db limit to protect my speakers

[filipplord]

Hello friends,
My amplifier, the YAMAHA R-N303D, has a watt/channel rating of around 140 hz, my speakers, the Dali Spektor 2 have a rating of around 100 hz,
Should I use the max DB limiter on my amplifier so I can preserve my speakers? Another advantage is that I dont need to worry about my kids or friends
pumping up the music too loud with the danger of burning my speaker units,
Thanks for your help!

 

[insider9]

Hi, you're perfectly fine. I wouldn't worry about it, other than in extreme circumstances. Your speakers are a 6 Ohm load so you technically have less that 140W continuous power.

Regardless, 140W amp power translates to 21.5dB volume gain. With your speaker sensitivity at 84.5dB you could get them to 106dB at which point I'd be more worried about your hearing than your gear.

Saying that if kids are involved it may be a good idea to limit headroom, or access. I blew out my right ear once with Sinatra at max volume. Not that I intended to play it this loud, but after dusting my hifi volume pot was all the way to the right. Gear was fine though.

 

[filipplord]

Thanks for the reply! You have been of some major help! Can I ask, how do you translate watts to db?

 

[insider9]

Easiest way to use an online calculator as it's logarithmic. But there are some numbers that are easy to remember. 10dB volume gain is equivalent to increase of 10W. With each additional 10dB increment you need to multiply power required by 10 e.g. 20dB gain equivalent of 100W, 30dB gain equivalent of 1kW and so on.