How much power is dangerous? - Blu-ray Forum

jaydoc24 · 01-30-2009, 08:09 PM

I have a KEF system and the rear speakers are rated to 100W. I have been looking at an Emotiva amp and it outputs 125W/channel. I called KEF and Emotiva and they both said it should be fine. I was wondering what you, more experienced people, say about it? How many W do you think would be dangerous and will going over the 100W up to say 150W hurt the speakers?

kpkelley · 01-30-2009, 08:12 PM

I'm assuming that the power rating is continuous power, not peak, but check your manual or the specifications for those speakers in particular to be sure. As I posted in another thread you want your amplifier to be about 1.5-2 times the power of the continuous power rating of the speaker. In this case the emotiva amp would do well and your speakers shouldn't have a problem handling the power.

crazyBLUE · 01-30-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydoc24

I have a KEF system and the rear speakers are rated to 100W. I have been looking at an Emotiva amp and it outputs 125W/channel. I called KEF and Emotiva and they both said it should be fine. I was wondering what you, more experienced people, say about it? How many W do you think would be dangerous and will going over the 100W up to say 150W hurt the speakers?

My rear speakers are rated up to 100 watts . I have UPA-7 & no problems ! I can tend to listen to some sound tracks vary loud ! Still no problems .

jaydoc24 · 01-30-2009, 08:16 PM

I don't see a continuous power rating. It says "Amplifier Requirements 15-100W." That is all I see.

Audiophile_At_Birth · 01-30-2009, 08:24 PM

Ok...I know what I said the other day might have been confusing. But with the Emotiva Amp...at 125watts...Your ears will hurt. Do you think you would be listening to your speakers at 105db+??? Or even louder?

EDIT: I know didn't answer your question. Sorry. But you get were I'm coming from??

jaydoc24 · 01-30-2009, 08:29 PM

No, probably not. I just have no idea what I'm doing and trying to learn. I just don't want to invest in an amp that will hurt my speakers. I usually listen at a moderate level, basically so I don't have to strain to hear anything. But when I watch movies, I turn it up a little more for effect. Probably nowhere near some people here but I am just trying to learn from you guys.

Audiophile_At_Birth · 01-30-2009, 08:30 PM

I would suggest reading this.

Squozen · 01-30-2009, 08:35 PM

Think of amplifier power like an engine. Just because you have a big V8 engine, that doesn't mean you can't drive your car at 5 miles an hour.

Similarly, a 400W amplifier can happily drive speakers that can only cope with 50W. You just can't turn the amplifier up so loud that the speakers start distorting.

You won't have any problems. Your speakers and amp are well matched. I personally am driving a pair of 50W Klipsch speakers as my rear surrounds with a receiver rated at 140W a channel, and it's fine.

Audiophile_At_Birth · 01-30-2009, 08:36 PM

Right now I'm playing the Bullet for my Valentine Live DVD. Their a metal band from the U.K. My ears start hurt after about a couple minutes at reference volume on my Onkyo. That's about 120-130 watts I would assume to be around. No clipping, everything is running fine and sounds smooth and clear. As surround speakers, they're not going to get the load your front speakers would. So it's not like your amp would be juicing them to a overpowering wattage. What you're looking at...Emotiva and KEF 100watt speakers...You should be totally fine. Unless you maxed out your amp and had a crap load of clipping going on. But at that point, your ears would be at the threshold of pain...You're ears would go first. According to my Uncle...electrical engineer (masters) Overpowering your speakers...e.g. 125watts into 100watts won't hurt them and will make them sound even better than if you were to pair them up with a 100watts to match the specs. You want low THD and good power with headroom than matching the 100watt spec on your speakers with 1% THD and no headroom left.

Beta Man · 01-30-2009, 08:38 PM

"You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!!

sorry... long day... couldn't help myself.....

