Power Amp Watts and Speaker Watt ratings

[roidefromage]

I am awaiting a new Emotiva LPA-1 Amp. It is rated at 125 watts per channel. My rear surrounds are Mordaunt Short bipole 903s models rated from 15-100 watts, and my center channel is a Mordaunt Short 905c and it is rated 15-120 watts. My others MS 906s are rated to 150watts. My question is, am I going to blow these speakers if I listen to them at louder levels? ( I don't plan to max the volume out, but am worried they may blow during explosions or loud crescendos during regular listening.) Thanks for your suggestions and help audioholics!

 

[mike c]

no the speakers won't blow. and since you don't plan on maxing out the volume, the speakers are even safer.

(even during explosions)

 

[AVRat]

Not to worry, you'll probably give up before the speakers do. Where is Coloraful, CO? Ha Ha

 

[jinjuku]

Speakers can traditionally take a bit of peak over driving in the wattage department.

The real problem is when people drive speakers with moderate to severely under-rated receiver or amp. When you attempt to get them loud, the amp is going to start clipping. That is a very bad thing for speakers. You don't want a clipped sine wave or alligator tooth sine wave hitting the voice coils.

 

[KeLLoGsX]

I have an older Yamaha amp stating 5x100 and I'm planning on getting NHT Classic Three as fronts. They are 150 watts max, is it a good match?
//KeLLoGsX

 

[AVRat]

KeLLoGsX, if it's truly an amp then no problem. If it's a receiver then yes also, but not all 100W receivers are created equal. The NHT C3s aren't very sensitive and a lesser receiver may struggle.

 

[j_garcia]

Former owner of Mordaunts and I can tell you they shouldn't have any problem with the power level you are talking about (especially not from the likes of Emotiva). I ran the 902s off my monoblocks which are 125w @ 8 Ohms each, meaning each speaker had the full 125w available...no problem whatsoever.

I have also installed a system that was 904s, 905c and 903s with an Onkyo 601 and it did quite well also.