Too much amp?

[leavenone]

Is a 500w amp (Markbass LMII) going to blow a 15" cab with 400w RMS (looking at the Markbass Traveler 151P)? From what I have read, it seems like giving a cab more power than it can handle is not bad for the cab unless the amp starts clipping. Is this correct thinking?

Also, as an aside, what exactly does RMS wattage mean?

 

[CL400Peavey]

You can blow just about any speaker with just about any amp. It should be fine, just listen to the speaker. If it starts to sound like its being pushed to hard, then it is.

 

[StyleOverShow]

I am pushing 4 X 10's with my LMII (Avatar) and it "seems" like smaller speakers fair better with this amp. Tried out a LM cab with 6" speakers a couple of weeks ago. Punchy...but not exactly what I am looking for either.

I double a lot so trying to make the best of one gig rig.

 

[David Jayne]

Giving a cab more power than it can handle will blow it. Avoid this by using your ears to listen for sounds of strain. If you get close to that point you will hear it.
Clipping can damage tweeters, but not woofers.

 

[Phalex]

RMS = Root Mean Squared

It's an average of the power output.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Rms is a mathematical way to account for the alternating signal. Squaring the value of the minus signed half of the signal and then taking the square root makes for a positive sum to average, instead of zero.

The average of a sinewave becomes about .7 x the peak.

Clipping is failing to reproduce the peak of the wave.

A fully clipped squarewave signal is average the clipped peak level.

 

[JimmyM]

You can blow just about any speaker with just about any amp.

A B-15 into an 810e won't blow the 810e

So that head puts out 300w at 8 ohms, and the Traveler 151p is an 8 ohm cab. They're pretty closely matched and shouldn't be a problem, although the power handling rating on the cab is an absolute maximum and you'll really start farting around the time the head runs out of power. But like the others said, use your ears and good sense and turn down a little if it sounds like the cab may blow.

 

[CL400Peavey]

A B-15 into an 810e won't blow the 810e

So that head puts out 300w at 8 ohms, and the Traveler 151p is an 8 ohm cab. They're pretty closely matched and shouldn't be a problem, although the power handling rating on the cab is an absolute maximum and you'll really start farting around the time the head runs out of power. But like the others said, use your ears and good sense and turn down a little if it sounds like the cab may blow.

"Just about" leaves a little swing room.