model 9444A amplifier in bridge mode?

**mdelong** · March 12th, 2009, 06:09 PM

Does anyone know if the model 9444A amp could function with a 4ohm load in bridge mode?

All the specs in the old documentation seem to indicate the min impedance of 8ohms in bridged mode.

I have a whole rack full of these things which have been running 4 ohm loads for at least the last 14 years (probably more like 20 years). So it seems to work but we have had reliability problems and lots of repairs. So apparently no one checked the specifications when the system design was put together 20 some years ago.

Thanks for any input...

**bfish** · March 12th, 2009, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by mdelong

...it seems to work but we have had reliability problems and lots of repairs...

Sounds to me like you answered you own Q.

Welcome!

**whitebroncoii** · March 13th, 2009, 10:47 AM

The 9444A is a stout design and much better than the 9444B. It is rated 8 ohms in bridge mode (two 4 ohm channels) due to how much current it can move and cooling by heatsink at high power. If you overload the amplifier (any amplifier) and run it at low power levels, it will survive without any problems. However, try to run it at rated power levels and it will overheat and fail.