Will my receiver overheat/clip these speakers?

[heyNY]

Hey, everybody. I’m new here, so please...be gentle
I’m pretty decent w/ computer specs, but haven’t been able to get the hang of reading audio equipment stuff that well.

Been reading about how audio clipping could cause damage to speakers and was wondering should I be worried if I have the speakers below with a Sony str-dg820 (7x110 watts)? And I was worried about the fender ones for L/R. With them being below 110 – should I be worried about blowing/overheating them? Or would there be a config tweak to handle the differences?

Thanks for the help.

== center ==
JBL S-Center
Description: 3-Way dual 5-1/4" center
Maximum Recommended
Amplifier Power: 150W
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 91dB
Frequency Response (–3dB): 75Hz – 20kHz
Crossover Frequencies: 800Hz, 3200Hz


== L/R ===
Black Fender® Passport PDP-1 Passive Speakers
Frequency Response: 100Hz - 20kHz (+/- 6dB)
Power Handling:
o 40 Watts (RS426B),
o 60 Watts (Program),
o 80 Watts (Peak).

Impedence: 8 ohm.
Low Frequency Source: Two 4" (102 mm), 4 ohm Speakers, with 1" (25 mm) Voice Coils.
High Frequency Source: One 1" (25 mm) Dome Tweeter, with 5/8" Voice Coil.
Sensitivity: 89dB, 1W-1meter.
Vertical Dispersion: 60 Degrees (at 5kHz).
Crossover Frequency: 3.5kHz.

 

[ski2xblack]

couple further questions

How big is your room? How loud to you listen?

Your L/R speakers should be fine with that amp, provided you are not exceeding the amps's limits and pushing it into clipping. A less powerful amp will clip sooner (at lower output) than a more powerful amp, and that clipping will ramp up the power signifigantly going through your voice coils (the flat tops of clipped waves is essentially DC; add a bunch of clipped waves together and the current going through the voicecoil quickly shoots up to beyond what it was designed to handle-specifically unclipped AC music signals-and you have melted voicecoils; tweeters are more susceptible to damage due to smaller size, inability to dissipate heat). A more powerful amp would reproduce undistorted, unclipped peaks at the same listening level, which your speakers should handle without incident, even if the peak power is greater than what your speakers recommend. It is for this reason that you run greater risk of blowing tweeters with lower powered amps. Unless you are really working your amp, you should be fine.

Clipping often is not grossly apparrent at it's onset; it manifests as a desire to turn the volume down. Excessive clipping is aurally obnoxious and will fry your tweeters in short order. With solid state amps, this is a very narrow range, so if you hear gross distortion, turn the volume down immediately and consider a more powerful amp.

 

[j_garcia]

As mentioned, the answer is: it depends. Quite a bit will depend on how big your room is and how loud you listen. Of note, Sonys tend to not have the best amp sections, however in a typical room at average listening levels, I would gues that you will be OK with that setup.

 

[heyNY]

Eww -- didn't think about that.

Thanks ski2xblack & j_garcia for the quick replies.

My room itself isn't too large -- I don't know the exact size though -- maybe 12X15. And we don't listen too loud -- my wife doesn't like it when I turn it up too much...but, the room does open up partially to the kitchen and the ceiling is about 20ft high.

Your responses have me thinking -- even though it may not seem like we're turning it up loud -- maybe we are more than we thought. With that in mind, do you think my setup is kinda risky now or do you think I'm still ok?

j_garcia, when you mentioned sony's amps aren't the best -- does that (going off of ski2xblack's explanation) mean that there's a higher chance of clipping?

 

[griffinconst]

J and Ski both gave you good advice.

Blowing speakers usually occurs from underpowering. I know this sounds counterintuitive but with weaker power you turn it up more and the more it's turned up, the more likely to produce clipping, causing distortion, and distortion blows speakers. So actually you are less likely to blow your speakers with an amp that's got more power than your speakers say they can handle than less. That is assuming you don't turn it up to 11. One would have to turn a 110 watt receiver up very high before it was really putting out 110 watts.

I think you'll do fine with your gear. If it starts sounding bad or strained, just turn it down a bit. You certainly won't blow the speakers by using them with your Sony, just don't turn it up super super loud.

 

[lsiberian]

Blowing speakers usually occurs from underpowering

Not true to put it kindly.

Now a dying amp is unstable and can actually turn into an overpowering amp and as a result blow your speakers, but there is physically no way to blow a speaker with too little power.

The greatest concern I have for your receiver would be the dips in impedance from an 8-ohm 3 way speaker. These will hit at about 4-ohms in the mid bass range. So in this case it seems more likely you'll trip the receivers protection circuit before you do any harm to the speakers.

however in your simple setup I doubt you'll have any issues. I would suggest other speakers if you're looking at buying these. 4" drivers aren't worthy of front speakers in most setups. There are exceptions, but not many.

 

[mudrummer99]

Not true to put it kindly.

Now a dying amp is unstable and can actually turn into an overpowering amp and as a result blow your speakers, but there is physically no way to blow a speaker with too little power.

I second this, I mean they make published measurements on speakers off of 1 watt of power, under powering causes damage = myth.

Mike

 

[PENG]

Been reading about how audio clipping could cause damage to speakers and was wondering should I be worried if I have the speakers below with a Sony str-dg820 (7x110 watts)? And I was worried about the fender ones for L/R. With them being below 110 – should I be worried about blowing/overheating them? Or would there be a config tweak to handle the differences?

According to at least this review(http://www.homecinemachoice.com/taxonomy/term/3421), your Sony actually managed to yield respectable numbers in their tech labs.

 

[griffinconst]

Ok you guys are right. I didn't quite say that correctly. You won't blow your speakers by underpowering them but you most likely will, by using weak power and having to crank it up very high.
I do still say what you have will work ok, however I do agree with lsiberian that 4" drivers are pretty small for fronts.

 

[heyNY]

Thanks All!

I really appreciate everyone's help. I'll go with the 4" for now, but will look into larger ones later. Glad to hear the setup won't do any damage until I'm ready to upgrade.