Amp output versus Speaker imput

This is an imperfect analogy, but an ordinary 15 amp wall socket can deliver 1800 watts of power. Yet no one worries about plugging in a clock radio that only needs 25 watts of power.

Speakers are slightly different in that you can turn up the volume control to "push" more power to the speaker than it can handle.

However, that only becomes an issue if you listen at extremely loud volumes with a speaker that is not designed to deliver high volumes.

So question number one would be, how loud do you listen? Many people only listen in the 70 to 90 dB range. We're talking average volume, not the momentary peaks that dynamic music contains. (If you don't have one, spend $50 on a Radio Shack sound level meter. It is very handy for getting a better idea of your listening habits.)

If you are in the above category, even an inefficient speaker will be safe to use with your amp as you'll never be sending anything like 350 watts to it.

If you listen in the 95, 100 dB or higher range and have an inefficient speaker, the level of concern goes up. At that point the mismatch of speaker to your listening habits can increase the chance of incurring damage. However, the same risk is present with a lower power amp when you try to push a speaker to play at a volume level it really wasn't designed for.

Once you've determined that the speaker you buy is easily capable of producing the playback volume you need, I'd cease any further worry regarding the power issue.

No wonder my damn clock radio is so loud!

Almost every case of speaker damage is from too little power from the amp. While it would appear that if the speaker would take 100 watts and the amp was rated at 15 you would be safe, this is not the case. If you overdrive the amp you will drive it into clipping, which will eventually destroy the speaker. The rating is for continuous input, not music. I use speakers rated at, I think, 50 watts and use 300 watt amps often. In a recent test in HIFI News they found that a 500 watt amp worked well with a pair of bookshelf speakers rated at a fraction of that. The truth is these figures more or less meaningless. You can damage your speakers with an amp that is too large, too small or just right if you misuse it, with a little discretion you will be fine. As a classical listener your ears will give up far before the speaker is likely to. The important number is the maximum output of the speaker, if that number is higher than the level you listen at you will be fine.

1 watt of distortion can do more damage than 500 watts of clean power. You can never have too much. Keep in mind though that some of the best sounding amps made are only 3-7 watts.