I'm looking to build out four channels (can be two stereo) to drive a pair of Apogee Stages. They're not the most efficient at 86dB. They also can't be played real loud and have a max voltage of 40v.
What are my best options?
TIA
What are my best options?
TIA
3 ohms. Not sure about the 40v. I just remember reading the manual and it stated something about 40v. I’ll see if I can find it.
3 ohms is too low for chip amps. I suspect that Apogees rates efficiency like Magnepan - 86dB/2.83 volts which means the real number is 4dB lower.
They will need an EF3 with parallel output transistors and high current/low voltage rails.
Ed
They will need an EF3 with parallel output transistors and high current/low voltage rails.
Ed
It should be possible to use (several) paralleled amps. See tda7293 datasheet eventually neurochrome modulus 286 with reduced supply voltage.
You know. It’s 3 ohm driving both the tweeter and woofer/mid-range. I might get lucky with both being 6 ohm each. Then I could use a chip amp.
That is not how crossovers work. The speaker is 3 ohms. The current goes to the woofer below 400Hz and the tweeter above 400Hz. See https://www.stereophile.com/content/apogee-stage-mini-grand-loudspeakers-1990-measurements
Two chip amps could be run in parallel to drive 3 ohms, but you also need high power. IMO, these requirements are best met with a fairly hefty discrete transistor amplifier.
Ed