UCD180 & electrostatic speakers

vinodk · 14th November 2005, 01:41 AM

Hi Guys!
New to this forum. Would like to know if UCD180 is current limiting & if it can handle low impeadence loads & electrostatic speakers. I am planning to switch fron solid state to class-D amps due to rack space & cooling issues. I am looking at 5 channel amp with UCD180 modules from "DIY cable". I am changing to Martin Logan setup(Clarity, Theater i & Fresco). I am debating between the amp with UCD180 or UCD400 modules.
Thanks.

Jan-Peter · 14th November 2005, 07:49 AM

The UcD180 is current limited, and has no problem with low impedance. However with electrostatic loudspeakers you have to watch out that the amplifier does not clip. When the amp clips, and this never happens symmetrical, so you will have a DC signal. This DC signal will creates problems in combination with the transformer of the electrostatic loudspeaker.

So when the amp doesn't clip there is no problem. Some of our customers do use QUAD electrostatic loudspeakers with an UcD180.

Regards,

Jan-Peter

wytco0 · 15th November 2005, 12:56 PM

JP, I use my UCD180's with my Quad 989's and I have not noticed any problems.

What would be the affect of the amp clipping that you mention?

Jan-Peter · 15th November 2005, 01:04 PM

An music signal is never symmetrical, so when an amplifier clips against the rail voltage there will be introduced a DC component in the signal. This DC component sees only the low DC impedance of your transformer, because off the low impedance the current will be quite high. This only happens when the amplifier clips!

In practice you will not listen to an clipping amplifier. So it's only a warning....

Jan-Peter

14th November 2005, 01:41 AM	#1
vinodk diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	UCD180 & electrostatic speakers Hi Guys! New to this forum. Would like to know if UCD180 is current limiting & if it can handle low impeadence loads & electrostatic speakers. I am planning to switch fron solid state to class-D amps due to rack space & cooling issues. I am looking at 5 channel amp with UCD180 modules from "DIY cable". I am changing to Martin Logan setup(Clarity, Theater i & Fresco). I am debating between the amp with UCD180 or UCD400 modules. Thanks.

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14th November 2005, 07:49 AM	#2
Jan-Peter diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: -	The UcD180 is current limited, and has no problem with low impedance. However with electrostatic loudspeakers you have to watch out that the amplifier does not clip. When the amp clips, and this never happens symmetrical, so you will have a DC signal. This DC signal will creates problems in combination with the transformer of the electrostatic loudspeaker. So when the amp doesn't clip there is no problem. Some of our customers do use QUAD electrostatic loudspeakers with an UcD180. Regards, Jan-Peter

15th November 2005, 12:56 PM	#3
wytco0 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Hastings	JP, I use my UCD180's with my Quad 989's and I have not noticed any problems. What would be the affect of the amp clipping that you mention?

15th November 2005, 01:04 PM	#4
Jan-Peter diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: -	An music signal is never symmetrical, so when an amplifier clips against the rail voltage there will be introduced a DC component in the signal. This DC component sees only the low DC impedance of your transformer, because off the low impedance the current will be quite high. This only happens when the amplifier clips! In practice you will not listen to an clipping amplifier. So it's only a warning.... Jan-Peter

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