Speaker Power handling

[admin_exported]

I have just joined this forum after having spent some months reading all the comments.

This has prompted me to ask for some advice on buying new speakers.

I am coming back to hifi again after some 15+ years and have recently upgraded my Old Cyrus3 amp and CD player to the Cyrus CD6se and 8Vs2 amp. I think my Ruark Talisman speakers are the weak link now and am looking to replace them.

However I am confused as to how amplifier power relates to speaker handling ratings.

Does the the amp have to be within the published speaker rating and what would happen if it wasn't. Could it then cause damage to either unit?.

I have some thoughts on new speakers but as their power handling is higher than the amp output does it mean that I have to rethink?

Would much appreciate your comments.

 

[Andrew Everard]

As long as the amplifier is at least as powerful as the minimum power requirement quoted by the speaker manufacturer, you'll have no problems.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andrew

Please could you or someone with the tech.knowledge help with a more specific question.

The Cyrus amp produces 70w/ch into 8 ohms and 110w/ch into 4 ohms, so does this mean that this amp would be able to drive a 4 ohm speaker satisfactorily and without any potential damage?

I am playing with the idea of the GamuT Phi5 which is a 4 ohm speaker and has a min power handling of 100w.

I hope this makes sense!

Thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

Yes, it will drive 4ohm speakers no problem, and in fact the speakers you mention have a 50W minimum power requirement. But using such a relatively modest amp with speakers at this kind of level might create a somewhat unbalanced system: if I were using them I'd be looking at a rather heftier, and pricier, amplifier.