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Power Handling? Dangerous?

B

bobspets

Well-Known Member
How dangerous is it to pair speakers at 150 WPC Max. with Amplifier at 250 WPC Max? I'd like to have another Amp. with more power different character Etc., but I really don't want to have a high risk of damaging my speakers. A thought just occurred to me (As they occasionally do) Is there a simple device that I could connect to my amplifier to show me visually exactly what output I'm getting?
 
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pair speakers at 150 WPC Max. with Amplifier at 250 WPC Max

I've done this kind of thing for years with no disasters. As long as no one is liable to "crank it up to full", you'll be fine.
 
If you're going to listen to music, and not play test tones at balls out levels, you'll be fine. Even at pretty loud levels, the amp will never be putting out it's rated power for more than a few milliseconds at a time, and even playing loud, it will probably never reach it's full output limit.

Speaker power ratings don't even tell you much anyway as you're never going to be delivering steady maximum output from an amp while listening to anything other than test tones. Ever notice amps that have analog meters, they're never pegged, they're usually swinging back and forth, and at well below the maximum output. Even 1 watt produces fairly loud levels, depending on your speakers.
 
It's not dangerous at all as long as you use some common sense. If things start to sound bad, turn the volume down. No other advice is necessary.
 
 
JoeESP9 said:
It's not dangerous at all as long as you use some common sense. If things start to sound bad, turn the volume down. No other advice is necessary.
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Exactly my thoughts...for a 'simple device' I intended to advise 'your ears.' Simple to use, anyway.
 
Thanks a heap guys. I always defer to those who know more than I and the group above is as good as it gets. I just wanted to make sure my beautiful DCM Timeframe 500s would not be in jeopardy. By the way if you have the opportunity to take a listen to these don't miss it. If the Amp. deal does come together I'll let ya know.
 
I dont have Time Frames but many here do. I have Time Window 1's and 3's. They're great speakers.
 
Well I have a 200 watt per channel amp, but I'm definitely not using all of it. I fear my speakers are going to croak before the amp ever clips.
 
Judas Priest said:
That depend on your speakers:) I´ve been told there are music lovers that actually use 200, 500 or more watts per channel ;)
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Probably because they have gone "DEAF" for doing it that way for too long and now need it louder & louder because of it:):scratch2:
 
Judas Priest said:
That depend on your speakers:) I´ve been told there are music lovers that actually use 200, 500 or more watts per channel ;)
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I have a few 250+wpc amps and no speakers large enough to handle that much power. I doubt I ever get above 40-50wpc, the rest is head room and adds to the ability of the amp to control the speakers.

Some of my best sounding speakers are maybe 30wpc max and I run them with stuff in the 50-75wpc class. Mainly because I like the sound of the older tuners/amps and they weren't that powerful.

The real issue with amp V speaker rated power is not RMS matching, but what happens at peak levels. Clipping in the amp is a nasty thing in the signal to the speakers. Amps rated at say 250wpc running at 50wpc are a long way from clipping.
 
50 watts max is usual

My SAE has been rebuilt and modified a bit and will easily put out 250 watts per channel. With my speaker combination, when the led power meters are dancing on 50 watts it is crazy loud. It is nice and clean but, just to dam loud. I only turn up that high when I got a hair up my ass and want to hear the bass thump the walls. :no::nono:

The bottom line is if you have really efficient speakers, 50 watts is more than enough power to make them louder than hell. :D:yes:
 
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