Tweaking, tweaking the MC152
 

First, I want to apologize for many of my recent posts, but it is the only way I will learn. In 2 previous posts, I asked about changing the speakers to the 4 ohm taps, and weather a more powerful amp than the MC152 would give me what I am looking for.

Today, I did try the 4 ohm taps and my findings are the sound is smoother and has better treble integration on my Golden Ear Triton Reference speakers. The bass is a little less, but my Triton References have a level control on the back of the speaker so that isn't a big deal (right now). I plan on living with this configuration for a few days to sort things out and see if the excitement wears off.

Now my BIG question/observation: I noticed I need to raise the volume control much higher to get the same levels I was getting before. I am running a McIntosh C2500 preamp and before changing to 4 ohms, my normal level was around 30 on the volume control. Now I need to raise it to 40 for the same level. Is this normal when going from 8 to 4 ohms, or should I go back to the 8 ohm setting? I am hoping you Mac experts can shed some light on this for me.

Yes, having to increase the volume when you switch from 8 ohm to 4 ohm taps is totally normal and expected. No worries!
Tom

I thought as much. I have been listening to my system with this configuration all day and I must say that the musicality is much better, the mids and highs no longer sound muddy, but I did note some splashiness in some of the extreme highs on one of my cd's (Audio Fidelity SACD "The Cars"). However, everything else I listened to was right on the mark. I did have to raise the level of the woofers about 2db on my GE Triton References speakers, but overall, I am pleased. Further tweaking may be in the future on the woofer level controls.

When I ran the speakers off the 8 ohm taps, I never heard the splashiness in the extreme treble on that particular cd, is this a result of the 4 ohm tap and does that mean I should go back to the 8 ohm setting?

Not sure why the HF 'splashing' is occurring in one tap and not the other.
I'd listen for several days and switch back to see which you like best over the long haul.
Also, I'd listen to a well recorded classical album with massed strings and see which tap is more realistic.
Good news is you can run either tap indefinitely without worries or issues.
Tom

I played the SACD in my secondary system which includes a McIntosh MA6600 integrated, a MCD301 SACD player and Golden Ear Triton One speakers. The splashiness is still there, so it is definitely on the cd and not from changing the impedance taps on my MC152. I feel much better now and I am really enjoying the system. I realized that since mid January when I bought the C2500 and MC152 that I wasn't listening to the system very much and now I know why. I still can't believe how just changing to the 4 ohm taps made a HUGE difference and the sound went from mediocre to fantastic.

I just saved myself a boatload of money as now there is no need for a bigger amp.

Great news! Glad that changing the taps was worth the effort.

I just re-read the test report in Stereophile on my GE Triton Reference, and John Atkinson concluded by his measurements as well as listening that the speakers need an amp that can do 4 ohm loads effortlessly and he measured the speaker sensitivity at 92.5db. I just can't believe the difference I am hearing on the 4 ohm taps and his report seems to really justify my using the 4 ohm taps. MY wife who is a non audiophile and who rarely pays any attention to the stereo asked me last night if I bought more equipment because the system sounds much different.

I tried to explain to her what I did and I got a "whatever" from her. She noticed though so I was pretty happy about that. When I asked her if she liked the new sound, I got an "I don't know" from her. Whatever. On the GE forum, I read that Sandy Gross, the designer of the GE Triton Reference, uses the 4 ohm taps on his Line Magnetic amp which was one of the amps used to voice the speakers.

Glad you are enjoying your system!

This is normal. The 4 ohm tap produces 1/2 the voltage as the 8 ohm tap. 1/2 voltage = 3db less level. Not a problem!

BTW I use the MCD550 SACD Player connected directly to my MC152 amp driving Triton Ones. Sounds incredible! No preamp needed. “Less is More”!