I have this Ampeg BA115, and I don't usually run it to the limit cus I don't need to, but I have this question maybe sounds stupid, but as a regular speaker on the computer etc. If you run them to the max volume with some music they usually get damaged, so I was asking if maybe suddenly you slap harder or pluck harder and makes a heavier sound, does it can be damaged the amplifier and sound ugly? I also was thinking that maybe because this speakers and bass on the amplifier have their own amplifier, the manufactures choose an amplifier that even you play as hard as you can it wouldnt reach the power to damage the speakers, does somebody knows if its better to dont raise to the limit? Or does someone have been on these experience on damaging his amplifier?
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does an amp can be damaged for playing it at the max volume and master?
- Thread starter LeonardoGarza
- Start date
There is always a situation where you can destroy the speaker in an amplifier or blow up the amp itself.
If it sounds bad... turn down.
If it sounds bad... turn down.
Actually, what's damaging your speaker in most cases is too little power.
Cranking up an amplifying source to the max causes it to produce impurities and signals that make the speaker move in ways it wasn't designed to... the amp can usually struggle through it, but it's the speaker that pays the price. (in other words, the garbage coming out of your speaker when it's on 10 could be the result of the amp and not the speaker)
I don't pretend to be a live sound expert, however, and I think most of us live by the rule Stflbn just shared- if it sounds like it's too much for the speaker to handle, it usually sounds awful anyway- so just turn down the power source to a comfortable level that handles a range of signals strengths from low to high.
Bear in mind the manufacture cannot wholly account for what is going into the your amps, like effects processors, mixers, etc- which also have their own amplification and power sources. Don't just assume that because the speaker and amp are sold together (or in a combo unit) that you have free reign to play it at any volume you like, lest you will be lulled into a false sense of security. Just use common sense.
Cranking up an amplifying source to the max causes it to produce impurities and signals that make the speaker move in ways it wasn't designed to... the amp can usually struggle through it, but it's the speaker that pays the price. (in other words, the garbage coming out of your speaker when it's on 10 could be the result of the amp and not the speaker)
I don't pretend to be a live sound expert, however, and I think most of us live by the rule Stflbn just shared- if it sounds like it's too much for the speaker to handle, it usually sounds awful anyway- so just turn down the power source to a comfortable level that handles a range of signals strengths from low to high.
Bear in mind the manufacture cannot wholly account for what is going into the your amps, like effects processors, mixers, etc- which also have their own amplification and power sources. Don't just assume that because the speaker and amp are sold together (or in a combo unit) that you have free reign to play it at any volume you like, lest you will be lulled into a false sense of security. Just use common sense.
Wrong. Please stop perpetuating this.
I think Kevinmach is right. He wasn't saying that LeonardoGarza was "under powering" it, rather that he had an amp pushing too little power and clipping.
So he wasn't stating that too little power can damage a speaker. Instead he was saying that having an amp with an unsatisfactory amount of power being pushed to it's limits will cause clipping and then that could in turn damage the speakers by sending peak amounts of power or spiked signals, etc etc., to the speaker.
So, repeating in short:
Running your amp absolutely maxed can harm it by multiple different ways for multiple different reasons.
.
Running your amp absolutely maxed can harm it by multiple different ways for multiple different reasons.
.
I blew several speakers in a Gallien-Krueger MBE-112. Now a days, I don't push it past 75-80% power.
billfitzmaurice
Commercial User
- Sep 15, 2004
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- Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design
This situation poses absolutely no danger to either woofers or amps. Kevinmach, and you, are perpetuating a myth. Perhaps unwittingly, but nonetheless it's still not true.
To the original question, running an amp full out won't hurt it unless it causes it to overheat. It could damage the speakers if so doing overpowers them, so if they fart out turn it down. As in all things moderation is a good course to follow.
There are so many posts on this subject. When the power amp is pushed too much, it could result in clipping. If somebody wants to correct me, please do. You can clip the power amp at any point, whether slightly turned up or maxed out, depending on the strength of the signal. If you hit the strings too hard, most likely you'll encounter over excursion. On on a combo, you really would never have to worry about overheating, as the voice coil would not get hot enough given 100 watts. Keep in mind that clipping can easily produce twice the power peaks, yet the biggest culprit is overexcursion. If you want to be louder, by all means turn everything up, but be prepared to turn the bass eq down to almost nill.
As stated, there is no such thing as "Under-powering" speakers. The problem arises when you have an inadequate amp trying to do something it wasn't intended for. If your speakers can handle 500 w peaks, a 100 w amp will not do damage merely by clipping. Excursion is the biggest culprit. To TBers, I am prepared to bow down to those that actually know what they are talking about.
From Yorkville website:
Why do speakers “blow”?
