Q about Taps on Tube Amps (Steve, you'd know this!)

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Gary, Aug 20, 2002.

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  1. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff Thread Starter

    Location:
    Toronto
    As you can see by my profile, I have a McIntosh MC240 tube amplifier (about 40 watts / side). I am running my speakers off the 8 ohm taps as they are rated for 8 ohms.

    Others on this board have experimented - and had success - using the 16 ohm taps, etc. even though they have (I presume) 8 ohm speakers.

    Would experimenting with different ohm taps damage my speakers or my amps? Vintage equipment is hard to replace.

    Does it make a difference if one is running vintage equipment? For example, would a modern tube amp be tougher than an vintage amp so you'd have less fear about experimenting? My guess would be "yes"....

    Thanks!

    (PS This is an offshoot from Tube Guilt......!!) :sigh:
     
    Gary, Aug 20, 2002
    #1
  2. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Location:
    California
    Gary, damage? Naa, but use the 8 tap. That's what Mac's love the best!
     
    Steve Hoffman, Aug 20, 2002
    #2
  3. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    Location:
    Somewhere in the middle
    Gary, I occasionally run Dynaco MK IV's and tried the 4, 8 and 16 ohm taps, and the 8 ohm sounded best with my Dynaudio speakers; you'd probably only use the 16 ohm taps for some vintage horn speakers that were designed to be driven at that impedance. You're most likely gonna find speakers designed to run around 8 ohms, then 4 ohms, with 16 ohms a waaaay distant third...
     
    indy mike, Aug 20, 2002
    #3
  4. Scott Wheeler

    Scott Wheeler Forum Resident

    Location:
    ---------------
    Gary

    Try for yourself and see. I don't doubt that Steve is right but there is nothing like hearing for yourself.
     
    Scott Wheeler, Aug 20, 2002
    #4
  5. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff Thread Starter

    Location:
    Toronto
    Thanks, Steve, Mike and Scott! Just checking to make sure I don't damage anything.....

    Experiment / Tweak #14 coming up!
     
    Gary, Aug 20, 2002
    #5
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