Car Audio - Amp suggestions.

[pbkid]

The problem with running lower powered amps with higher RMS speakers is that ppl tend to push the amps to try make the more power hungry speakers louder. Running the amps so high (overmodulating) introduces noise which manifests itself as wild fluctuations in audio frequencies that can damage both the amp and the speakers.

Using a speaker with an underpowered amp is not a hazard in and of itself. Its when humans try to turn up the volume to try make them sound good that can be a problem.

yup. very correct grif. especially when referring to midrange and highrange speakers (any amplification is probably more power than the deck provides)

Sometime when you have an hour or two, you'll have to 'splain that logic to me. From an Electronics Engineer perspective that is bass ackwards.

well, i really only understand the basics of it, and the principles taught to me for functionality and longevity of car audio.
What I've always been told, by anyone who i consider an expert (people with 10+ years in the car electronics business) is that its always better to overpower speakers... Basically due to what Grif has said above, that it requires the gain's on the amplifiers to remain to a minimum and creates less distortion.
The best technical explanation that i've heard is that low power causes distortion, which causes 'wild flucuations' as grif said, which damage the voice coils and eventually blow speakers.

[etlsport]

tom I think the part of this theory you are missing is that your overpowered amp isn't used to its full potential. That is what I have always learned.. Use each of your components at 60-80% but never max out.

When setting up my audio in a car I set the amp to 25% or so, then turn the head unit to about 80% of its volume scale. With a song playing I slowly increase the gain on the amp until I hit the loudest volume I would potentially listen to. Any distortion what so ever and I back the amp down until distortion is completely gone.

An amp rated higher than the speakers gives a lot of room to adjust..

Some folks prefer to set their equipment up at normal listening level and 50% volume on the head unit, but I like making sure when doing a demo or just rocking out I won't be doing any damage with distortion