How can underpowering speakers ruin them??

[Unregistered]

I'vr heard that underpowering speakers can blow them out. How the hell can this be? I would think that too much power would ruin them, not too little.

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[EPanther99 10+ year member]

its bc distortion makes speakers blow and when you are under powering them and turn it up then the power thaey are geting becomes distored and then you blow your speakers

 

[Unregistered]

I don't get it....

As guitarists play distortion for days, without damaging their amps, why can't speakers play distortion without malfunction?

 

[C-Dawg 10+ year member]

You a fool yo

 

[Unregistered]

It doesn't hurt them at all, Epanther is full of shit

 

[natem33 10+ year member]

Guitarists use distortion effects, not distorted signals and power. Also, guitar amps only put out 25 - 35 watts per speaker (on a 4 X 12 guitar cabinet). The low power output is much lower than the guitar speaker handling capabilities so they are able to handle more abuse. Car audio speakers are sensitive to distortion...like epanther said, small amps cranked up loud create distortion...hence, damaged speakers. The only exception is, if the amp is only capable of producing less than half of the power rating of the speaker, then there is little chance of damaging the speaker. On the other side of things, most speakers can handle much more power than they are rated for as long as the signal and power is kept clean. I have even heard from multiple people that it is nearly impossible to blow a sub from over powering it as long as the signal and power was clean.

 

[zane 10+ year member]

Originally posted by natem33 Guitarists use distortion effects, not distorted signals and power. Also, guitar amps only put out 25 - 35 watts per speaker (on a 4 X 12 guitar cabinet).

As a guitarist myself, to the above I say Exactly.

Underpowering speakers, Will NOT, never has, and likely never will cause them to blow. Assuming clean power to the speaker there will be no problems. To anyone who can prove otherwise; which physically can not be done, please elaborate.

What does damage speakers is Clipping. This occurs when an amplifier is pushed too hard or overdriven.

In example- A woofer with 300 watts power handling being powered by an amplifier capable of only 100 watts power output. If the amplifier gains are maxed out, and/or the volume on the head unit is also close to the same- the amplifier will be driven into clipping thus sending a distorted signal to the woofer which can lead to failure.

The same can be said about a woofer with 500 watts power handling being powered by an amplifier of 800 watts power output. If the gains on the amplifier are maxed, and/or the volume control is close to the same; it will also force the amplifier into clipping and send a distorted signal to the woofer, which can lead to damage.

Point is- as long as the amplifier is not clipping-(the sub is recieving clean power) there will be no issues to worry about.

Now obviously on the overpowering side, each speaker has its limit, which usually is slightly above its published ratings. This is due to the physical properties of the motor structure on the sub itself. This is called a mechanical limitation. Powering a speaker over this limitation can lead to damage, as the speaker is no longer capable of handling the power.

Key things to remember--->

Idiots who cant adjust volume and gain controls correctly blow speakers, not underpowering.

Each speaker has a mechanical limit where it can no longer function. This is determined by the speakers motor structure.

Keep the signal clean and unclipped- and you should have no troubles.

take it easy,

-zane

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Originally posted by EPanther99 its bc distortion makes speakers blow and when you are under powering them and turn it up then the power thaey are geting becomes distored and then you blow your speakers

This is not true, as I have said before, you can't blow subs from too much power or too little power.

 

[zane 10+ year member]

Originally posted by RangerMan  

This is not true, as I have said before, you can't blow subs from too much power or too little power.

Too little power- No. Too Much Power- Yes.

An excerpt from my post above that will explain this--->

Now obviously on the overpowering side, each speaker has its limit, which usually is slightly above its published ratings. This is due to the physical properties of the motor structure on the sub itself. This is called a mechanical limitation. Powering a speaker over this limitation can lead to damage, as the speaker is no longer capable of handling the power.

take it easy,

-zane

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Even though I have done it before, I will believe you if you say so b/c you are a WHOLE lot more experienced than me.