Quote:
Originally Posted by miner
Reply from McIntosh since Sf did not reply:
Hi Kevin,
I’m sorry you did not get a reply from SF, I see you have not written to us here at McIntosh since last October..
Those speakers are below 8 ohms for nearly their entire range, and should really be used on the 4 ohm connections.
The McIntosh MC452 will put out over 900 watts average into those speakers if they are connected to the 8 ohm taps.
With a power handling of 300 watts, there is danger you could blow the speakers.
The Heatsinks on the MC452 are designed to dissipate the heat generated by 450 watts, so some heating (if connected to the 8-ohm taps) may shorten the life of the amplifier.
The 8 ohm connections will be more punchy and dynamic, but the 4 ohm connections will be cleaner and smoother, as the correct connection will avoid stressing the amplifier, which could increase distortion.
The 4 ohm connection will provide full power to the speakers and amp will run nice and cool and last forever, as a McIntosh should.
Chuck Hinton of McIntosh, Wadia, and Snell Tech Support
888-979-3737 X311
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Those specs are peak power. It is not unusual for an amplifier, even McIntosh to go into shutdown at only 1/3 rated
continuous power. Transient/dynamic peaks are a different story. Chances are even the speakers are able to absorb much higher wattage over their ratings on transient peaks as long as they are transient peaks with enough cooling in between them.
In reality, under most "normal conditions" at sane listening levels (85db average to 92dB peaks) with average efficiency speakers in an average room, the amplifier is just cruising along somewhere in the 3-30w range with dynamic transients perhaps reaching a bit higher. Of course it takes 2 times the power and dissipation to double the acoustic energy (+3dB) so it quickly adds up as one starts to crank things up. It will take 10x the power to go up +10db. I'd say it is very important to get a good idea where the "happy" tap is if one is in the habit of listening closer to 100dB peaks. Not something your ears will appreciate over the years.
