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Watt Stereo

Will using 50 Watt speakers on a stereo receiver that only delivers 20 watts/channel damage either?

I recently came into some old pioneer speakers. According to the back of the speakers they are rated as having an output of 50 watts per channel. If I use a stereo receiver with an output of less than 50 watts per channel, probably 20 watts per channel, will that damage either the stereo or the speakers? I believe I read somewhere that using too large of speakers on a weaker stereo puts too much stress on it and it will eventually burn out.

The only real danger with speakers is not too much power but too little power. If you connected these speakers with a very cheap low power amp and turned up the volume all the way, you might drive the cheap amp into heavy distortion (clipping). That fed to the speakers could possibly damage them. However, many speakers would probably shut down before they were damaged.

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