Can a power amp have too much power, risking damage to a speaker?


I have a McIntosh 402, rated 400 watts continuous per channel. If I use it to drive a pair of Klipshorns or LaScala [specified to handle 100 watts continuous] or similar high-efficiency speakers, do I risk damage to such speakers? 

joelepo

There is no such thing as too much power. It is far more common for an underpowered amp to destroy speakers with clipping which can easily overheat fragile voice coils.

High powered systems are always limited unless you like destroying your ears. K horns will easily destroy your ears before they get into trouble. 

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Thanks! mijostyn! 
I follow some Audiogon discussions, but this is my first time to submit a query.
Impressed that there are folks out there who as OCD perfectionist regarding good audio as I! 
Based on this experience, I'll likely join some other discussions groups. It's a great community! 
 

Amplifiers can damage loudspeakers with too much sustained high power.  If you treat your loudspeaker's voice coils as if they were a fuse, they will eventually fail.  Use some common sense.