of impedance as the best solid state amps do?

Model Reference 600MKIII Specifications

POWER OUTPUT: 500 watts continuous at 16 ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz with less than 1% total harmonic distortion (typically less than .05% at 1 watt).
mitch4t

Showing 1 response by rlips

My Martin Logan Prodigys (Nominal 4 ohms) dip down to 1.2 ohms. Keep in mind, that this is at 20 kHz, there simply is not that much information going on in that part of the spectrum.

My amps, the Audio Research VTM200 have no issues whatsovever driving these speakers off the 4 ohm taps. They will recreate staggering volume with no loss of qulaity in my 12 x 26 x 8 room.

I imagine the REF 600 would not have much trouble driving any real world speaker.