Darkglass Microtubes 500 V2 8Ohms????

[slapstick13]

I'm deciding between the Darkglass Microtubes 900 v2 and the Microtubes 500 v2 to go with my Barefaced Four10 8ohm cabinet. I thought I'd have to go with the 900 since I'd only be getting about half of the 900 watts with my 8 ohm cab, but according to the manual for the Microtubes 500 v2, which is a 500 watt amp @4 ohms, it does 450 watts @ 8 ohms! Is this an error?? I've never really seen an amp have a rating at 8 ohms that is so close to the 4 ohm rating. Typically 8ohms gives you about half the wattage of the 4 ohm rating. Is this just technology being awesome or is this an error? Can anyone confirm this? Tried to email DG but haven't hear back yet.

 

[Roland GR 88]

They've got something tricky going on as it's rated to take a 2ohm load and still produce 500w. I would bet the ratings are as accurate as most manufacturers claims are.

 

[seamonkey]

That is very smart of Darkglass to design a head that delivers as much power as it can at 8 ohms, but put in limiters for 4ohms and 2ohms to prevent the head from going over the rated 500w and into shutdown situation.
Smart move!!!!

Wouldn't it be nice to see more amps like this to cut down the constant barrage of threads trying to squeeze out maximum power from a head into 2 or 4 ohms (rhetorical)

 

[808State]

Same old trick used by most to make a 4 ohm amp 2 ohm.

Instead sounds like they do it at 8 and 4 ohms.

Basically higher voltage at 8 ohms then a reduced voltage at 4 ohms so it does not exceed
the power supply current capability.

Or see it the other way. They increase voltage at 8 ohms to make the amp
have more power at lower impedance.

Likely then the power supply is a in house design.
And if you know the history of newer amps.
In house power supplies seem to be the biggest failures.
I wish them luck.
Most of the reliable amps stick to the Ice power designs.
Since they have the highest reliability ratings

 

[Ptizzy]

So is it 450w @ 8 ohms or not nobody seems to be able to answer including Darkglass..

 

[Plastalmonus]

Paging @Darkglass