to bridge or not to bridge?

[LGA 10+ year member]

is it better to bridge the amp or not? what is the between bridging and not bridging?

would bridging the amp put less work on it or no.

thanks

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[thch 10+ year member]

work is based upon power and efficiency. for the most part the important thing to note is that an amps ratings for bridged mode are different then for stereo mode.

between two equivilent setups -- eg, 2 2ohm stero loads vs 1 4ohm bridged load, there will not be a difference.

amplifiers will try to have an output voltage (based upon the music played) and will supply whatever current is required to get it. bridging effectively combines the voltage from the two channels. ohm's law says double voltage means double current. so each channel has to support 2x current. power is quadrupled (over the single channel, unbridged case). but each channel is effectively driving half of the speaker and thinks the load attached is half of the actual speaker impedance (ohms).

 

[thch 10+ year member]

I'm sorry, but can you put it in lamens terms. So bridging 2 2000 watt amps will produce 8000 watts.

yes, given the following conditions:

1.) one amp will put 2kW into the speaker (or coil) in question. for example 2kW @ 2ohm.

2.) one amp will put 4kW into a speaker (or coil) of half the impedance as the one used. following the example, 4kW @ 1ohm.

3.) the amplifer is bridgeable (2 channel amp) or is "stappable" with another amplifier (for 1 channel amps).

if all conditions are met, then the dual amp combo will put out 8kW @ 2ohm.

 

[joek86 10+ year member]

When bridging is there any degradation of the overall sound?

Joe