Amp question

[xboxweasel]

How can adding an amp possible blow speakers? Isn't an amp just a power supply with x amount of power available? And won't the amount of power consumed by relative to the load?

Or do amps automatically boost the volume x amount? Is that what is ment by volume gain?

People say that you should not connect an amplifier with 500 watts / channel to a 100 watt rated speaker.

This also leads to the question; if I were to replace an amp with another manufacturers amp; and keep the same speakers and same volume setting etc on the pre/pro; would the sound be louder?

 

[mtrycrafts]

How can adding an amp possible blow speakers? Isn't an amp just a power supply with x amount of power available? And won't the amount of power consumed by relative to the load?

Or do amps automatically boost the volume x amount? Is that what is ment by volume gain?

People say that you should not connect an amplifier with 500 watts / channel to a 100 watt rated speaker.

This also leads to the question; if I were to replace an amp with another manufacturers amp; and keep the same speakers and same volume setting etc on the pre/pro; would the sound be louder?

An amp will blow the speakers when you exceed the speakers rated power. Low frequency drivers are rated for more power than tweeters in most cases for consumer applications.

The amount of power consumed will also depend on how loud you want the speakers to play. If you set in low volume, it will 'consume' less power than if you increase volume to a higher level, yet you have the same load. You are allowing a higher voltage to drive the speakers.

A 500 watt amp is fine but you really need to watch the volume, especially with respect to peaks. But again, your tweeters are the one in danger mostly as larger speakers are better at handling such peaks. Continuous power exceeding the rated power capacity would be another issue though.

A replacement amp will respond differently to the same volume control position used on the previous amp so you would have to experiment before automatically setting the volume where it was before.