underpower sub?

andy

is it bad to under power a sub? or would it be fine if you dont turn it up to the max...?

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Originally Posted by 92civicis it bad to under power a sub? or would it be fine if you dont turn it up to the max...?

Underpowering a sub is perfectly fine. If you max out the sub.. you'll probably blow it anyway...

.It is better (for the amp and the sub) to have too many amps and run it below its maximum output than to try and push a sub with an amp that is a little underpowered. Using an underpowered amp, which could get maxed out on power when the volume is turned up, clipping occurs. This is when the subwoofer cone is flexed to its peak and pinning it there at its climax, which causes distortion that can damage your sub and amp.  

Someone clarify this for me please?

.actually its bad for the sub to be underpowered and over powered. it really deends how much is the sub going to be underpowered. because if it is underpowered the sub will not work the way is was designed.

.I had 2 15quot; Rockford Fosgate Punch amps powered by a 400 w amp.

I ran it for over a year and the subs were perfectly fine. I NEVER heard them distort even once.

.what kidn of box did yo have it in?  and how can you have 2 15's rf punch amps powered by a 400 w amp???

.would i run to any problems?... 140 watt amp pushing a 200watt sub?

.Underpowering a speaker is only dangerous if you max out the volume and cause the signal to quot;clipquot; because you don't think its loud enough.

A clean signal oscillates (goes up and down) in a smooth sine wave-like shape, a clipped sign oscillates in a square wave-like way. The problem with a speaker playing a square wave is that at the extremity of it's travel the speaker is quot;stopped.quot; A speaker playing a sine wave is always moving. Constant motion helps the speaker stay cool. A speaker that stops at the end of each motion could potentially overheat.

That is why people will say it is bad to underpower a speaker, but this is not really the case. A more accurate statement is that it is dangerous to constantly drive a speaker with an extremely clipped signal.

Sorry, im tired so that might not make too much sense, but I can clarify if need be.

Eric

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.It's better to get a more powerful amp and run it at a lower level than it is to run a smaller amp at a higher level. Keep it clean.