Using 4 and 8 Ohms Taps at the same time

[M2wason]

I spoke to Chuck at McIntosh about this and he said it is perfectly okay to separate the biwiring and use both 4 and 8 ohms tap on the Mac amp since it has the autoformers. He said if you are lacking bass, connect the lows on the 8 ohm tap and highs on the 4 ohm tap. He also said that you can't do this on another brand amp because it doesn't have the auto former. Has anyone done this, if so, what difference did it make.

 

[joeinid]

I did not know that was possible or recommended. Very interesting.

 

[GaryProtein]

I did it to run three pair of speakers on my MC2300 power amp.

I have been running my living room system that way for THIRTY YEARS and never had a problem.

Two pair of 8 ohm speakers in parallel on the four ohm tap and one pair of 8 ohm speakers on the eight ohm tap all playing together.

 

[ohbythebay]

I did it to run three pair of speakers on my MC2300 power amp.

I have been running my living room system that way for THIRTY YEARS and never had a problem.

Two pair of 8 ohm speakers in parallel on the four ohm tap and one pair of 8 ohm speakers on the eight ohm tap all playing together.

Link to a knowledge base and calculator
Amplifier loudspeaker ohm impedance output input voltage bridging impedance no matching speakers 4 - 8 - 16 resistance ohms connection of power amplifier to speakers - There are no 4 ohm or 8 ohm amplifiers - sengpielaudio Sengpiel Berlin

I myself wouldn't do it...

 

[GaryProtein]

You're fighting with success on a 30 year track record??

WHY?

 

[M2wason]

You're fighting with success on a 30 year track record??

WHY?

Why? Because you can, according to McIntosh. Because of the autoformer and the quad balance technology, it allows you to use two taps at the same time. Depends of what speaker you have, you may benefit from it or not.