Please help with amplifier question

Dozer · « **on:** 8 Jun 2003, 04:48 pm »

Does it bother a stereo amplifier to have only one channel running (the other completely idle and not hooked up)?

I came across a better deal on a stereo amp than I could get on a similar monoblock - but I only need to use one channel.

I don't want to bridge the amp to mono because the manual warns against running low impedance loads in bridged mode. My center speaker is 4 ohms, and that's all I want to drive with this amp.

Can I simply use the left channel and save the right for a rainy day? Or would it help to attach something to the other channel - say one of the rear channels.

Sorry for the dumb question and sorry if it's the wrong forum.

Thanks, Mark

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Jun 2003, 04:59 pm »

Should be perfectly fine. I would suggest putting a shorting plug on the input of the unused channel just to avoid any possiblity of unwanted noise pickup.

Dozer · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Jun 2003, 05:14 pm »

Thanks John. I appreciate an engineer answering. What seems obvious to a layperson sometimes isn't (I learned when I tried to merge my l+r preouts into a single subwoofer input - HA!)

JohnR · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Jun 2003, 05:28 pm »

Ah, yes I remember that

No worries, let us know how it works out

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Jun 2003, 06:03 pm »

The Stereophile review of Parasound's HCA1000A amp SUGGESTS sonic benefit to using only one channel of the amp. I couldn't find an actual reprint of the review, but my recollection is that the reviewer (Brian Damkroger??) guessed that the power supply being devoted to only one channel was the reason.

Some people bought TWO HCA's rather than a more powerful amp. Some, I imagine, bought one amp and then upgraded by buying the second later.

Dozer · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Jun 2003, 08:10 pm »

Hey, wow... I was slow to realize this - but it sounds like it would be MONEY if I put the left on one amp, the center and right on the other amp. That would be money, and wouldn't even know it!

That way I have zero crosstalk when I'm playing a stereo source!

I'm not sure the power-supply issue helps me because this amp has TWO 1200VA transformers, but I like the idea of having two pseudo monoblocks!

These happen to be Parasound HCA2200mkIIs. Juicy mothers... I can play the intro to Women in Love by VH much louder with these amps than with anything else I've ever had (it's a good speaker/amp challenge song because that last high harmonic will break up pretty bad if you try to play it really loud with a 100wpc amp - with these monsters it just rings...).

Thanks for the help and tips.