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fredcohiba
Super Member
Sure. Just make sure you do not run them too loud. You want to avoid distortion from the receiver going onto the speakers. This happens with high volume levels and bass notes, that the receiver will not be able to reproduce accurately and with enough power, that it sends dirty power (distortion) into the speakers.
whoaru99
Epic Member
Yup.
General rule of thumb: If it sounds good you're probably OK. If not, turning it down is always a safe bet.
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
I'm not sure why those who should know better wallow in that pointless wattage specs published by speaker manufacturers. If you have speakers, odds are good that you have working ears and the ability to operate the volume control. If you get distortion, you've turned them up too loud. If you don't care about the distortion, you deserve to have damaged equipment.
I might add that equipment also gets damaged when you try to get the desired decibels out of too little wattage.
The only maxim to live by in this case is, "You can't win with an idiot manning the volume control."
I might add that equipment also gets damaged when you try to get the desired decibels out of too little wattage.
The only maxim to live by in this case is, "You can't win with an idiot manning the volume control."
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
yes.
Limit of running speakers that need power is overdriving the amp and the tweeter dies. As long as the sound is clean and clear you should be fine.
Limit of running speakers that need power is overdriving the amp and the tweeter dies. As long as the sound is clean and clear you should be fine.
Djcoolray
Addicted Member
There is a website for checking out a piece of equipments specifications....
hifiengine.com
There will be a list of specifications, look at the "Sensitivity" measured in decibels. The higher the number, the higher the sensitivity.
I myself have highly sensitive speakers of 102db at a max output of 400 watts, my receiver has a max output of 168 watts per channel (WPC). The sound is great and I don't have to worry about blowing out my speakers.... There are plenty of people that have powerful amps of over a hundred watts and using speakers that have half that capability....like sixty watts. That's why you see so many speaker parts being sold on eBay.
Knowing the how's and why pieces of equipment best sound good together is everything.....
hifiengine.com
There will be a list of specifications, look at the "Sensitivity" measured in decibels. The higher the number, the higher the sensitivity.
I myself have highly sensitive speakers of 102db at a max output of 400 watts, my receiver has a max output of 168 watts per channel (WPC). The sound is great and I don't have to worry about blowing out my speakers.... There are plenty of people that have powerful amps of over a hundred watts and using speakers that have half that capability....like sixty watts. That's why you see so many speaker parts being sold on eBay.
Knowing the how's and why pieces of equipment best sound good together is everything.....
Boonaroo
Super Member
I second that!!!! I to ask why? Porkloin, just because you think you know it all doesn't mean that you do. S m h!!!!
Porkloin
Oscar Heil Groupie
I don't fault the initial question. I fault old timers for taking three posts to inform the OP that there is no santa claus and speaker wattage ratings are a pointless way spend thought energy that could be more constructively directed. No telling how long it would've went on and how many different ways there are to skirt the obvious if I hadn't run the apple cart over with a truck.
You're welcome.
Your understanding is incorrect. There are far more speakers damaged from people turning the volume up too far on their low or medium powered amp, AVR or receiver causing clipped signals to be sent to the speakers. Take your gear for example. You are far more likely to damage your speakers with your receiver than you would be with a 600 wpc amp. It's extremely rare to have speaker damage from a high powered amp.
Djcoolray
Addicted Member
Well....
I know that there are so many people that think that. But severely sensitive speakers function well on much less signal and that is not what you are figuring on. Then if the signal also has a low noise ratio....as in a 98db signal to noise ratio the sensitivity of the speakers is enabled even more. Then the THD of the receiver is only 0.005% with a dampening effect of 100 and I've had my system as is for over twenty years and pounded the speakers like there is no tomorrow at three quarter volume and everyday that I power my system up it acts like new. My speakers never get over worked to show signs of over abuse and I can't see my system ever needing any repairs until the inevitable recapping then I'm using German caps to improve it even further. Clipping, I never knew what clipping was until I found out that people on this site were pushing their little amps farther than they should. You see, signal strength from one hundred amp receiver is not exactly the same as a hundred amps from another receiver. I know that many like to categorize so many things to be the same...especially equipment made in a certain era. But rest assured that receivers are no more the same as most women are not the same. Just like mixing equipment does not produce the same sound.....
Generalization is kind of a fog that does not allow people to understand the differences.....
I don't think that European spec equipment is any different ?
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I've tried to make sense of your post, maybe I'm too tired, but.......
Basically none of what you posted has anything to do with clipping or otherwise damaging your speakers. Not the S/N ratio, not the THD and not the damping factor. However, they certainly play a role in the sound quality.
If you've had your receiver and speakers for 20 years, all are overdue for a recap.
Happy listening!
Basically none of what you posted has anything to do with clipping or otherwise damaging your speakers. Not the S/N ratio, not the THD and not the damping factor. However, they certainly play a role in the sound quality.
If you've had your receiver and speakers for 20 years, all are overdue for a recap.
Happy listening!
xero-D-hero
Super Member
A high sensitivity spec does'nt necessarily make any given speaker immune from that phenomenon (clipping damage).Djcoolray said:
Take the Infinity Kappa 9 for instance,the Kappa 9's sensitivity spec is 102db yet they're known as AMP KILLERS due to the intense loads they put on amps.
And under-power those speakers and you'll very likely be looking for some SEMIT and/or EMIT tweeters pretty quickly in addition to some new amps.
That's largely because those given speakers place a seriously high demand on any/all amp(s) and as such can & will push many "lesser" amps into clipping very quickly.
So it becomes a race to see what happens first,fry some drivers due to clipping -or- kill some amps from loading them too hard.
So folks reading this need to understand that a high sensitivity spec for any speaker is'nt a fool-proof guarantee of immunity from the damaging effects of clipping.
Also as I understand that situation (damage from clipping) the gear's THD & S2N has absolutely nothing to do with that situation @ all...
A 15wpc amp w/0.002 THD & > 100db S2N can just as easily be pushed into clipping same as a 15wpc amp w/0.2 THD ~ 80db S2N amp can.
And the amp's damping spec affecting clipping,,,that's not even worth debating/discussing here...
I guess I'm w/F1nut on this one,,,over-powering speakers is almost always better than under-powering 'em...
JME ~ FWIW ~ YMMV
Bret P.
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whoaru99
Epic Member
The first two posts are the OPs, the third and forth say use your ears.
Then you come with this (and your post before it)?
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whoaru99
Epic Member
It's probably more rare because in the big picture not that many people, relatively speaking, have big amps. And, those that do likely have at least reasonably robust speakers.
Myself, I use 700wpc amp with speakers rated 210W but I've never damaged them because I use my ears to draw the line. If I cranked it to the full clean capability of the amp the speakers would be damaged.
Again the point is as made early into the thread. One has to use their ears (regardless if the amp is large or small or the speakers have generous numbers or not).
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saea501
Well-Known Member
This is some of the most humorous stuff I think I have ever heard and I have been into audio for more than 50 years.
Signal to noise ratio 'enabling' speaker sensitivity??? A '100 amp receiver'? Does it double as a welder?
I'm sorry, my friend, but you truly have no understanding of this.
savatage1973
Addicted Member
Distortion is caused by two simple factors--either the amplifier is being driven beyond its capabilities, or the speaker is being driven beyond its capabilities--that's it--pretty basic. Sure, there are lots of different factors involved on both sides of the equation, but those are the two basic causes of distortion.
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