You can hurt speakers by under-powering just as easily as over-powering..... As long as the knob that says "Volume" doesn't get turned too high.. you'll be fine! (If you turn up speakers loud enough to damage them, then they're either crappy speakers, or you were turning the volume to an "Unlistenable" level to begin with! Those speakers aren't junk, so just don't try to make your ears bleed and you'll be fine )

jaydoc24 · 01-30-2009, 08:42 PM

Okay, excellent. Thanks so much for the input guys. That is what I wanted. Some definitive answers to my questions. Now I have to decide which Emotiva to go with!

crazyBLUE · 01-30-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophile_At_Birth

Ok...I know what I said the other day might have been confusing. But with the Emotiva Amp...at 125watts...Your ears will hurt. Do you think you would be listening to your speakers at 105db+??? Or even louder?

EDIT: I know didn't answer your question. Sorry. But you get were I'm coming from??

WOW !!When I've got it at -10 db its loud ~ +5 db is incredibly loud !!

I COULD NOT EMAGINE WHAT +105 db WOULD BE LIKE !!

blujacket · 01-30-2009, 08:58 PM

Too little power is worse than too much.

Steve · 01-30-2009, 09:04 PM

Just because your 125 watt/channel amp is turned on doesn't mean it's pushing 125 watts/channel. It can, but you'll probably never actually use that much power. Power output from an amp is tied in with volume level. The higher you turn the volume, the more power your amp has to put out to achieve that volume. And to listen at a volume that would require 125 watts/channel would be uncomfortable to say the least. More like painful.

crazyBLUE · 01-30-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman325

Just because your 125 watt/channel amp is turned on doesn't mean it's pushing 125 watts/channel. It can, but you'll probably never actually use that much power. Power output from an amp is tied in with volume level. The higher you turn the volume, the more power your amp has to put out to achieve that volume. And to listen at a volume that would require 125 watts/channel would be uncomfortable to say the least. More like painful.

+1 ~~~I would HOPE the OP has gotten the message by know !!

Steve · 01-31-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

+1 ~~~I would HOPE the OP has gotten the message by know !!

Yeah I guess I was

Beating a dead horse... bringing up/asking something that has been discussed a thousand times before

Sith · 01-31-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman325

Just because your 125 watt/channel amp is turned on doesn't mean it's pushing 125 watts/channel. It can, but you'll probably never actually use that much power. Power output from an amp is tied in with volume level. The higher you turn the volume, the more power your amp has to put out to achieve that volume. And to listen at a volume that would require 125 watts/channel would be uncomfortable to say the least. More like painful.

Hell no, Slayer at 150 watts full blast so that your ears bleed, that is what
it's all about

Squozen · 01-31-2009, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

WOW !!When I've got it at -10 db its loud ~ +5 db is incredibly loud !!

I COULD NOT EMAGINE WHAT +105 db WOULD BE LIKE !!

Heh, that's not what the poster meant. He didn't mean 105dB above reference level (reproducing dialogue at 180dB, which would be impossible to achieve with even an air-raid siren and if it was achieved, would destroy your hearing tissue), he meant 105dB or above. 105dB is the loudest sound a speaker should be required to produce in a film soundtrack at reference level. (115dB for the subwoofer). It is... FREAKING LOUD.

01-30-2009, 08:09 PM	#1
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	How much power is dangerous? I have a KEF system and the rear speakers are rated to 100W. I have been looking at an Emotiva amp and it outputs 125W/channel. I called KEF and Emotiva and they both said it should be fine. I was wondering what you, more experienced people, say about it? How many W do you think would be dangerous and will going over the 100W up to say 150W hurt the speakers?

01-30-2009, 08:24 PM	#5
Audiophile_At_Birth Special Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:El Paso, TX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:235 Blu-ray reviews:1	Ok...I know what I said the other day might have been confusing. But with the Emotiva Amp...at 125watts...Your ears will hurt. Do you think you would be listening to your speakers at 105db+??? Or even louder? EDIT: I know didn't answer your question. Sorry. But you get were I'm coming from?? Last edited by Audiophile_At_Birth; 01-30-2009 at 08:28 PM.

