quick Q.

[m4i2k2e2 10+ year member]

ok, now ive always heard that underpowering kills speakers and, blah blah blah blah. now, is it just people who crank the speakers up till they distort because they dont have enough power? so, therefore blowing because of distortion because of not having enough power?

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[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

it's the distortion, yes.

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

you've got the right idea.

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

Here is a few quick links that might help explain what is going on with the whole underpowering/overpowering thing.

http://www.rhythmism.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-11306.html

http://www.teamgates.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000016

 

[Gary S 10+ year member]

It's usually heat that blows speakers (sometimes over-excursion).

The more you clip an amp the more heat you produce over time. It's possible that you could get a little more spl and heat the coils a little less from a slightly more powerful amp unclipped VS. one that is clipped. But I think this topic is over dramatized.

Let me put it another way... let us say you have amp A 100 watts RMS, and amp B, 150 watts RMS (keep in mind that a 100 RMS amp can produce more power, even if it's distorted power)... we set them up with music playing so that they both produce the same heat at the speakers... Amp A is clipping, Amp B is not... as long as they generate the same heat to the speakers in this comparison, neither will blow the speakers any quicker. However, Amp B will likely sound better, it will have more SPL and less distortion.

If you are clipping your amps a lot you should probably step up to more powerful amps for better sound... and amplifier power is cheap these days.

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

ok, now ive always heard that underpowering kills speakers and, blah blah blah blah.
1. now, is it just people who crank the speakers up till they distort because they dont have enough power?

2. so, therefore blowing because of distortion because of not having enough power?

1. Yes, a distorted signal is bad for speakers.

2. Yes, a distorted signal is bad for speakers.

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There are 2 common scenarios that exist when people damage their speakers due to distortion and/or clipping, and they can tie in to one another...

I. HU POWER.

....a.) When you're sending 15-22wpc rms w/ 5%+ THD to speakers, the speakers likely won't last very long.

....b.) Many people fail to realize that it doesn't matter how "good" the speakers are they put in. If they are sent a distorted signal, then they likely will not last too long. Doesn't matter if the speakers will handle 30w rms or 300w rms.

....c.) Many people fail to determine at what volume level their HU starts distorting the signal and will often turn up the volume past that point.

....d.) ...pure havok ensues.

II. AMP POWER.

....a.) If the amp (example: output is 30wpc rms) is not supplying sufficient power to the speakers (example: rated for 100w rms) and the system as a whole doesn't get loud enough, then up goes the HU volume. See point I-c above.

....b.) If the speakers can't handle a lot of power (example: 30w rms), an amp was bought to "match up" (example: 30wpc rms), and the system as a whole doesn't get loud enough, then up goes the HU volume. See point I-c above.

....c.) If the gains on the amp are turned up because the person thinks it's a secondary volume knob, then the amp will exhibit signal clipping and pass it to the speakers.

....d.) If the HU volume is turned up past the point of distortion and the amp gains are turned up past the pre-out voltage, then the amp will start clipping an already distorted signal.

....e.) ...pure havok ensues.

Things to keep in mind:

1. Know what volume your HU starts distorting the signal and don't exceed this point.

2. Know that your amp gains are not volume controls.

3. Know that if your system isn't loud enough, never forget the first 2 things and instead re-evalutate your goals and the capabilities of your equpiment.

 

[MiniVanMan 10+ year member]

Let's clarify "distorted" as opposed to "clipped". If a distorted signal destroyed speakers, then every guitar player that uses a distortion effect would be constantly replacing speakers.

Distortion is just a "dirty" (for lack of a better word) signal. A clipped signal is actually quite different, and is what has the tendency to destroy speakers.

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

Let's clarify "distorted" as opposed to "clipped". If a distorted signal destroyed speakers, then every guitar player that uses a distortion effect would be constantly replacing speakers.
Distortion is just a "dirty" (for lack of a better word) signal. A clipped signal is actually quite different, and is what has the tendency to destroy speakers.

Yes, but distorted as recorded on the source and being sent as a clean signal is different from a distorted singal distorted resulting from exceeding physical limitationsof the HU/external amplifier.