Which basic amps can drive 1 ohm loads ?


Which amps will drive 1 ohm loads like Apogee Speakers?
seadogs1
McIntosh has performance graphs for most of its recent amps that show total stability at 1 ohm.

However, it also depends on the volume you wish to listen at since the power is to the square of voltage (P=V^2/R). Most amps will do it at low volume but then they will either overheat (surprising how many designs are inadequately cooled) or clip heavily at higher levels. It's hard to answer your question directly. I don't know of any amps that will rock hard at 1 ohm for extended periods. Need to look at the impedance graph of your speakers because the minimum may only happen at one point.
The InnerSound ESL amp will drive one-ohm loads comfortably, sounds very good, and has plenty of power and punch...
Some of the Adcoms are suppose to...but I would try a professional amp like Peavey,Crown,and the like .These are designed to handle the tough ohm loads and do it all day!

Good Luck!
I am using a Pass Labs X-250 to drive MartinLogan Aerius i's, which drop to 1.2ohms at 20Khz fully driven.

Though it does spike the built-in power meter pretty hard on heavy treble transitions, the amp NEVER sounds stressed, and seems to be designed to shrug off this kind of load. If anything, these speakers are now the weak-point of my system - not the amp.

Standard Disclaimer:
YMMV - This is only my personal experience - I don't know everything - please do not flame me.