TWO 150 amps in Dual Mono mode- HOW ??
Posted by: Geoff P on 23 February 2003
I the NAIM system 5 leaflet it says;
"when required the 150 can be used in pairs as mono amplifiers, one for each channel, to suit even the most serious of systems, passive or active."
I am interested in doing this in PASSIVE mode.
Has anybody done it? Does it work?
If so how do you connect up to get dual mono operation?
Presumably you get 100 Watts per channel in this mode? (2 x 50W)
GEOFFP
"when required the 150 can be used in pairs as mono amplifiers, one for each channel, to suit even the most serious of systems, passive or active."
I am interested in doing this in PASSIVE mode.
Has anybody done it? Does it work?
If so how do you connect up to get dual mono operation?
Presumably you get 100 Watts per channel in this mode? (2 x 50W)
GEOFFP
Posted on: 25 February 2003 by Geoff P
quote:
I the NAIM system 5 leaflet it says;
"when required the 150 can be used in pairs as mono amplifiers, one for each channel, to suit even the most serious of systems, passive or active."
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ALL LIES!!
I have now discovered this line was a mistake and has now been changed in the current brochure. It is NOT possible to run the 150 in bridged mode.
Naughty NAIM for getting my hopes up.
Posted on: 26 February 2003 by JeremyB
Mistake or not, it's possible. What you do is use only one channel. It's like having a dedicated power supply, transformer, mains lead etc for each channel.
I ran 180s like this for a while. Overall effect is like a bit more than 1 upgrade - 2 x 180s sounded better than a 250, so I guess 2 x 150s could sound better than a single 180 (and there's not much difference between 2 x 180s run like this and 2 x 135s!). And you might really like the effect - more open, less "closed in" than the stereo configuration. Consult Naim who can make custome interconnect for this (no need to modify the boxes).
I ran 180s like this for a while. Overall effect is like a bit more than 1 upgrade - 2 x 180s sounded better than a 250, so I guess 2 x 150s could sound better than a single 180 (and there's not much difference between 2 x 180s run like this and 2 x 135s!). And you might really like the effect - more open, less "closed in" than the stereo configuration. Consult Naim who can make custome interconnect for this (no need to modify the boxes).
Posted on: 26 February 2003 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by Geoff P:quote:
I the NAIM system 5 leaflet it says;
"when required the 150 can be used in pairs as mono amplifiers, one for each channel, to suit even the most serious of systems, passive or active."
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ALL LIES!!
I have now discovered this line was a mistake and has now been changed in the current brochure. It is NOT possible to run the 150 in bridged mode.
Naughty NAIM for getting my hopes up.
If you have the brochure that shows the printing mistake, You can ask Naim Audio to work out some kind of arrangement for you because you bought the product based on certain expectation and it is not true.
Posted on: 26 February 2003 by Doug Graham
Tuan
It wos amisprint. It should be delt with as such. There are no issues. A simply error. I don't believe anyone was given disinformation deliberately.
Chill out!
Doug
It wos amisprint. It should be delt with as such. There are no issues. A simply error. I don't believe anyone was given disinformation deliberately.
Chill out!
Doug
Posted on: 26 February 2003 by Paul Ranson
And of course you can always run a stereo amp in mono, as JeremyB suggests, so the statement is simply tautologous.
Paul
Paul
Posted on: 26 February 2003 by Geoff P
quote:
1.From JeremyB: Mistake or not, it's possible. What you do is use only one channel. It's like having a dedicated power supply, transformer, mains lead etc for each channel.
Interesting. Of course it does seem a shame to have 50Watts of single channel power going to waste BUT if you are pinching the power from the unused channel you have twicw as much oomph in your power supply.
Is that assumption correct?
quote:
2. From Joolz : if you have bi-wireable speakers you could get a lead made that sends the same signal to both channels of the amp. then just bi wire each speaker from the same amp (but different channels).
quote:
Also from Joolz: also what with naim amps requirement of having a certain length of speaker cable in order to keep the amp stable, wouldn't this be a safer option?
Also interesting. One comment for info the series 5 is much more tolerant of speaker cable and the length rule. I am running Totem MANI 2's on Totem's own recommended speaker cable, only 2 meters long per speaker and Bi-wired. The 112/150 is swinging along nicely with a room filling full range sound and no sign of distress. I am actually pretty happy right now so the 150 mono thing is more for interest.
quote:
3. Jame : Damn damn damn .... I should have kept my 180 and bought another one instead of shelling out for a pair of 135s. There I was thinking I got a significantly more finesse, authority, music and unflappability thanks to the regulated power supplies and fan cooling.
Don't loose too much sleep. I am assured you should look to upgrading the pre-amp first if your chasing that elusive "better sound". The power amp should be quite happy, especially if your not getting much above the region between 12 oçlock and 2 oçlock on the volume control.
Anyway thanks guy's for the various input's they are all good ideas.
regards GEOFFP
Posted on: 27 February 2003 by JeremyB
quote:
it does seem a shame to have 50Watts of single channel power going to waste
Geoff - I had the same initial thoughts, but what I understand is that with the Naim amplifier circuit you get the WHOLE peak amps of the PS when you need it (during transients) without affecting the other channel. It's like having a bank account all to yourself with twice the balance of your joint account - bliss! It also just occured to me that during normal listening you have 95% of the amplifier power going to waste anyway, so what's another 5%?!
James, worry not, 135s are much more "politically correct" and if I remember correctly, they will still perform staggeringly better than 2 x 180 when used with inferior speakers and pre-amps. The difference doesn't seem as great when using better pre-amp and speakers.