clipping

[natbers78]

Do any of you think that clipping will be an issue by running a WW Super through a VL-208 (400W @ 8 ohms)? I'm thinking it'll be OK, but just curious about your experience/opinions as well. Hopefully this won't start a "Clipping Fact/Myth Jiihad".

[fdeck]

From what I have read, a typical bass speaker can handle roughly half of its rated power before the onset of excursion limiting and power compression. So long as you listen for signs of the speakers running out of steam, you will never get to the point where the amp is likely to clip.

[robgrow]

The VL-208 can pretty much take all the power you can throw at it. That's a good thing, since it needs a lot power to really get going. The VL-208 is noticeably less sensitive than the EA Wizzy M for example.

I've never played my VL-208 anywhere near loud enough where it started complaining, but I'm sure it will give plenty of notice if it's being driven too hard. I have a Walter Woods M-300 (green light / 300 @ 8 ohms), and I have driven it pretty hard and never heard it clip.

Keep in mind that amplifier clipping is very bad for all speakers, while most speakers can be safely used with an amp that is a lot more powerful than the speaker's rated power handling capability as long as the power is used wisely to provide more headroom.