SDA2A and Carver M1.0T Bridged
sevendogs
Posts: 3
Hello everyone, I have been running a pair of Polk SDA2A's and a single Carver M1.0t amp for 28+ years now and I love the set up. A buddy of mine sold me his M1.0T for $100, which of course I could not pass up. Both units have the bridging switch. Can I bridge these amps and run them in mono mode with the SDA2As? I have been searching on the Internet for someone else with a set up like this to see if this would work but haven't found any examples. I know how to hook up the cables, just not sure the fact my Polks are 4 ohm and the amps are rated at 8 ohms when bridged will cause an issue. Rather not smoke check my components...
Comments
-
You cannot use bridged amps with SDA speakers unless the SDAs can use the isolation transformer. Far as I know, the 2As are not compatible with the isolation transformer, so "no" you can't use the two bridged amps and still have the SDA cable connected.
-
Thank you for your response - I can lose the SDA cable, that's not a problem. I was more concerned with the fact the Carvers are not rated for 4 ohms bridged so didn't know if hooking them to the Polks while bridged would cause an issue.
-
I suppose that's likely to cause problems, too.
One wonders if the "Mark II opt 002" mod would improve the low-impedance drive capacity of the 1.0T. -
Well, mechanically it works, no sparks, smoke (
) at low volumes but without the SDA cable they sound very different. Well, not sure how to proceed. Because of their impedance, I am hesitant to crank them, not that I abuse them in any way, but I do like to feel the music. If they dip below 4 ohms not sure how the Carver's will take it. I have seen those mods, will look into it, thanks. -
The SDA cable is what makes the speakers what they are. (They are who we thought they were! RIP Denny Green)
I've never tried what you are saying, but most bridged amps don't like 4ohm loads from what I understand.2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A -
Except for the soundstage collapsing to "ordinary" stereo, and--maybe--a bit less bass, the speakers shouldn't sound any different.without the SDA cable they sound very different.
First Guess: Something is wrong, either in the speakers or in the electronics driving them. Can you confirm the change using one stereo amp, with and without the SDA interconnect?
-
Double post.
-
Can't see this being a good idea. Sda2a are 4ohm and dip lower, your noise floor just rose up. These amps will get very warm when driven in this configuration. Definitely do not plug in that SDA cable while bridged.
My.02 -
I'd lose the amps, you'd be surprised at how much better other amps sound in comparison.
That said, you should never use bridged amps with less than 8 ohm nominal loads and as mentioned bridged amps have a much higher noise floor.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Depends on the bridged amps being used. Aragon Palladiums and Iridiums are bridged; but FTC-rated for 4-ohm loads, and advertised for lower impedance still. (~1000 watts into 2 ohms)
I'm thinking the Adcom GFA555 were also rated for 4-ohm use when bridged.
I'm sure there are other examples.
Note that having a bridged amp that will drive low-impedance speakers does not change the fact that bridged amps don't play well with SDAs unless there's an isolation transformer in the SDA interconnect.
