Need Help! What amp do I need for my speakers?

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Actually according to the "experts" you should be running your amp at about 75% (maximum peak effecieny before distortion begins to creep in) then control your volume through your input (mixer levels). That means you are pushing 150 watts from a 200 watt amp (I am referring to per channel and these are peak). I personnal use 500 watt RMS speakers with a 1000 watt Peak amp which gives me between 350 and 400 watts RMS to each speaker. This way I won't accidently blow my speakers and I have seen speakers that have had the woofer blown out....it isn't a pretty sight That is why I recommend getting speakers rated higher than the amp.

I have been running sound for quite a while & have always been taught get an amp to push double the speakers continuous rating (which is generally the Program rating).
Here are some articles and tech tips from well known sources regarding properly matching speakers to amps - links are for informational purposes only.

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/live-...ying-guide.php

http://www.prosoundweb.com/install/c.../primer3.shtml

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/docum...450&s=articles

I have blown speakers in the past, froze up a sub a couple years ago, but it was because I was running an amp that was lower than it's program rating. It called for 1200 watts @ 4 ohms, the only amp I had at the time was pushing 600 watts into 4 ohms. Sure it sounded fine, got loud - but the amp was being driven to clipping on this particular night & low & behold - poof! That amp came out, the new amp went in, got the sub repaired & it is now being driven by a 1400 watt into 4 ohm amp. The sound is alot fuller, & it doesn't need to be turned up nearly as loud from my mixer as I used to.