Proper Wattage

[Umbra]

Expanding on what's already been said, underpowering a speaker won't damage it so long as that signal is clean. If this were not the case speakers would blow simply by playing them at low volumes.

What will kill a speaker is heat buildup, and distortion (especially clipping) can be a major source of this. Distortion happens when the amp is driven beyond its limits. Underpowering itself doesn't hurt a speaker, but clipping often goes hand in hand because people crank up the volume and ask too much of the amp. Don't use the boost and EQ features too heavily and don't turn it up too high (maybe 3/4s of the max max) to be safe unless you've got an o-scope handy or know how to listen for distortion with test tones.

 

[big scott]

Expanding on what's already been said, underpowering a speaker won't damage it so long as that signal is clean. If this were not the case speakers would blow simply by playing them at low volumes.
What will kill a speaker is heat buildup, and distortion (especially clipping) can be a major source of this. Distortion happens when the amp is driven beyond its limits. Underpowering itself doesn't hurt a speaker, but clipping often goes hand in hand because people crank up the volume and ask too much of the amp. Don't use the boost and EQ features too heavily and don't turn it up too high (maybe 3/4s of the max max) to be safe unless you've got an o-scope handy or know how to listen for distortion with test tones.

hes not using a amp.

at least for now.

he will be useing h/u speaker outputs.

but that goes for a h/u also.

dont go crazy with bass boost, eq , loudness ( if h/u has that )

also most important is find out at what volume does YOUR h/u clip.

and NEVER go past that # ( limit )

and you will be fine.

and as was said.... heat is caused by clipping. and that crates distortion witch causes heat.

op,

you can buy any speaker you like.

but if your not going to use an amp, find a speaker with high Sensitivity #'s at 1w/1m . that means it will be loud at low power.

the lower the # the more power it will need to be loud.

but thats only one spec. you need to pick a good speaker.

 

[Umbra]

Yeah, I got that he's using a HU, same principles apply. There's still an amplification circuit that will distort when overdriven. The preamp and amp circuits are in the same box.

A little clipping is okay. If you find out at x volume you'll clip a little at 40Hz at y amplitude, unless you're playing sinewaves or music close to it you'll only hit that for a fraction of a second occasionally.

But you're right, if OP doesnt mind sacrificing some output to keep your speakers from ever seeing clipping, ere on the side of caution.

Also, if you can, set the high pass filter to the lowest the speaker goes (53Hz), or as close as you can, higher if you want to be extra safe, but you'll lose low end. Lower frequencies need more power for the same perceived loudness. Clipping low notes is worse than clipping midrange notes, especially for a midrange speaker as opposed to a sub with a beefy voice coil which is better suited to take some abuse.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[petraccoon15]

ok maybe 10w ... lol
next time post what model # it is.

when you say sony i think crap walmart stuff.

Sony MEX-XB100BT

hp/lp filters, 3 pre outs 5V, sub out, 10 band eq, all the bells and whistles, I personally think its an amazing deck for my uses. the deck is CEA 2006 compliant so the 40W rms by 4 channels is 100% true