How do I prove to my co-workers that simply underpowering doesn't blow subs?

[Slaugh 10+ year member]

how do folks underpowering their subs manage to blow them out?

my guess is that they turn it way high to listen to it good (since the sub asks for more power than their amp can do), so clipping and thus burning the sub coil(s)... is that the reason why subs blow when underpowered? i don't see another reason...

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

^ that is accurate, captain obvious //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

It's user-error, more than anything. But it's tough to fault the noobs; When you match your "1000watt" sony amp up with your "1000watt" xplod sub and crank it out because it's supposed to be loud - - and to be on topic about it, that's mostly thanks to the ignorant resellers. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

poof.

/sonycheapshot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

I need to go into a store near by me just for the sport of it

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Simple way to prove it to them was as mentioned....tell them to turn the volume knob down //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

If underpowering killed speakers, that simple act of decreasing the volume would spell disaster for the speaker as you are now sending them less power (aka underpowering them).

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

I used encounter this all the time. I stopped arguing after a while. An when ever the subject was brought up I simply said okay. I used to get some freakin unbelievable deals on smaller amps. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Raffi 10+ year member]

Simple way to prove it to them was as mentioned....tell them to turn the volume knob down //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif
If underpowering killed speakers, that simple act of decreasing the volume would spell disaster for the speaker as you are now sending them less power (aka underpowering them).

I cant believe this is a topic......Its common sense...Tell them to sprint a mile then Jog a mile and see which one wears them out most! Same thing with subs...Max watts is a sprint anything under is a jog!

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Also explain to them that on average you only use about 10% of the amplifier's power...so you're only getting about 10w out of that 100w RMS amplifier with music at listening levels.

But don't tell them that until after they've pondered the volume knob experiment for a while //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Chevyaudio 5,000+ posts]

I need to go into a store near by me just for the sport of it

Thats one of my favorite past times....going into the local BB and CC and in an inconspicuous manner, quiz the employees, You should try it, It gets very interesting listening to a salesmans explanation on why the chrome cover on the "Insignia" (best buys brand) Amps improves performance though cooling the amp better.

 

[Perdonic 10+ year member]

my guess would be that they have a really shitty amp and crank the gain up all the way and is still underpowering the sub but clip it at the same time! what dumbasses some people are....

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Thats one of my favorite past times....going into the local BB and CC and in an inconspicuous manner, quiz the employees, You should try it, It gets very interesting listening to a salesmans explanation on why the chrome cover on the "Insignia" (best buys brand) Amps improves performance though cooling the amp better.
I scooped up two Insignia speakers for 10 bucks. Time to play with them and then sell them for a profit:naughty:

 

[Loudrango112 10+ year member]

I had this same problem when I worked at CC and BB. I asked them why they thought that and I have come to the conclusion that they think that becuase when your puting a lower power on it that your gonna crank up the gain and end up clipping the amp and causing it to blow. But obviously if you under power the sub SMART, or even over power the sub SMART you wont blow it.