Distortion?

I can assure you that too little power will not blow your subs.  If that were true then your speakers would blow every time you turned down the volume, or the music got quieter. 

I used to run a Soundstream Reference 500 on my sub.  My sub was in a .36 cubic foot sealed enclosure, and is rated at 1600 watts rms, 4800 peak.  Each voice coil was hooked up to a channel of the amp.  I still to this day don't know how it happened, but I noticed that one of the channel's gains was up all the way, while the other was set correctly.  Now there definitely was distortion (that's why I checked) but my sub didn't blow.  Distortion doesn't blow subs, too much power does.  If the power level is lower than the sub can handle, then it won't blow.  And that is true no matter how much distortion is being played.

I understand what you are trying to say, but I think your wording is a little off.  Sure the amplifier is rated lower than the sub, but it still blows it.  But that is because the clipped signal generates more power than the sub can handle.  So it isn't too little power, but too much power.  Your comment must be based on the  outcome, not the rating. 

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

Wow, thanks for the compliment Forbidden.  I really appreciate it.  And yes, I have learned a lot from you as well.  Your extensive experience and knowledge from installing for so long is a very valuable asset to this forum.  You have been missed at Car Audio Talk.

I do want to add that my comments are for basic subs too, and any speaker for that matter.  If you have a blown speaker, then you applied too much power.  It is as simple as that.

OK fair enough. Mabye my wording wasnt very clear. I may have missed what you were saying as well. All I was saying is that an amplifier that is rated much lower than the sub and placed in the wrong hands could blow a speaker just as easy as a amp with too much power. All I was trying to say is that if someone is trying to use a small amp and compensate by cranking the gain to the point of clipping it will blow the sub. If you back track that problem it comes down the the amp not being big enough and a customer who isnt properly informed.

PS. I wasnt trying to imply that you didnt know what you were talking about or disrespect you in any way. I just thought it was a point that was missed. Sorry for the confusion

No problem at all.  I actually hear your argument quite a bit.  Basically you were looking at it from a different perspective.  You are correct that a lower rated amp could in fact destroy a subwoofer with a higher power rating.  But putting it as "too little power can hurt a driver" is misleading to others that don't understand.  They see that and start posting it everywhere.  What they don't understand is that in the scenario, it wasn't too little power that did the damage.  It was a misused amp.  Because of that confusion, I like to set things strait when I hear that phrase.  Too much power killed the sub.  The ratings have nothing to do with it, so they shouldn't be commented on.

Maybe that would be a good argument for max ratings on amplifiers.  If people matched that to their drivers, then we would probably see fewer blown subs. 

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

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talking about Willis? Turn what up, the volume or the gain? If you want to turn the volume up then you had better be bang oon with that gain setting or your trusty old Livin' Loud is going to be Livin'SixTeetUnder.