Hello i'm very confused...

[Shamp]

I'll start off by saying this is my first post and I really enjoy browsing the site and would like to say hello.

So i'm sort of in a messy situation, I don't know alot about power supply and what not but anyways here is my problem. I have a 5.1 set-up and a receiver that pushes 100 watts per-channel. My problem is I have an infinity center speaker that supports up to 100 watts and 4 crappy insignia speakers that can support up to 40 watts... Is this bad? Do I need speakers that can support a higher wattage? I'm confused and hope someone can help me with this situation, by the way I haven't even used the setup yet, I'm waiting to make sure it won't harm anything.

Thanks from a complete idiot when it comes to wattages and what not...

 

[avaserfi]

The wattages don't need to match up. The biggest reason you are in "trouble" is because your center speakers timber (tone) doesn't match your other speakers most likely. So when you are watching a movie and something goes left to right it will start out in your front left at one tone, go the the center at another and the go to the front right in another. This can be distracting and detract from the movie experience.

 

[fmw]

I think you will be OK. While the amplifiers may have short peaks at high current during the loud segments of movies, most of the time you will be listening with a couple of watts or so. 40 watts driving my speakers in my room would be very, very loud indeed. I doubt seriously that you will destroy any speakers. If you are worried about it, then you can consider fusing them.

Most of the amplifier power is overhead. It isn't used all the time in a class AB amp like you're probably talking about. It is there to handle high current peaks like explosions in movie soundtracks. Most of the time you will be using a small fraction of the available power.

Be sure you balance the speakers properly with each other for output. You wouldn't want your surrounds balanced louder than your mains, as an example. Your receiver or preamp will have a routine for channel balancing. You should do this with a sound pressure meter if you can or by ear if you can't.

 

[Shamp]

Wow, thanks for the very quick replies, I am going to try and get this all setup today. Once again thanks for the advice/help .

 

[Davemcc]

Just pay attention to the sound of the speakers. If the Insignias sound like they are in trouble, they probably are. Just turn it down and you will be fine.