Mcintosh MC501 to 802Di's: 8ohm vs 4ohm

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  • Highroller
    Junior Member
    • Jan 2010
    • 27

    Mcintosh MC501 to 802Di's: 8ohm vs 4ohm

    I am wondering about connecting to the 4 ohm taps on the MC501 to my 802Di's. Since the 802Di is rated for 8 ohm can someone tell me what happens when connecting to the 4 ohm taps both from a sound standpoint as well as an electrical standpoint vs the 8 ohm taps? Does more power get send down the wire when connected to 4 ohms to 8 ohm speakers....etc..

    Thank you for your help
  • mdonda
    Junior Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 15

    #2
    If you select the 8ohm tap than you will get the full rated power output at that impedance load, however; you will get less power the furhter away the speaker's load strays from the selected tap. That is the disadvantage of the autoformer and that's why you typically need a much more powerfull Mac amp as compared to a more modern design. The 802d's impedance curve varies quite a bit and the 8ohm nominal rating is just the average. If you select the 8 ohm tap, the frequency range closest to the 8 ohm load will sound its best. You just have to experiment and detemine what sounds best to you.

    Comment

    • htsteve
      Super Senior Member
      • Sep 2004
      • 1216

      #3
      highroller,

      As mdonda said, you need to experiment. I have 802D's and an MC402. I tried both the 8 and 4 ohm taps. For my room and setup, the 4 ohm connection was better. So that is what I use.



      Hope this helps.

      Comment

      • mb225
        Senior Member
        • Jan 2009
        • 131

        #4
        Originally posted by mdonda
        If you select the 8ohm tap than you will get the full rated power output at that impedance load, however; you will get less power the furhter away the speaker's load strays from the selected tap. That is the disadvantage of the autoformer and that's why you typically need a much more powerfull Mac amp as compared to a more modern design. The 802d's impedance curve varies quite a bit and the 8ohm nominal rating is just the average. If you select the 8 ohm tap, the frequency range closest to the 8 ohm load will sound its best. You just have to experiment and detemine what sounds best to you.
        I often wondered about this since MC makes you select your ohms.

        So what happens if your speakers fluctuate between 3 and 8 ohms and you are hooked up on the 8 ohm tap? Does the MC fall short at 3 ohms?

        Comment

        • mdonda
          Junior Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 15

          #5
          Originally posted by mb225
          I often wondered about this since MC makes you select your ohms.

          So what happens if your speakers fluctuate between 3 and 8 ohms and you are hooked up on the 8 ohm tap? Does the MC fall short at 3 ohms?

          Depends on the power output of the Mac amp. If you're using a 500wpc mac amp, then the difference would be marginal compared to a 250wpc amp. That's why you typically want to use a higher powered mac amp.

          Comment

          • Pio
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2005
            • 169

            #6
            Originally posted by Highroller
            I am wondering about connecting to the 4 ohm taps on the MC501 to my 802Di's. Since the 802Di is rated for 8 ohm can someone tell me what happens when connecting to the 4 ohm taps both from a sound standpoint as well as an electrical standpoint vs the 8 ohm taps? Does more power get send down the wire when connected to 4 ohms to 8 ohm speakers....etc..

            Thank you for your help
            For current hungry speakers that dip to the 3 ohm range like the 802's, you need to select 4 ohm taps.
            Stereo: Revel F208, Parasound JC2, JC1's, Oppo HA-1, VPI, Dynavector, Moon

            HT: B&W 802D2, 805S, HTM4, Marantz, OPPO BDP95, Velodyne DD-12's

            HP / secondary system: Woo Audio W2, Carver Sunfire, Kef LS50, Denon, and too many headphones to list

            Comment

            • mb225
              Senior Member
              • Jan 2009
              • 131

              #7
              So this is very odd to me. You would think buying a Mcintosh would get you uncompromising performance. It sounds like the Mac can't handle a large range of resistance. Plus I'm always hearing how well Mcintosh and B&W 800s work together. Yet the B&W have a large resistance range? Are there any amps that are a better fit to drive B&Ws?

              Is this a Mcintosh design flaw? I feel like I'm missing something here... :blink:

              Comment

              • mb225
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2009
                • 131

                #8
                This really makes me wonder... I'm driving B&W 803s with a Rotel RB-1582.

                According to documentation:
                B&W 803s - Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3.0Ω)
                Rotel RB-1582 - Speaker Impedance 4 ohms minimum

                So when the B&Ws dip into the 3 ohm range can the rotel support those frequencies? Could this configuration be damaging to the amp or the speakers?

                Very interesting... :duh:

                Comment

                • Highroller
                  Junior Member
                  • Jan 2010
                  • 27

                  #9
                  If the 802Di's says 8 ohms (which I think they do), will it cause harm to the speaker to run them at 4 ohms or 2 ohms?

                  Comment

                  • Kal Rubinson
                    Super Senior Member
                    • Mar 2006
                    • 2109

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Highroller
                    If the 802Di's says 8 ohms (which I think they do), will it cause harm to the speaker to run them at 4 ohms or 2 ohms?
                    I have been running the 802Ds on 4ohms for years.
                    Kal Rubinson
                    _______________________________
                    "Music in the Round"
                    Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile
                    http://forum.stereophile.com/category/music-round

                    Comment

                    • wettou
                      Ultra Senior Member
                      • May 2006
                      • 3389

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Kal Rubinson
                      I have been running the 802Ds on 4ohms for years.
                      Good evening Kal,

                      How's the review of the 800Di coming? I am looking to get a pair :B
                      Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field."Dwight D. Eisenhower

                      Comment

                      • Kal Rubinson
                        Super Senior Member
                        • Mar 2006
                        • 2109

                        #12
                        Originally posted by wettou
                        Good evening Kal,

                        How's the review of the 800Di coming? I am looking to get a pair :B
                        Just fine, thanks. :W
                        Kal Rubinson
                        _______________________________
                        "Music in the Round"
                        Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile
                        http://forum.stereophile.com/category/music-round

                        Comment

                        • Skyblue
                          Senior Member
                          • Jun 2009
                          • 504

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Kal Rubinson
                          Just fine, thanks. :W
                          If you post it here first, we can help proof read it ! :T
                          B&W 800 Diamond, B&W805S, B&W DB1, Classe SSP 800, DIY Icepower ASX2 600W monos, Ayre QB9, JPlay.

                          Comment

                          • wettou
                            Ultra Senior Member
                            • May 2006
                            • 3389

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Kal Rubinson
                            Just fine, thanks. :W
                            When does it come out?
                            Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field."Dwight D. Eisenhower

                            Comment

                            • scanido
                              Senior Member
                              • Apr 2006
                              • 548

                              #15
                              803S on the 4ohm tap here as well. Noticed the bass and highs to be more detailed and powerful with a slightly larger soundstage. 8 ohm seemed to benefit the midrange more but lost the bass and high.

                              Comment

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