(Under) Powered speakers by design?

[Sylar]

I was looking at these speaker specs

Image T6 Tower
Monitor 11
B&W 803
paradigm studio 100

I know that 'underpowered amps' driven to an extreme can kill speakers by sending out more average power.
All these speakers above, seem to be underpowered by design. They have power ratings like 200W. Now in 5/7 channel mode, can I find an appropriate amp such that the amp is more powerful? Most amps I have seen to output like 100W / channel at most.
Isn't it advisable to use an amp with higher power capability than the speakers (unless there is a huge difference in power ratings)?

 

[j_garcia]

The power rating for the speaker is irrelevant. They are giving you the minimum and maximum UNCLIPPED ratings, meaning as long as you have a clean signal, say 20W will work on the low end. At 250W, something will fry, either the x-over or the tweeter, but they aren't saying you need this much power for them.

How much power you truly need depends on your room and how loud you intend to listen, because you can hook up a 1000W amp to your speakers and it will generally work fine because you aren't USING all 1000W to drive them at normal listening levels.

 

[Sylar]

They are giving you the minimum and maximum UNCLIPPED ratings, meaning as long as you have a clean signal, say 20W will work on the low end.

This is one question i have had in my mind for a while. With minimum power spec, does it mean the speaker will start responding only at that 20W? Does it mean below 20W sound might be 'distorted', and 20W min power is required to make it 'play well'?
So if speakers sensitivity is 90dB, then it means with 10W it is playing at 100dB SPL, and @20W 103dB. Isn't this going to be pretty loud for small/mid sized rooms??

and thanks for the reply...my question was from a little different perspective.

 

[walter duque]

I would drive speakers that are rated at 200 watts with a 350 watt amp. You do want to get the most out of your speakers, don't you?

 

[m_vanmeter]

I'm sorry, but driving normal consumer speakers at 200 wpc RMS in a typical home environment would be "ear bleed" levels and probably cause permanent hearing damage. It is April 1st, so I assume the post was meant in jest ?

 

[walter duque]

I'm sorry, but driving normal consumer speakers at 200 wpc RMS in a typical home environment would be "ear bleed" levels and probably cause permanent hearing damage. It is April 1st, so I assume the post was meant in jest ?

It's not all about volume. I am only speaking for myself here. 200 watts wouldn't be enough for my needs. Most people are happy with a 100 watt AVR. I guess it all comes down to what you want to get out of your system. And I live in an apartment. Besides the best investment is a power amp. Buy the best you can afford an go from there. Pre-pros and speakers you're always gona change.

 

[Sylar]

I'm sorry, but driving normal consumer speakers at 200 wpc RMS in a typical home environment would be "ear bleed" levels and probably cause permanent hearing damage. It is April 1st, so I assume the post was meant in jest ?

I remember many posts here itself, with reasons why a higher power amp is better. Of course, in my case i dont have the liberty to play at that high levels nor do I intend to.

 

[markw]

What everyone seems to forget is that one is not driving their speakers at "200 watts" at all times. This would occur only for short durations on occasional peaks and would more clearly be called "headroom".

Most of the time, you listen at level that draws only a few watts, say a maximum of five to ten watts (and that's loud, believe me) but whan a peak happens, you can easily reuire at least ten times that power for an instant or so. That's when that extra available power is called into play.

It's like hoesepower in a car. You don't drive pedal-to-the metal and use all 180 (or whatever) horses all the time, but when passing or going up a steep hill, it sure comes in handy.

 

[walter duque]

The only speakers brand that you mentioned that I have auditioned are the PSB Synchrony One. First we used the NAD Intergrated amp 180 watts X 2 and to me they sounded weak. (I do have high demands for speakers, I just happen to like high output levels) so we hooked up (2 Belles Mono Blocks) 200 watts X 2. I know it's only a 20 watt difference, but the sound was astounishing. Now was it the 20 watts difference or the higher quality of the amp? Now that is based on medium listening levels.
http://www.powermodules.com/power_modules/mb200_amp.html

 

[sholling]

I'm sorry, but driving normal consumer speakers at 200 wpc RMS in a typical home environment would be "ear bleed" levels and probably cause permanent hearing damage. It is April 1st, so I assume the post was meant in jest ?

Just because you have 200wpc doesn't mean that you're driving them at 200wpc. I rarely play my systems at reference levels but it's nice to have headroom.