Bad Amp, New Amp, Watts & Ohms

U risk damage to the amp with lower-than-spec'd speaker impedance -- it causes stress from excessive current flow. Some amps are made to handle as low as 2-ohms. U risk damage to the speakers if u crank the vol up to high -- with these weaker speakers, that won't be hard to do. The latter point is moot, though, since u shouldn't be using them with this amp in the first place.

Let your ears be your guide. If you turn the thing up so loud the speakers start distorting badly, the you can destroy them. If you don't use them at a higher volume than you've previously demonstrated is safe you'll be fine.

Headroom in your amp is a good thing, just use a light tough on the volume control.

/ff

Yes, either of two ways.

If you turn the volume way up, you can burn out the speakers with excessive power. However, if you keep the volume down, that won't be a problem.

If the amplifier is rated for 8-ohm speakers, it may be damaged trying to drive 4-ohm speakers. But, again, if you keep the volume down, that won't be a problem. If it sounds OK, it's working fine. If it sounds distorted, it's not. If you are one of these people whose idea of music is "thump-crash-thump-crash-skzzzz-thump-crash-skzzzz" you will probably damage both the speakers and the amplifier.

Did you have physics in high school?

Probably not in this case since the speaker would fry before the amp was in trouble.

Amen.

Kal

That depends- very high power amps are capable of huge transients and can cook speakers even though the sound level seems safe. Connecting 6W speakers to an amp like that is sure to damage them sooner or later. Even worse- they're too low an impedance. The amp and speaker are both at risk, and even if the amp survives the mismatch, if the speaker voice coil burns out it could present a catastrophic short to the amp and destroy it.

Dave

"nilo" wrote in news:1150458128.054403.90400 @p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com:

You forgot to tell us what kind of music you listen to, and how loud. (c:)

Well I certainly came to the right place :D

Thanks all, it seems general consensus is as I tentatively guessed, as long as its not too loud (and too much power isn't going into the little speakers) it will probably be okay. But I take everyone's point about damage being done that isn't audible, transient (voltages is it?)... So there are some risks, I guess the follow-up question should be what has people's experience been here?, has anyone run amps with lower rated speakers at a reasonable volume? No doubt uninformed people like myself do :)

The speakers advertised with the amplifier for another $299 vary vastly in size. Four tiny speakers like the ones i already have, 2 huge ones, a big sub woofer, and a mid size centre. I'm guessing these themselves would all vary in there rated tolerances...interesting given all channels on the amp are equal 100watts.

So, I'll play it by ear - sorry about that..

Did they have physics when I was in school? Yep , and I wish I'd taken it and made an effort to understand these basics of how the world works, never to late huh?

Music - rock, pop, oldies, and whatever sounds good.. It is funny though, a few years ago I liked a bassier sound but I think maybe my tastes are becomming more refined at my 25 yrs, (or that bass sent me deaf).

I hope this question was worthwhile to others too, thanks for replying all.

Jim Land (NO SPAM) wrote:

Save up your money and get some decent speakers to suit the amp. At the moment you've bought the car but don't have any wheels.

Then sit back and enjoy all of the sounds your amplifier was(hopefully) made for.

Happy listening, Boozo.