Over/Under powering subs

[biggriggs]

I know its pretty much just as bad to underpower subs as it is to overpower them but I just wanted to know this. Most subs show the RMS and Peak power say 400 watts RMS and 800 peak. Some I see RMS 75-400 and peak 800. I am probably answering my own question here but does it mean that I should continually power the sub between 75-400 for it all to run smoothly? And are all subs like that? Could I hook up 2 200 watt RMS subs to a 150 watt amp(or one of those "1200 watt" amp that put out 200) and not worry about them blowing?

[Eye8Pussies]

basically, just look at rms powering....everything else is peak, which would be spikes of power which never occur....

[Tommy]

Why would underpowering speakers be bad? I want to see you not underpower a kicker Solo X... 5000 watt RMS

[Stealth]

It's fine to underpower as long as you don't turn the amp up past a certain point where it starts to distort, then you have a problem.

It's also fine to overpower as long as you don't turn the amp up past a certain point, which is when the speaker/sub starts to distort.

[Tommy]

I just found this to answer my own question, and i think my old system was underpowered...hehe

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-M7yrfsk...ech/kb148.html

[JaJay721]

Don't believe everything you read on crutchfield. All their information is accurate, but you have to realize they are posting these articles to make money... not inform. Underpowering a speaker won't blow it. Inexperienced users will blow it.

Underpowering a speaker is likely to damage the voice coil due to the excess heat created by distortion.

-Crutchfield.

Underpowering a speaker will not cause distorting or clipping of the amp. Setting the gains too high and trying to push more bass than the amp can handle will cause distortion and clipping.

If you re-read the article it really says:
-Don't buy an amp that puts out less power than your sub can handle, spend the extra money on a more expensive amp.
-If your amp is already underpowering your sub you have to either buy a new sub or a new amp to correct the possibility of you being a dumbass and blowing it.
-Double-check to make sure you don't need to spend some money on wiring.
-Now bend over and take it up the ass you car audio novice.

[prophesized]

Originally posted by JaJay721
Don't believe everything you read on crutchfield. All their information is accurate, but you have to realize they are posting these articles to make money... not inform. Underpowering a speaker won't blow it. Unexperienced users will blow it.

yep thats what i was gonna say.

id rather overpower speakers to have extra headroom.

[Stealth]

who wouldnt, prof? it just costs more money