Another question

mauro_ferrante

I don´t understand why an 85w per channel A/VR-amp could damage a pair of 150w (nominal power) speakers at high volume levels???

I always thought that if the A/VR-amp max output was under the speakers nominal power, then those speakers will always be "protected".

I feel really shame 'cause I'm a chemical engineer (but I did study some electrics at college) and I can´t figure it out myself!!!

schwarcw

Hi Mauro!

Distortion is what can cause damage to your speakers. Even though the receiver is rated for 85 watts and your speakers for 150 watts you can produce distortion at high volume levels that can damage your speakers. To put it in chemical terms, think of distortion as impurities in your signal. The impurities caused the damage to your speaker. Get a larger amp that won't distort at high volume levels, or TURN IT DOWN!!!!!!

Good luck!

John K.

Mauro, if the receiver rated at 85 watts would stop at that power level and not attempt to put out much more, then obviously a speaker which could handle 150 watts for an extended period without permanent damage would have no problem. However, if a brief peak called for much more than 85 watts there would still be an attempt to supply it to the speaker, but it couldn't be done cleanly and a special form of distortion which results in "clipping" could occur which might burn out the voice coil in the tweeter.

The exact electrical mechanisms which could cause clipping are a subject of discussion and two or more may contribute to the result. Probably the best analysis of this available online is found on the St. Andrews University site . Dr. Lesurf originally prepared this and the many other excellent explanations of electronics and audio found there as introductory material for his students in electronics and physics. Although parts of the discussion are somewhat technical, as a chemical engineer you'll probably follow most of it(my undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Chemistry and I was able to work my way through it)and studying it and other topics at the site are highly recommended to help get a grasp of reality in audio matters.

mauro_ferrante

Thanks a lot guys, you've been really helpfull.

McLoki

here is another pretty basic explanation

Basically less power is harder on speakers than more power. You are much better off getting an amp rated at double your speakers recommended power than 1/2 of it..

Michael

edit - better off being defined as: less likely to cause damage to your speakers or amp....