33433
From: ryan, [woh-65-28-247-229.woh.rr.com]
Subject: is it possible to blow my subs by overpowering them??
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i have 2 memphis 12" subs with a combined peak of 800 watts.. but i have a kenwood amp with a peak of 1000 watts.. how do i keep from blowing my subs?? or is it even possible to blow them?? thanks |
33434
From: Jordan, [216-237-196-136-dslam1-hmc.northstate.net]
Subject: Re: is it possible to blow my subs by overpowering them??
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First of all, Peak is a meaningless marketing figure. Do not EVER go by that figure. Example: If your subwoofers are rated at 800 watts RMS, and the amplifier puts out 1000 watts RMS, (not peak, leave that figure aside) Then yes, You will cook your drivers pretty quickly. (the wires that make up the voice coil will heat up dramatically and begin to melt, causing shorts, and fairly quickly, total failure.) To keep from damaging your subs by overpowering them, Do not turn them up loud to the point where ANY audible distortion occurs. If you hear distortion, You are driving the subs too hard, and in many cases, the amplifier as well. If you need an explanation why peak power handling\output is a meaningless figure, just ask or do some research. In short: Peak is the maximum amount of power that the amp is able to produce. This is NOT the maximum amount of power the amp is able to produce while keeping the audio signal intact. Distortion + overpowering them to any degree kills the drivers. You should be quite alright, just dont crank the volume too much ;) At least you bought an amplifier WITH enough juice to drive the subs without clipping because you bought one with a lower rating than you actually needed... |
33442
From: ryan, [woh-65-28-247-229.woh.rr.com]
Subject: jordan
| my amp has an rms of 460 watts x1 in bridged mode(wich i probably will use)or 150 watts x2. each of my subs have an rms of 200 watts. what i am wondering is how loud do you think i can turn it up before i hear distortion?? cause i really am worried about blowing my subs.. after i paid that much for them. |
33446
From: Jordan, [216-237-196-136-dslam1-hmc.northstate.net]
Subject: Re: jordan
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Well, on a scale from 1 to 10 of the max volume, I'd say around 7-8 would be my max.. 8 if you just wanna show off for a few seconds ;) But really, if you hear any sort of odd noise that isn't in the music, or any noticeable changes, then your volume is quite alright... If you want to, the best solution to set your gains on your amp and know the maximum settings for your gains before the signal starts to get clipped, use an osciliscope and run test tones through the amp. You shouldn't have to turn up the volume any more beyond that gain point before your amp clips, and since the amp is rated for 60 W more than the two subs can handle, you shouldn't reach that mark anyways. (unless the amp isn't REALLY 460 watts...) |
Responses:
[33622]
33622
From: jensen2000, [193.113.48.11]
Subject: Re: jordan
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Your subs capacity to cope depends on more than absolute quoted RMS values. Don't expect the subs to cope with 460Wrms if the the drivers are driven below the tuning freq of a ported box for example. Also factor in how the rms values were derived, you may find manafacturer 'a' under-estimates values to promote a quality image whilst manafacturer 'b' overestimates to shift greater volumes of a cheaper product. Without being able to measure the voicecoil's temperature against known limits or excursion against xsus whilst in use you will have to take care (not be paranoid!) Enjoy the sound Jensen Just for info, (car-sub) I was using a JBL GT12-2 rated at 225Wrms driven by a Precision Power a600.2 rated at 600Wrms 10-40KHz. The sub died without any audible complaints, just played one minute, silent the next. On opening my boot(trunk) the smell of death was obvious. The point being a good quality amp delivering clean signal, with the sub below xmax but above rms will be a silent killer- don't just go by distortion! Enough already...... :) |
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