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August 5, 2009 - 12:29pm
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JA Please Interpret: Focal 1037 Be Frequency Response w/ Moscode 401HR Amp
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Thanks! Appreciate the reply...
I'm not JA but I'll try to give you a hand.
Generally, when you partner a high-output impedance tube amp, with a loudspeaker that has a Z (impedance) curve that looks like the Himalayas, you get unpredictable results (actually, the results are predictable, just predictably bad). You will have good 1-3dB deviations from flat due to the interaction between the amp and speaker. For many, that coloration may sound good/bad depending on the recording and the original FR of the loudspeaker. It certainly isn't accurate in terms of the original voicing of the loudspeaker.
If you want to use a high output impedance amp, look for a loudspeaker that has a very well behaved Z curve. It is fairly trivial to achieve in the loudspeaker design. The double peaked impedance peaks around the tuning of a ported enclosure are another matter and for amplifiers with high output impedance, the bass tuning of a loudspeaker almost becomes part a variable that changes from situation to situation. The room and placement have a profound effect too so it just throws yet another variable into the situation.