At 500 watts, those speakers will be pumping out about 120 dB.
Actually it depends on the model and the room they are in (and if you are measuring 500W at the amp, and if it's an averaged needle level, and if it accounts for lower impedances for which driver, and what cable/connections you are using, and passive or active crossover, and at which frequencies, etc.), but the ADS specs would put it at about 117 db or 122 db, depending which model we are talking about. Either way, it's really loud, and would be painful if sustained. But under the right conditions I could see peaks that high...
Also, it's not true that 500W will destroy these tweeters. I know of someone who put 2,500 watts *direct* into these tweeters with no harm at all.
I keep saying it depends on what you are doing.
To use a comment made earlier, what we need here are more physics.
It's a matter of thermal dissipation. There is a limit, but it's not anywhere near as simple as putting a single number of watts down on paper and you are done considering the limit.
I have personally melted more than one ADS tweeter and woofer, so am aware it can be done.
Which is why I keep saying I want 500W available as *peak power*, and for *headroom*, NOT because I want to set it at "500W of output" (whatever that means) and sit for tea while it's playing.
By the way, my current amp is capable of over 200W of clean power and I have clipped it. That means I need a minimum of 400W to create an audible increase in headroom.
For this statement:
"There is no circuit that allows active bi-amping without removing the passive crossover in a speaker from the circuit."
I agree, I was just responding to what sounded like a comment that you had to physically remove it from the cabinet.
In any case, I can only say thank you to all who are trying to keep me from doing something stupid with some really nice speakers. But then I have been known to be difficult to talk out of stupid ideas in the past.......
Last comment.
I think I found what I'm looking for. Finally went to an electronics supply store and they gave me what I wanted.
Now I just have to build the box and wiring around it, and yes I will be careful before flipping the switch.
switch found!