There are many reasons speakers “blow”. The most common ones include over powering,
under powering, transients, feedback, dropping and bad cables.
Over Powering: This is the one that gets the most attention, but is not the one that causes
the most problems. You really have to exceed a speaker’s rated power for an extended
period of time to cause it to fail. It happens, but it doesn’t cause as many failures as
people think it does. If your amplifier puts out an amount of power similar to what your
speakers are rated for (even if it is somewhat more), you will be fine.
Under Powering: Yep, you read it right - under powering can blow speakers. In fact, it is
a very common cause for speakers failing. This is a little bit difficult for people to understand,
however, we will attempt to present a brief explanation here. Speaker science is
very complicated (very few people in the world understand it fully), so we cannot hope
to give a very thorough explanation in just a few lines in this booklet.
Link: Invalid Link Removed
Why do speakers “blow”?
There are many reasons speakers “blow”. The most common ones include over powering,
under powering, transients, feedback, dropping and bad cables.
Over Powering: This is the one that gets the most attention, but is not the one that causes
the most problems. You really have to exceed a speaker’s rated power for an extended
period of time to cause it to fail. It happens, but it doesn’t cause as many failures as
people think it does. If your amplifier puts out an amount of power similar to what your
speakers are rated for (even if it is somewhat more), you will be fine.
Under Powering: Yep, you read it right - under powering can blow speakers. In fact, it is
a very common cause for speakers failing. This is a little bit difficult for people to understand,
however, we will attempt to present a brief explanation here. Speaker science is
very complicated (very few people in the world understand it fully), so we cannot hope
to give a very thorough explanation in just a few lines in this booklet.
Link: Invalid Link Removed
I have personally taken my 25w B-15N head and turned it up all the way in several different cabs rated to take much higher wattage, and have never blown any of them. In addition, I have taken solid state heads and turned them up to the point where they clip really hard and nasty in cabs rated to take well over the wattage of the head I used, and they're still working just fine. If this business about blowing cabs by underpowering them and clipping the amp was true, all these cabs would require new drivers. Nor would we be able to run distortion pedals or synths.
Bill is right, everyone who disagrees is perpetuating bullcrap. And the last place I'd take audio advice from is a manufacturer. They're in the business to sell, and high power amps cost more than low power amps.
Bill is right, everyone who disagrees is perpetuating bullcrap. And the last place I'd take audio advice from is a manufacturer. They're in the business to sell, and high power amps cost more than low power amps.
Here's what I've always worried about...
What if I send so much juice to the coil that it melts and makes a short? If this is feasible, what would happen to the amp? Just pop a fuse?
What if I send so much juice to the coil that it melts and makes a short? If this is feasible, what would happen to the amp? Just pop a fuse?
Want to know the quick and easy way to kill your speakers?
Step 1: Plug in your bass (works great detuned).
Step 2: Turn the lows all the way up. If you have both parametric and graphic EQ's, turn the ultra lows all the way up as well. If you have a low boost switch, turn it on.
Step 3: Turn input volume all the way up.
Step 4: Turn master volume all the way up.
Step 5: Play really forcefully on your bass, hitting as many low open strings as possible. Play chords on the low open strings.
Unless your speakers are rated for way more than your amp puts out, you have now probably damaged or completely destroyed your speakers. Congratulations!
Seriously, if you hear any farty/flappy type noises coming from your speakers, turn down immediately. Avoid turning the lows all the way up if you're going to turn the amp all the way up. Use common sense. If it sounds bad, something's probably wrong and you should turn down.
Step 1: Plug in your bass (works great detuned).
Step 2: Turn the lows all the way up. If you have both parametric and graphic EQ's, turn the ultra lows all the way up as well. If you have a low boost switch, turn it on.
Step 3: Turn input volume all the way up.
Step 4: Turn master volume all the way up.
Step 5: Play really forcefully on your bass, hitting as many low open strings as possible. Play chords on the low open strings.
Unless your speakers are rated for way more than your amp puts out, you have now probably damaged or completely destroyed your speakers. Congratulations!
Seriously, if you hear any farty/flappy type noises coming from your speakers, turn down immediately. Avoid turning the lows all the way up if you're going to turn the amp all the way up. Use common sense. If it sounds bad, something's probably wrong and you should turn down.
Then perhaps those of you who don't believe it can call the editors and sound engineers of Crutchfield magazine and tell them they're wrong- I've seen articles on this multiple times over the years. What would they know about sound, right? They only do it for a living.
I searched and I could not find an expert source saying it was myth- just a bunch of yahoos in forums saying they didn't believe it. (and I am not being snarky- they search results were all just a bunch of forums like this with one with hobbyists saying they didn't believe it)
