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Speaker wattage question

I'm new here, so I hope I'm posting this in the appropriate forum.
I am running KEF LS50's with a Parasound Integrated amp. The amp is rated at 165 WPC @ 8 ohms. The speakers are rated for 25-100 watts (and are possibly lower than 8 ohms according to some sources).
If pushed, do I risk damaging a driver, or will I simply get clipping?
Any help appreciated and please pardon my ignorance on something I'm sure is common knowledge.
chrisg1000
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
If pushed, do I risk damaging a driver, or will I simply get clipping?
In my experience, most speaker drivers will blow because of clipping.  Yes, you can send to much power (wattage/current/voltage) to a speaker and pop it, but normally clipping is the issue.

With your rig, it would be INCREDIBLY loud, way before you do damage and you would surely turn it down long before this happens.
larryi
1,972 posts
 
With high-powered amps, you can damage speakers with both prolonged high volume listening, where the heat from current running through the voice coil will do the damage, or from short, very intense bursts of power that are typical of accidents, such as leaving the volume knob all the way up, or accidentally unplugging or plugging in an interconnect when the amp is on.  
chrisg1000 OP
15 posts
 
Thanks, all. I appreciate the responses!
oleschool's avatar
oleschool
630 posts
 
Clean power is key.. Its not at all uncommon to have more power then the speakers are rated to handle use it wisely( i have 275w a side at 8ohms into 6 ohm spkrs rated 50-200 w) .There's nothing like more cowbell :)
also most not all amps are clipping long before the volume is all the way up ..not all but many..
enjoy

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
@chrisg1000 The key is to be sensitive to the sound quality.  The speakers will first compress, then distort, when you approach their real limits.

Keep them sounding well and you can attach a 2,000 watt amp with no problem. :)

Best,


Erik
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