MC352 and JM Lab Mezzo Utopia

[dj_AmTraX]

In some cases my MC352 will peak at 350w. Does that mean I may do damage to my speakers? I called JM Lab and the tweeters will cost $1,000 ea.
If I upgrade to a pair of MC501 is it a waste of money?

JM Lab Mezzo specs.
Maximal power handling with musical program: 250W Recommended amplifier: 50-200W

 

[Negotiableterms]

The first thing to do is check which output tap you're using to match the speaker's impedance. Lower taps could make the power level go down for the same volume if the speaker is actually running at a lower impedance than its nominal rating.

 

[PHC1]

If you are worried that your tweeter may be damaged by clipping, don't.

EXCLUSIVE MCINTOSH POWER ASSURANCE SYSTEM. Power Assurance is a collection of technologies that enhance performance and reliability and protect the amp and the loudspeakers.
Power Guard®clipping protection. Power Guard ensures that the amplifier will always deliver full power without causing clipping distortion. If an amplifier channel is overdriven, Power Guard automatically reduces the input volume just enough to keep distortion below 2% and prevent any clipping distortion. Thanks to an optical resistor, Power Guard acts literally at the speed of light, producing absolutely no audible side effects. An amplifier with Power
Guard will actually deliver clipping-free output well above its rated power.

 

[dj_AmTraX]

They are 4ohms speakers. Any benifits on upgrading to MC501s?

 

[JSCC]

Chance of insufficient/low power amps damaging tweeters/drivers more than higher power amps .. more so when McIntosh has power guard, etc, .....

Use to drive Mezzo Utopias with C22-II+ 2xMC275 (mono) .. then C2200+MC402 .... NO problem at all ......

Cheers!

 

[vahe]

In some cases my MC352 will peak at 350w. Does that mean I may do damage to my speakers? I called JM Lab and the tweeters will cost $1,000 ea.

Speaker power handling capability normally does not specifically specify the safe limit for each driver. if you are registering 350W with a good mix of all frequencies you are probably safe. But if the music contains very high level of high frequency, meaning most of that power from your amp goes to the tweeter then there is a good chance for exceeding tweeter power handling limit resulting in driver failure.

Tweeters generally can not take much power, most tweeters will fail with very little power. I have a high power JBL studio monitor with one of the most powerful tweeters, the tweeter alone is rated at 20W continuous power handling capacity at above 7kHz. 100 watts of power will vaporize this tweeter in no time at all. Fortunately there is very little musical information above 7kHz to cause any concern in normal acoustic music. On the same speaker each one of the dual 15" woofers are rated at 300W cont. power capacity.

All of the above assumes clean power with no clipping at all.

Vahe