Sooooo, I'm wondering about power amplifier options...

[premiumplus]

Hey guys,
I am listening to my Dahlquist DQ-10's being driven by my rebuilt SX-1250, and they sound very nice.
But I know they can use more power. Downstairs on the bench I have a couple of PL 400 Series I amps that are waiting for DC protection boards from Don Imlay. I placed my order this morning and should have them by next week.
So here's the question(S)..should I upgrade to a 700B for the power hungry DQ-10's? My 400's have all new electrolytics, including new main filters. One has the early driver board, and the other has the driver with the IC front end. It sounds better than the other one, but it also has the RCA drivers. Both have blue script XL-909 outputs.
Another thing that I've wondered about is the possibility of bridging the Phase Linear 400 amps, and running one on each channel. Is that because of the all NPN output section, or because of stability concerns? Has anyone ever heard of this being done?
Dave

 

[Fairchild]

Here are ome links to a previous sister site, Sound Thinking, at that time there were a few members with DQ-10's and they discussed them extensively. I only looked breifly, you may be able to find more there.

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6943

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5421

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5279

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6464

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6438

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5964

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5914

Jim

 

[laatsch55]

A 400 can be bridged using a "bridging adapter". You would be limited to 8 ohm loads or more. They're a little noisier than an unbridged amp. Bridging quadruples the power and reliability takes a big hit.

 

[premiumplus]

Here are ome links to a previous sister site, Sound Thinking, at that time there were a few members with DQ-10's and they discussed them extensively. I only looked breifly, you may be able to find more there.

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6943

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5421

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5279

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6464

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6438

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5964

http://starchive.phxaudiotape.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5914

Jim

Thanks, Jim. There's a lot of good info there, and I always love reading everything I can get my hands on about my gear.

 

[premiumplus]

A 400 can be bridged using a "bridging adapter". You would be limited to 8 ohm loads or more. They're a little noisier than an unbridged amp. Bridging quadruples the power and reliability takes a big hit.

Good to know. I think I'll pass on the bridging idea, and run one PL-400 when I get the DC protection relay installed. For now.

 

[Michael F]

Why not biamp instead of bridging?

 

[laatsch55]

Mike, that would be a helluva an idea till he gets a 700. Two 400's would do nicely...

 

[Michael F]

Mike, that would be a helluva an idea till he gets a 700. Two 400's would do nicely...

Splitting the high and low section would be easy enough, the mod can be made to be reversible too.
Vertical, horizontal, active or passive biamping, you have some choices there.

 

[premiumplus]

Hmmm, that's intriguing. I don't have an active crossover, but I could probably split the speaker's crossover after the woofer takeoff and drive them that way...

 

[laatsch55]

And basically use the passive as a low pass/band pass filter?>?

 

[premiumplus]

And basically use the passive as a low pass/band pass filter?>?

Yes, that's what I was originally thinking. But since I posted the original thought, I'm moving forward with getting an active crossover and subwoofers, so I don't know how that would work. I'm up for trying anything once. Twice if I like it