Need a warm amp for bright speakers

01-19-14: Bifwynne
Al, why would a SS amp have different speaker load options? I would "a-thunk" that most if not all SS amps have very low "decimal-digit" output impedances. So what's going on inside the black box when switching from 6 to/from 8 ohm speakers?? Does it affect the amp's output impedance?

Hi Bruce,

I'd expect that the output impedance would be negligibly small for either setting. I would guess that in the 6 ohm setting the DC "rails" (supply voltages) provided to the output stage are reduced, and perhaps bias is adjusted, such that the output stage is operated within a smaller range of possible output voltages but a larger range of possible output currents.

Best,
-- Al

Thanks Al. Just thinking out of the box a little. I wonder out loud if flipping the 6/8 ohm switch changes the amp's sweet spot where it is best able to deliver "clean" power (watts) under the two loads ( 6 versus 8 ohms).

Frankly Al, I think the 6/8 ohm switch is a little hokey because I think it permits an inference that the amp may have marginal power supply headroom as a threshold matter. A 110 wpc amp driving up to 7 speakers. It kinda' makes me want to re-read Keith Howard's article about the prevention of cruelty to amps.

Also Al, ... you and I have gone around the mulberry bush a hundred times discussing hard to drive loudspeaker loads -- low impedance in the bass region, coupled with negative phase angles. I haven't seen any bench reports on the OP's speakers, but if his speakers follow the Paradigm S8 paradigm (pun), that poor amp might be doing some serious power delivery rock and roll.

That amp doesn't need a switch. It needs oxygen. :(

To add to my previous post, of course anything I say here is just my humble oppinion and my experiences with different components and speakers in my room to my ears :-)

The paradigm signature series with the berrylium tweeters are a completely different animal and are actually 1 of about 5 different speakers on my wish list.

I found that the monitor series v.6 tweeter to be less bright than the studio series tweeter and I believe a crossover upgrade would do wonders to the studio series, but again, the berrylium tweets in. the signature series sound really nice to me; airy and delicate with great extension.

Try with the NAD. Replace stock jumpers with the silver
ones and you will be happy with the sound.