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  #11  
Old 05-31-2018, 02:57 PM
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Interesting thread! I have an MA8900 in the house and have been experimenting with it and my Elipsas SE's for a few days. I have only used the 4 ohm taps so far, but I love what I am hearing. Most definitely *not* bright. In fact, the Mc sounds more tube-like than my tube amp! I am seriously considering the purchase of the McIntosh to replace my PrimaLuna integrated. I will try the 8 ohm tap next and report back with my findings, although unless I am mistaken the Elipsas do drop all the way to 2.4 ohms in the lower frequencies....
Elipsa generally do very well with neutral sounding SS amps that can deliver gobs of current and power although it is not mandatory due to their generous sensitivity. Krell, Bryston, McIntosh and some others are combinations I have heard over the years as well as experimented with when I had Elipsa in my own system.



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Old 05-31-2018, 07:18 PM
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I’d be interested in hearing what you think of the 8 ohm tap.



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Originally Posted by esteban View Post
Interesting thread! I have an MA8900 in the house and have been experimenting with it and my Elipsas SE's for a few days. I have only used the 4 ohm taps so far, but I love what I am hearing. Most definitely *not* bright. In fact, the Mc sounds more tube-like than my tube amp! I am seriously considering the purchase of the McIntosh to replace my PrimaLuna integrated. I will try the 8 ohm tap next and report back with my findings, although unless I am mistaken the Elipsas do drop all the way to 2.4 ohms in the lower frequencies....
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  #13  
Old 05-31-2018, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by PHC1 View Post
Elipsa generally do very well with neutral sounding SS amps that can deliver gobs of current and power although it is not mandatory due to their generous sensitivity. Krell, Bryston, McIntosh and some others are combinations I have heard over the years as well as experimented with when I had Elipsa in my own system.



Thank you for your input, Serge. In your own experience, what worked best between your Elipsas and the McIntosh? 4 or 8 ohms?
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Old 05-31-2018, 11:27 PM
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Thank you for your input, Serge. In your own experience, what worked best between your Elipsas and the McIntosh? 4 or 8 ohms?
I used McIntosh monoblocks with Auditors, Guarneri Memento and Cremona. By the time I had the Elipsa I was running Bryston monoblocks. I would use 4 ohms on the Elipsa as most of the bass region is very low impedance. Hence the reason the Elipsa does so well with amplifiers with lots of current and overhead reserves. When I did hear the Elipsa with McIntosh it was on 4 ohm tap.
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Old 06-02-2018, 04:01 PM
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Default Sonus Faber Cremona - which Ohm tap do you like?

I will try my Cremona Auditor Ms on the 8 ohm tap of the MC452. Will report back. I reached out to Sf about 4 vs 8 ohm but no reply yet
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  #16  
Old 06-04-2018, 12:54 PM
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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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Old 06-04-2018, 02:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miner View Post
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
Thanks for sharing McIntosh's' reply.

Ron
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  #18  
Old 06-05-2018, 03:28 PM
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Kevin,

Thanks for sharing Chuck’s feedback.

This news spooked me as it is night and day when I switch from the 8 ohm tap to the 4 ohm tap.

So I reached out to Ron C from McIntosh.

Ron told me it was fine to use the 8 ohm tap with my Cremonas.

Perhaps it’s different for my MAC6700, with 200wpc, but who knows.

I asked Ron a follow-up question and clarified that my amp doesn’t even get the slightest bit warm while using the 8 ohm tap.

Ron said if it was a mismatch, the amp would run hot.

Definitely a different response, but I’ll be happy to keep my Cremonas on the 8 ohm tap!!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by miner View Post
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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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds)

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  #19  
Old 06-05-2018, 03:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miner View Post
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
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.
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  #20  
Old 06-05-2018, 04:08 PM
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I have experimented with the 8 ohm tap during the last few days. Initially I, too, was surprised. The sound with my Elipsas seemed a little more open and dynamic. A little more forward. But it was *not* night and day. But quickly enough I realized that highs were harsher, more "in your face", the midrange was not as sweet and full-bodied, and the bass was unmistakably looser and not as controlled. The latter was the more evident difference. The rest were more subtle differences. Based on the input from other folks, and the impedance curve of the Elipsas, none of the above is actually surprising.

Back to the 4 ohm tap I went, but it's certainly great to have these many options!

Last edited by esteban; 06-05-2018 at 04:17 PM.
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