A23 bridged into lsi15s

cbl117
cbl117 Posts: 285
edited April 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
I want to run 2 parasound A23s bridged mono into my lsi15s. I've only seen specs for 8ohms in bridged mode. Is this safe on 4ohm speaks? Could I biamp, or is it too much hassle for what its worth?
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Comments

  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited April 2007
    I believe the A23 only runs 8ohms bridged. Call Parasound. The line is never busy and they are extremely helpful. They could answer your question quickly.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2007
    Safe. If you reach protection level with the Parasound A23, at your unknown listening levels....you need another amplifier anyways.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Safe.
    Mark's a wise dude. . . but give Parasound a call just in case :o

    Better safe than sorry. I wouldn't run 4 ohm speakers on bridged amps, unless it was stated somewhere in the specs, but that's just me.

    You can biamp without running them in mono, right?!?
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2007
    I would run them, and have, but that's just me.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    You're crazy man, but I like you. You're crazy. . . man (in best Will Farrell Old School voice)
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2007
    I find that running any amp in bridged mode tends to add more distortion into the background, and therefore eliminate the advantage of the extra power. I would actively biamp or get a more powerful amp if needed. YMMV.
    V
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    your my boy blue, your my boy.

    Thanks for the responses. Theres a parasound a23 and p3 set for sale on ebay. looks tempting, but wasn't sure if running the amps bridged into 4ohms was safe.

    I'm really on the hunt for a tube pre, but saw the a23/p3 combo and it got me thinking...
    2 Channel

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    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited April 2007
    cbl117 wrote: »
    ....I'm really on the hunt for a tube pre, but saw the a23/p3 combo and it got me thinking...

    The Halo P3 and A23 make a great combo. I used that combo including the matching T3 tuner in my 2ch system for quite sometime. The only reason I'm not currently using them is due to my current interest in tubes.

    Doro is right though. It is very unlikely that you would have any trouble running bridged.
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,489
    edited April 2007
    cbl117 wrote: »
    your my boy blue, your my boy.

    Thanks for the responses. Theres a parasound a23 and p3 set for sale on ebay. looks tempting, but wasn't sure if running the amps bridged into 4ohms was safe.

    I'm really on the hunt for a tube pre, but saw the a23/p3 combo and it got me thinking...

    Get a different preamp instead. A single A23 is plenty powerful enough for the LSi15's. The problem with running bridged with an A23 is heat buildup, so if the A23 doesn't have a lot of room above it (heat sinks are inside the case) it will overheat and trip the protection circuit. Heat buildup is why Parasound recommends in writing only running bridged only into 8 ohm loads, otherwise they could be potentially liable from a legal perspective. A much better option than running two A23's is running one A21, which can be bought used for the price of two used A23's.
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited April 2007
    I would be worried about heat. I ran a pair of LSi7s off the A23, which is a easier load then the 15s, and the amp was always very warm all over and hot after movies. I would be worried about shortening the life of your amps if you were running a more difficult load on them and then bridging.

    You could test it out, play music or movies at your normal listening level then turn the amp off, set it to bridged, and hook it into one speaker. See if it goes into protect mode with one speaker being run, or if it gets to hot after a short period of time. You won't really be able to tell a difference in sound quality since it is only one speaker going, but it would tell you if the amp has a problem with it.

    Jared
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2007
    Class A biased amps are meant to be hot.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited April 2007
    I mean getting to hot. I had my A23 running a pair of LSi7s as rear surrounds and after a movie it was to hot to keep my hand on for more then a few seconds. I could only imagine how hot it would get with bridged LSi15s.
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Class A biased amps are meant to be hot.

    I don't know if they are class A or not, but when I got my first real stereo amp, a B&K ST-202, I was really worried about how hot it got. I even PM'd a couple other B&K owners on the forum and emailed/called B&K Support.

    The Support guy calls me back, asks "where does it get hot?" I tell him near the back it's hottest. He says "near the huge heat sinks?" I say, "yeah, near the huge heat sinks". . . and he responds "that's why it has HUGE HEAT SINKS."

    Good times being a noob. . . good times.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    Thanks for the replies. After some more thought, I'm thinking about getting an anthem pre 2l to replace the avr. If I ever feel the need for more power I'll sell the a23 and go from there...maybe a21 used?

    anyone know where I can find a good deal on an anthem pre 2l?:D
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    Agon, ebay, Polk FM, jb audio pimp. . . the usual suspects.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1182359047
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    Thanks for the link andy.

    I need silver faceplate and was looking to keep the price around $500. I don't think I'll find the SE version for that price.
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited April 2007
    Did you see this one? http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1181719113

    In CA, too.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited April 2007
    I think the unit will not be very stable into a 4-ohm load.

    Parasound only lists the bridged spec at 8 ohms, so I would believe it is not possible with a 4-ohm load.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited April 2007
    I would bi-amp, do not bridge to a 4 ohm speaker. Emlyn is right, a bigger amp like the A21 would probably give you the dynamics you want.
    Carl

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2007
    Audio tinkerbelles....is that all thats left around here?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2007
    :D WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! It certainly looks like it doesn't it Mark?:eek: :D

    But have no fear, I have ZERO interest in tinkering. I'm to busy listening!!!:D
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Audio tinkerbelles....is that all thats left around here?
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    AndyGwis wrote: »
    Did you see this one? http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1181719113

    In CA, too.

    Yeah I saw that one, but i'm not sure if I should spend the extra money and get the 2l. Does anyone know if the sound quality will be drastically different between the 1L and 2L?

    Also is $450 a good price for a Pre 1L?
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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