200watt amplifier on 500watt speakers?

**SickFinga** · 05-08-2006, 09:35 PM

Julian tells me that if I use 200watt amp per channel on 500watt speakers I'll blow my speakers.
True?

ZiMMie · 05-08-2006, 09:37 PM

it Depends.

wat rms/ohms is the amp/subs ratted at?

Blades · 05-08-2006, 09:39 PM

its like putting a Honda engine in a 1500 Dodge Ram ... somethings going to blow.

$500bimmer · 05-08-2006, 09:39 PM

what type of speaker? and amp? hes right ^^^

***Gamite*** · 05-09-2006, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZiMMie

it Depends.

wat rms/ohms is the amp/subs ratted at?

its a theoretical question. Both RMS.

Axxe · 05-09-2006, 09:30 AM

Oh course it will blow. The amp is going to be clipping like mad trying to keep up with the speakers, and eventually something will give. Going the other way is much healthier (overpowering the speakers).

paul christians · 05-09-2006, 11:23 AM

this is now funnist thread on MAX.......it is like taking your BMW and towing a 15 ton trailer, and what would you think is going to happen than...bybybyby BMW....so yes it is going to smke it BIG TIME.......

propr'one · 05-09-2006, 03:59 PM

Boom

**SickFinga** · 05-09-2006, 04:26 PM

Doesn't make anysense.
Don't give me this 100hp engine powering 60tonn tank.
It's not the same.

A good example is, 3volt motor, hooked up to a 1.5volt battery.
Motors will spin, but not at the full potential.

**SickFinga** · 05-09-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axxe

Oh course it will blow. The amp is going to be clipping like mad trying to keep up with the speakers, and eventually something will give. Going the other way is much healthier (overpowering the speakers).

Keep up with the speakers???
wtf are you talking about???

Speakers not sending anything, they are receiving signal. Speakers gonna be keeping up with the amp, not other way around.

Justin e36 · 05-09-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickFinga

Keep up with the speakers???
wtf are you talking about???

Speakers not sending anything, they are receiving signal. Speakers gonna be keeping up with the amp, not other way around.

wrong.

Don't get amperage and wattage confused. When you adjust the volume on your stereo, you are adjusting the amperage (volume) of electrical current transmitted to the speakers. An amplifier boosts the amperage. The wattage is the power consumed by 1 ampere flowing across 1 ohm.

you're thinking in terms of pipelines... like having a garden hose that can handle 40psi of pressure, but only turning on the tap to 10psi... everything will be fine and dandy... nothing will break.

Also the above analogies do not apply here. A small engine (amp) in a heavy car (speaker).. because in this analogy the engine will break. In the amp/speaker case, it's the car (speaker) that will break instead.

Speakers use an energized voicecoil which requires a certain amount of electricity to be powered sufficiently. You won't 'blow' your speakers, blowing your speakers is a result of overexcursion. Instead, you will fry the voice coil. In your example, this will not happen when you're amp is only being used to 50% capacity (100 watt to 500 watt speakers), but the speakers will barely react, since they *require* a certain amount of wattage to move. But when you use the underpowered amp to full potential you end up with a distorted signal to your subwoofers, which results in clipping. And clipping will kill your subs mighty quick. It will result in the voice coils heating up and literally frying.

It is safer to over-power your speakers than to underpower them. As your speakers will be used closer to their designed range, and the voicecoil can cool better when the speaker is used to full excursion.

As a side note, a lot of people underpower their subwoofers unknowingly, then complain when they blow. They believe they're "matching" their subwoofer when they say.. "I have a 500watt monoblock amp, powering two 250watt subwoofers.. it's perfect!". Except many mono amps produce 500watt at 1ohm, and only 250watt at 2ohm. And since most subwoofers are 2, or 4 ohm... they are only really getting 125watts each, instead of the intended 250watt per sub. As a result, the subs begin clipping and eventually die. Very common mistake. Very important to match the ohms as well.

**SickFinga** · 05-09-2006, 07:00 PM

OK, let me own all of you.

Are you ready???

Page 16
Recommended Amplifier 20–400 watts (those are the speakers I got)
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Manua...iesCompMan.pdf

Guess they don't know what they are talking about, right?

Justin e36 · 05-09-2006, 07:38 PM

Still waiting for us to get owned.

Strength of amplifier depends on how many speakers you're powering, and ohms. Those speakers are only 125w RMS peak (@ +/- 3ohm impendance) each in case you didn't check the spec sheet. If you want to underpower them all with a 20 watt, or overpower one with 400 watts.. by all means, go for it. We'll be waiting here to say "told you so" when things don't work as planned.

In case you missed it the first time:
"In your example, this will not happen when you're amp is only being used to 50% capacity (100 watt to 500 watt speakers), but the speakers will barely react, since they *require* a certain amount of wattage to move. But when you use the underpowered amp to full potential you end up with a distorted signal to your subwoofers, which results in clipping."

**SickFinga** · 05-09-2006, 07:46 PM

I dont see 125w anywhere there.
But yeah I agree if you overpowerig you amp, that it sends distorted signal, you will blow your speakers.
But it the same for the overpowered amp. If it sends distorted signal, it will blow the speaker.

Justin e36 · 05-09-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickFinga

I dont see 125w anywhere there.
But yeah I agree if you overpowerig you amp, that it sends distorted signal, you will blow your speakers.
But it the same for the overpowered amp. If it sends distorted signal, it will blow the speaker.

The specs are over here: http://www.bostonacoustics.com/car/c...product_id=297

An overpowered amp won't send a distorted signal if it's working within capacity, the signal will be clean.. but it'll drive the speaker too far (over excursion) and literally 'blow' the cone off the voice coil. The underpowered amp will fry the speaker. (literally burn the voice coil).

Also a good idea if you're buying some used speakers/subs, to give it a good sniff. Smell if the voice coil has been burnt in the past.

What amp did you buy for the speakers?