Hifi speakers and power compatability

Hi

my old hifi system is knackered, but the 100 watts RMS per speaker speakers are fine.

I'm just wondering if I can use these speakers with hifi systems that have been sold with less powerful speakers (say - 20-50 watts RMS per speaker), or are hifi systems designed only to work with speakers of the same power or less than they were sold with? i.e. can a hifi system handle more powerful speakers than they were sold with or will I end up blowing up the hifi system?

Many thanks

jtrader.

i think you need to look at the resistance of the speakers not the wattage.

i think resistance is given by the omega symbol.

been a long time since i was into hifi separates - but was into it in abig way at one stage.

if the amp is more powerful than the speakers, you blow the speakers. if the speakers are more pwerful, the sound sounds weak.

others may be more up on this than myself.

find a local specialist hifi store (NOT dixons, currys, comet etc). if you cant find one, get the phone number of the cornflake shop in london (gt windmill street from memory) they know EVERYTHING and are totally honest and unbiased - ie will genuinely give good help rather than just try and flog you a new amp/speakers

yours

vinyl fan

jtrader said:

Hi

my old hifi system is knackered, but the 100 watts RMS per speaker speakers are fine.

I'm just wondering if I can use these speakers with hifi systems that have been sold with less powerful speakers (say - 20-50 watts RMS per speaker), or are hifi systems designed only to work with speakers of the same power or less than they were sold with? i.e. can a hifi system handle more powerful speakers than they were sold with or will I end up blowing up the hifi system?

Many thanks

jtrader.

Click to expand...

Hi Jtrader

Yep should have no problems , the power quoted is what the speakers can handle. As always these things are never quite as clear cut as they first appear , things like the resistance (4 or 8 ohms) come into play, and the quality of the amp driving the speakers. However like for like you should have no problems. I would guess that your speakers are 8 ohm. Just as a side note , manufacturers often cut the most corners in the speakers supplied with music centres/mini hifis. If you have had the speakers for more the than a few years you would probably find that changing the speakers to a "hifi" make (ie wharfedale diamonds etc ) would transform your systems sound quality. I know its not everybodys cup of tea but if you fancy that , try somebody like Richer sounds for end of llne quality speakers at discount prices. Hope this helps

Regards
Paul

jtrader said:

Hi

my old hifi system is knackered, but the 100 watts RMS per speaker speakers are fine.

I'm just wondering if I can use these speakers with hifi systems that have been sold with less powerful speakers (say - 20-50 watts RMS per speaker), or are hifi systems designed only to work with speakers of the same power or less than they were sold with? i.e. can a hifi system handle more powerful speakers than they were sold with or will I end up blowing up the hifi system?

Many thanks

jtrader.

Click to expand...

It will be the quality of the amp that will cause probelems, not the rated wattage of the speakers. many poorer quality amps clip when driven hard (even if rated highly) and it is the clipping that damages speakers. You will hear it before they blow most likely.

I have speakers rated at 400w, but drive 600w at high volumes through them, the amp does not clip, and I have never heard the speakers sound distressed.

Thanks.

These 8 year old Sony speakers are 8ohm and come from a hifi system rather than seperates. I intend to use them on another hifi system (not seperates). So if they are 100 watt RMS speakers, is it just a case of them having 100 watt RMS ability, and they will only be used up to this maximum if the hifi's amplifier allows a similar capability?

Should 100 watt speakers then produce better quality sound than say the 30 watt speakers that the hifi system was sold with, as they are having to do less work, and have less stress on them?

It's not like I'm trying to use 20-50 watt speakers on a hifi system sold with and intended for use with 100 watt speakers, it's the other way round, so presumably the speakers should not blow? .......I was/am just a bit concerned about the possibility of the 100 watt speakers blowing the actual hifi system.............

Cheers

jtrader.