The point is' date=' if you are playing a song and is pulling 300watts for a 100hz bass line, then the note switches to 40hz and is boosted to +6db, the amp will try to put out 1,200watts..........all the while your amp is only rated 500watts.
Certain songs have non-stop sine waves and every time the notes switch to those that are boosted, the amp will try to put out power that will kill it and the subs.[/quote']I see the point you are trying to make. You've learned about power demands regarding boost and you're concerned. Try not to focus on the clipping aspect, rather the total dynamic range. Actual dynamic range is what music is all about. It's that range from a 1/4 watt to the 900 watt transient peak output capability on your 500 watt RMS amplifier (as an example). You're not always at 500w and then, shit... clipping because I'm stupid. Sine waves are a different story, of course. And from time to time we all listen to them, beatin' down the block or whatever. I'm guilty. But I always know that I'm safely within thermal and mechanical limits because I pair my equipment appropriately and set it up correctly. If you 'only' have 500w RMS to work with, then you need to make sure that 500w will own whatever driver it's being applied to. This way your main concern is mechanical and your thermal isn't being reached. This allows your amplifer's peak output capabilites to remain untapped until dynamic peaks come along. This means you must be fully aware of all aspects related to your driver, your enclosure, your amplifier, etc...
You can hear clipping. Sometimes, so clearly that you would absolutely swear that it's a mechanical noise. Even soft clipping has a distinct fuzzy kind of noise to it, and can be harmless in the right setup. But the point is... you can hear it. Unless you're using this shit that makes a ton of mechanical noise to begin with, in which case you could probably piss pound that thing without any worries, anyway. Regardless...If you're using boost to get a better quality of bass character, and you're dealing with 500w, then you're probably not setting up an SPL machine and you will turn up the gain until you hear clipping, then back it off to just the onset of clipping. Then you will shut the trunk and look at the number on your deck to remind you of the general area in which you will experience clipping and use your equipment accordingly. Right?
100Hz belongs in your front stage. Try making a sub-bass system that operates in the range of sub-bass, like from 15Hz to 45ishHz. find out where your mechanical limits are, then find out where your amplifier's clipping limits are. Reach the comprimise and BAM!!! Safe zone! Work within your limitations and nothing will break. Unless you bought junk...