Am I running too much power on my rti a9s

Gstradeski
Gstradeski Posts: 17
in Speakers
I just joined the world of external amplifiers. I knew I would need them eventually with these beasts for speakers I ran them off my receiver for about a year and a half then found a good deal on ebay for two adcom gfa 555s. I am using one amp bridged into 600 watts for each speaker. To say the least these speakers lit up in a way I didn't think possible. Just wondering if I could be causing any damage with the amount of power I'm using since these are only rated for 500 watts.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,603
    Answer ✓
    No
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,680
    Answer ✓
    Nope.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,437
    Answer ✓
    The A9's are like tanks IMO. I've had them bridged with over 800w on tap each speaker.....cranked and loving it!! Had a big room to fill too, 15 and a half by 26 and a half and it was glorious!!!

    Now in a room half that size, they are powered with 450w each and hardly ever cranked and still emitting beautiful sounds :smiley:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited April 2019
    Running amps bridged increases their noise floor (distortion level).
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,134
    Gstradeski wrote: »
    I just joined the world of external amplifiers...
    ...found a good deal on ebay for two adcom gfa 555s. I am using one amp bridged into 600 watts for each speaker. To say the least these speakers lit up in a way I didn't think possible.
    And this was your reaction. And the dad from that 70s show was there, too.
    hlrwd2reae0c.gif
    I disabled signatures.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    Personally, I wouldn't bridge those amps, not only for the added noise it introduces, but the amps in bridged mode may not like anything below an 8 ohm load.

    That said, the only damage you'll do is with the volume dial. If you haven't learned yet what to listen for before things go up in a puff of smoke, You may want to read up a bit.
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  • honestaquarian
    honestaquarian Posts: 3,196
    It is FAR EASIER to blow up your speakers by overdriving and underpowered amplifier into clipping than it is to damage them with a much higher powered amplifier. Like @tonyb said the volume dial and not knowing what the signs of distress sound like is far more dangerous to your loudspeakers!!
    I myself have come across far too many people who like to crank it up and don’t even hear the distortion when they get carried away!!!!
    Then when things go up in a puff of smoke like @tonyb says, they wonder what happened :o
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