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hi,
I have a pair of tannoy reveal (non-powered) monitors and I am thinking of buying the Alesis RA-150 amps for the tannoys.

the instruction book for the tannoys said the recommended amp power is 50 - 100 W
but the Alesis power output are 150W, is it safe to go past the recommended amp power when hooking up monitor speakers to amps?

I would hate to blow out my speakers having just gotten them for a week...

Thanks

Comments

KurtFoster Fri, 09/20/2002 - 07:11

mhaung,
You asked, "the tannoys said the recommended amp power is 50 - 100 W but the Alesis power output are 150W, is it safe to go past the recommended amp power when hooking up monitor speakers to amps?" This should be fine. You are in more danger of blowing your speakers by running them with an amp that doesn't have enough power. This is because you are more likely to overdrive the power amp to get things loud enough. When you overdrive the power amp it clips, sending square wave to the speakers. The heat generated by the square wave destroys the voice coils. It is very common to drive speakers that are rated for a lower power (say 100 watts) with a higher powered amp (example 300 watts). As for your choice of power amps, I would take a look at the Hafler Trans Nova P 300. It's a graeat amp at a resonable price. Amps are like a rock, if you get a good one now it should last for tens of years. Fats

KurtFoster Fri, 09/20/2002 - 12:19

Please consider a Hafler 3000. You could find one used at half the list price easy. Also when your going to the store to buy "stuff" (if you don't already do this) ask what the LIST price is. Take off 30% and offer that. Usually the sales person will go for it. At least 30%, in some cases they will do even more. I consistantly get 50% off Hosa cable. If you do this, you could swing the Hafler for what you were going to pay for the Alesis. I'm not dissing Alesis, it's just that the monitor system is one of the most important things in a recording rig. The Hafler will last for years and I am concerned that if you get the Alesis you will be wanting to replace it almost immediately...........Fats