can i use a resonable quality low power 30W hi-fi amp with monitors

[MASTON]

Hi

yeah, can i use a resonable quality low power 30W hi-fi amp with monitors (spirit absolute 2's)

I don't need any power, my music is generally soft and mellow and to be listened to at low volumes.

cheers

Maston

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

It is a common mis-conception that you should use a low-power amp for low-level listening.

The truth is, you are better off with a high-power amp, regardless of the monitors or listening levels.

High-power amps have the capacity to deliver clean power - enough to handle transients without distortion. Distorted transients are usually the biggest factors in blown speakers, and poor sound quality.

Bruce

 

[Dolemite]

Man, I see those distorted transients all the time. Digging through the trash for cans, washing your windshield, asking for money. Luckily they have not gone after my speakers as of yet, but I'm keeping an eye out.

 

[Gidge]

But to answer your question, yes you can....but if you start hearing snap, crackles, and pops, it means its not powerful enuff.....the level that the music is intended to be listened to does not determine the level you mix at.....you have to mix loud enough to hear whats going on (this doesnt mean crank it up)....

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Man, I see those distorted transients all the time. Digging through the trash for cans, washing your windshield, asking for money. Luckily they have not gone after my speakers as of yet, but I'm keeping an eye out.

Those Damn Distorted Transients

I haven't seen a whiff of them since I got my Hafler!




Bruce

 

[MASTON]

err, thanks guys,

not quite sure what you're whittering on about but then I'm English,

is 'transient' a US term for 'tramp'?

anyway bluebear, r u saying if I use low power speakers I can blow the speakers? surely not?

gidge, is that right?

cheers
Maston

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

anyway bluebear, r u saying if I use low power speakers I can blow the speakers? surely not?

If you use a low-power amp with any speakers and crank it, you stand a VERY good chance of blowing the speakers (because of the low-power amp's distortion when pushed)

A high-power amp will give you very clean power even when pushed, so the distorted transients will not blow your monitors (although if you push it too hard, you can separate the cones from their mounting!)

Bruce

 

[twist]

Bruce is quite correct, but remember average listening volumes require only a few watts. I know the term "average" is subjective and I'm probably looking for trouble here, but from your description, 30 watts/channel is probably sufficient.

twist

 

[barefoot]

Your power requirement also depends on the sensitivity and impedance of your monitors. The Absolute 2's have 89dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity at 8 ohms nominal impedence. That's about average. 30 Watts should be more than enough.

Underpowered amps tend to blow out tweeters by distorting the bass at high volumes. What? Yeah, it's true. The larger amplitude bass signals get clipped because the amp can't produce enough voltage (technically everything gets distorted since the treble signal rides on the bass). The clipping produces high frequency harmonics which then fry the tweeters. A similar effect can occur when trying to drive very low impedence speakers with a weak amp at moderate volumes. In this case the distortion is induced by the current limit of the amp.

Blasting the volume with a high power amp will tend to burn out your woofers first, unless the tweeter has a relatively low frequency or shallow slope crossover.

barefoot