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01-30-2009, 08:12 PM	#2
kpkelley Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Framingham, MA 4K collection:385 Blu-ray collection:2478 Digital collection:113 Blu-ray reviews: 152	I'm assuming that the power rating is continuous power, not peak, but check your manual or the specifications for those speakers in particular to be sure. As I posted in another thread you want your amplifier to be about 1.5-2 times the power of the continuous power rating of the speaker. In this case the emotiva amp would do well and your speakers shouldn't have a problem handling the power.

01-30-2009, 08:16 PM	#4
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	I don't see a continuous power rating. It says "Amplifier Requirements 15-100W." That is all I see.

01-30-2009, 08:29 PM	#6
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	No, probably not. I just have no idea what I'm doing and trying to learn. I just don't want to invest in an amp that will hurt my speakers. I usually listen at a moderate level, basically so I don't have to strain to hear anything. But when I watch movies, I turn it up a little more for effect. Probably nowhere near some people here but I am just trying to learn from you guys.

01-30-2009, 08:30 PM	#7
Audiophile_At_Birth Special Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:El Paso, TX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:235 Blu-ray reviews:1	I would suggest reading this.

01-30-2009, 08:35 PM	#8
Squozen Senior Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Melbourne, Australia Home Theater Gallery:17 Blu-ray collection:80	Think of amplifier power like an engine. Just because you have a big V8 engine, that doesn't mean you can't drive your car at 5 miles an hour. Similarly, a 400W amplifier can happily drive speakers that can only cope with 50W. You just can't turn the amplifier up so loud that the speakers start distorting. You won't have any problems. Your speakers and amp are well matched. I personally am driving a pair of 50W Klipsch speakers as my rear surrounds with a receiver rated at 140W a channel, and it's fine.

01-30-2009, 08:36 PM	#9
Audiophile_At_Birth Special Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:El Paso, TX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:235 Blu-ray reviews:1	Right now I'm playing the Bullet for my Valentine Live DVD. Their a metal band from the U.K. My ears start hurt after about a couple minutes at reference volume on my Onkyo. That's about 120-130 watts I would assume to be around. No clipping, everything is running fine and sounds smooth and clear. As surround speakers, they're not going to get the load your front speakers would. So it's not like your amp would be juicing them to a overpowering wattage. What you're looking at...Emotiva and KEF 100watt speakers...You should be totally fine. Unless you maxed out your amp and had a crap load of clipping going on. But at that point, your ears would be at the threshold of pain...You're ears would go first. According to my Uncle...electrical engineer (masters) Overpowering your speakers...e.g. 125watts into 100watts won't hurt them and will make them sound even better than if you were to pair them up with a 100watts to match the specs. You want low THD and good power with headroom than matching the 100watt spec on your speakers with 1% THD and no headroom left.

01-30-2009, 08:38 PM	#10
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	"You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!! sorry... long day... couldn't help myself..... You can hurt speakers by under-powering just as easily as over-powering..... As long as the knob that says "Volume" doesn't get turned too high.. you'll be fine! (If you turn up speakers loud enough to damage them, then they're either crappy speakers, or you were turning the volume to an "Unlistenable" level to begin with! Those speakers aren't junk, so just don't try to make your ears bleed and you'll be fine )

01-30-2009, 08:42 PM	#11
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	Okay, excellent. Thanks so much for the input guys. That is what I wanted. Some definitive answers to my questions. Now I have to decide which Emotiva to go with!

01-30-2009, 08:58 PM	#13
blujacket Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Dayton,Ohio 4K collection:70 Blu-ray collection:658	Too little power is worse than too much.

01-30-2009, 09:04 PM	#14
Steve Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Anna, TX 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:41	Just because your 125 watt/channel amp is turned on doesn't mean it's pushing 125 watts/channel. It can, but you'll probably never actually use that much power. Power output from an amp is tied in with volume level. The higher you turn the volume, the more power your amp has to put out to achieve that volume. And to listen at a volume that would require 125 watts/channel would be uncomfortable to say the least. More like painful.

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