2. speakers
  3. 182887-19238

How does a speaker blow out?

I don't understand how a speaker "blows" if the wattage of the amplifier is less than the upper limit of the speaker's limit.  Then again, I guess I don't really understand what "clipping" is.  The amp is 22w, I was listening at a moderately high level, there was a bass heavy section in the music, and then I heard the most painful noise coming from one the of woofers.  Sad.

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xmikedc
pilk
3 posts
 

*That should  have read (C weighted fast response)

chenaudiolab
8 posts
 

The maximum power a speaker can handle is an indicator of the full sound spectrum. When the sound is concentrated in only a narrow section of the frequency spectrum, a few watts of electrical power can destroy the driver.

mikedc's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mikedc OP
32 posts
 

@chenaudiolab

Very helpful, thanks.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,657 posts
 

chenaudiolab

The maximum power a speaker can handle is an indicator of the full sound spectrum. When the sound is concentrated in only a narrow section of the frequency spectrum, a few watts of electrical power can destroy the driver.

No, the sound spectrum has nothing at all to do with it. It's the voice coil and diaphragm that mostly determine power handling capacity.

Consider the woofer, for example. The ones in my system cover just a few octaves octaves - 20 Hz to 80 Hz  yet they can safely handle hundreds of watts.

More to discover