Is there a such too much power for speakers?
There is an old review on the SE version on Tone Audio https://www.tonepublications.com/review/sonus-faber-elipsa-se/ He used 15 different amps with them from 35 watt tube monoblocks to 200.5 Pass monoblocks. |
What you asked is a little complicated, if you are considering tubes. Important considerations are things like peak power. Peak power is one way of saying how much headroom you have in an amplifier. If you don't have enough peak power the dynamics of the music will be dull. A tube amp with about 50 watts average power is likely to have sufficient peak power for most speakers. However, I have heard 12 watt amps with sufficient peak power for a speaker of average efficiency. I would suspect your average power usage for your equipment during a listening session is less than 12 watts and may be closer to 3 or 4 watts at the speakers. This adds up to the real questions is what is the power supply capable of delivering to the power components? How clean is the power delivered to the power components? A great tube circuit with a terrible power supply will yield a less than desirable amplifier system. I would suggest quality watts over big power. Do you want to know more? |
One thing that can occur (perhaps rare, but it's there) with a low power amp driving a 'low power' rated driver is 'heat death'. One out of 4 speakers, driven at a moderate level (nothing ear wrenching) cooking the voice coil. Being able to physically touch the backside of the magnets on all 4: 3 were warm to the touch, the 4th was literally Hot. Since this occurred during a 'DIY test', I wasn't totally shattered by this result...in fact, I'd more or less expected something to happen. In this way, I know where a weak link is, and can address it. *L* But I do nasty things to innocent speakers....;) |
+1 @cakyol +1 @mijostyn If I remember correctly for every 3db increase in volume you will need to double your amplifier output power. So with 91db efficient speakers you should be able to get up to 106db peaks with your current amplifier. As a point of reference I believe that general conversation is around 50 - 60 db and if you are yelling at some one or vice versa, you will be around 85db. You should be fine with your current amp at low to moderate volume levels. If you are unsure turn the volume up slowly until you hear noticeable distortion. Turn your volume control back a click or two and this will be as loud as you can play your system. If not loud enough then you will need a more powerful amplifier and you will need one in the range of 250 wpc or larger. |
