Matching speakers and amps.

[Mikeandvan]

My Ruark Talisman IIs recommended power handling is 25-100w, I've seen a 150w amp that I'm interested in, I'm guessing it won't be suitable for the Ruarks?

[oldius]

In my experience, that will be fine. If it were not, amplifiers like the big Krells would be unsaleable as they are beyond the power handling capabilities of any speakers out there.
What amp are you looking at?

[walpurgis]

I've used 10 watt rated speakers with a 220 watt power amp with no bother. I'd not be concerned Mike.

[Jazid]

Just watch the volume control :)

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[Mikeandvan]

Thanks all, why do they bother with power ratings at all? I've heard amps which are low rated having trouble driving power hungry speakers, but when the opposite is true, would there be any adverse reactions such as harshness or whatever.

[Shovel_Knight]

Surprisingly, it’s a lot easier to damage speakers with a low-power amplifier than with a high-power one, because clipping produces a lot of HF energy which can kill the tweeters.

[walpurgis]

Surprisingly, it’s a lot easier to damage speakers with a low-power amplifier than with a high-power one, because clipping produces a lot of HF energy which can kill the tweeters.

I've often heard that said, but never come across an instance.

[Shovel_Knight]

I did this in my youth... twice :D

[Jazid]

And I knew the only person to blow a pair of GS401a with too much music power (that from the factory in Mayfair). Takes application but quite possible!

Blowing a speaker or just a tweeter by unplugging an RCA or just an earth issue is near impossible with low power amps, but easy with over power amps. It is perceived as stupidity though so not often admitted to.

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[walpurgis]

That wasn't the point James. I've also known speakers blow, but not because of an underpowered amp.

[YNWaN]

I have, in fact I’ve seen it quite a few times.

[Jazid]

No, it was the OP's concern though, which was will a modestly over powered amp be too much? Not in any reasonable scenario. But be straight here, did your own experiences of low powered amps blowing speakers happen within the last three decades? Power is now cheap, an incautiously unplugged RCA is far more likely to damage a speaker in this century!

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[Macca]

Best to make sure the amp has more than enough watts and current delivery to drive the speakers properly. Main issue will be poor sound quality if it doesn't. Better to have more power than you need, than not enough.

Barring stupid kids whacking the vol up to maximum, blowing speakers tends to happen by accident or because of a fault. Not really much you can do about that.

Having more than enough power will never have an adverse effect on sound quality. Although there is a myth, continually perpetuated, that low powered amps sound better because they are low powered and for no other reason.