Speaker saturation/overdrive damage?

[Electricblue]

So, this isn't bass guitar specific, but I think this is the place for it.

I have a Technics keyboard. It sounds nice, but the sound really comes alive when it's turned up full volume. The sound I get isn't overdrive or farting, but it brings out some really nice (overtones, saturation, harmonics or whatever you want to call them) that I can't hear when I have it at half volume.

Is this damaging my internal speakers or output section at all?

Thanks!

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Is this damaging my internal speakers or output section at all?

Possibly. What you're hearing is the increased harmonic content caused by clipping. If that clipping is in the amp no worries. If it's the result of the drivers being pushed past xmax they could suffer heat and mechanical damage. There's no way of knowing which it is.

 

[Electricblue]

Thanks Bill, since the keyboard's output section and speakers should be matched to each other, which do you think it would be more likely to be? It's a very soft, warm clipping.

It only clips when I strike a few keys at a time, and with a high velocity, so it's just on the verge of clipping, not heavily overdriven. I would add a switched resistor in series with each speaker to tame the level, but I don't want to impact the resale value of the keyboard.

Thanks again