Amp/Preamp Asylum

And is there such as thing as too much power...

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John B

(A)

In Reply to: IS there a sonic benefit to using a High-power amp...? posted by draggcj on January 07, 2004 at 07:22:24:

I'm about to get an amp that puts out 650 wpc into 4 ohms. Recommended amp power of my speakers is 130 wpc, IEC Long Term Handling power is <270. I currently have a 400 wpc amp driving them, and they've never sounded better, but is there an upper watt limit where you are putting your drivers at risk?

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Yes, but... - Recordfan 11:25:27 01/07/04 (2)
...speakers are damaged for more often by distortion (clipping) caused by demanding more power from an amp than it is capable of providing. However, a speaker does have it's limits even with clean power, that's why they quote a max power rating. The speaker's max power rating is usually given for continuous power but can handle peaks of much greater power without harm being done. You probably will never provide an average level of 130 watts to your speakers in a home setting.
- depends on the speaker... - pburke 12:17:23 01/07/04 (1)
  as things go - from a super efficient single driever horn speaker to my "suck your amp's capactors dry" maggies - there's a rather large range of efficiency. I don't think 130watts are an unusual average level at loud play on my speakers, while the same setting would probably vaporize some horn drivers designed to live behind a 4 watt tube amp...
  In my scenario, 1000 or more watts per channel are just what you need, even though the manufacturer would never put that on the label (not to scare off customers because they don't have such amps...)
  Peter
  - well in that case.... - John B 13:09:32 01/07/04 (0)
    "In my scenario, 1000 or more watts per channel are just what you need, even though the manufacturer would never put that on the label (not to scare off customers because they don't have such amps...)"
    Well heck, in that case maybe I should jump up from the Simaudio W6's to a pair of their Rocks...now that would be a heady thing...2000 wpc per speaker ought to have them standing on their ear, if they had an ear, and doing the hoochy coo!!

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