How to Underpower a sub

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Distortion (clipping) will blow a sub.

Ehhh...no.

 

[JohnBlayz142 10+ year member]

Ehhh...no.

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It has already been covered in this thread. I just summed it up.

edit: I didn't state it right, so I see where you are coming from. I meant to say that if you underpower a sub, and it blows, it is distortion aka clipping that has caused the sub to blow rather than the mere fact you are underpowering it according to your amplifier.

You are actually giving the sub more average power than what you think you are, and it is this extra power that may blow the sub.

 

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

Get on our knees and open your mouth.

THATS how you blow a sub. Dumbasses.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

but again the clipping itself still has nothing at all to do with the blowing of the sub, exceeding the subs thermal capability does.

Helotaxi was on point...saying distortion causes blown subs is to misunderstand what's actually happening here.

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

right. i believe exceding thermal limits or excursion limits are the only ways to blow a sub. however you want to do that is up to you.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

if you blow a sub, don't swallow.

unless it's a type r

 

[Relax 10+ year member]

http://www.audiogroupforum.com/csforum//showthread.php?t=4332
Specifically read this reply. I don't think I've ever read/heard a better explaination of "underpowering a subwoofer."

Tempe

Only problem with that explanation is that the author assumes that an amp driven to clipping still sees an average power increase. Truth is that an amp clips because its average power output is at the maximum sustainable by the power supply. The amp then chops the tops off of the signal in order to apply that power to the lower portions of the waveform. So it turns out hes wrong.

Thats not to say his main point that sending a sub more power then it can dissipate will blow it is wrong- that part is right.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Only problem with that explanation is that the author assumes that an amp driven to clipping still sees an average power increase. Truth is that an amp clips because its average power output is at the maximum sustainable by the power supply. The amp then chops the tops off of the signal in order to apply that power to the lower portions of the waveform. So it turns out hes wrong.

An amp clips when its MAX voltage attempts to exceed the voltage of the power supply rails. Has nothing to do with average. Clipping will allow an amp to increase its average power output beyond its design capability, it just won't be linear, low distortion output any longer.

 

[Chevyaudio 5,000+ posts]

lol...

If distortion blew subs, evertime you turn on am radio, your system would shit itself...

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

lol...
If distortion blew subs, evertime you turn on am radio, your system would shit itself...

How is AM radio the same as distortion??