Speaker question

[FP]

I can never keep this straight...

If I have a speaker whose maximum continuous power rating is 200 watts is it better to drive it with a receiver with an RMS rating of higher or lower than 200 watts?

Let's say I have a SuperDeluxo3000 receiver rated at 1000w RMS (per channel). Can it damage the speaker mentioned above or will the speaker only draw what it "needs."

<--- a/v newb

 

[LS20]

http://www.bcae1.com/2ltlpwr.htm

most technically sound and thorough audio website EVER

 

[FP]

Ok, so the long and the short of that article basically says don't drive your speakers too loud unless you have a suitable amp/receiver. Right?

Going back to my example... If my speakers are rated at 200w of continuous power and the receiver is rated at a 120w RMS there really isn't any danger unless I blast the receiver past the 200w max for an extended period of time?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The problem with a receiver with a low power rating is that you could hit the limit of what your receiver can do and then it starts to distort the signal (clipping)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_%28audio%29

You'll tend to destroy tweeters that way.

I'd rather have too much power than too little. Having a receiver that has a ton of power doesn't damage the speaker unless you really crank it and put a lot more power through the speaker than it can take.

Kind of like buying a PSU for your computer. It doesn't hurt to have extra wattage. It will only take what it needs.

The volume you get from your system is dependent on several things including the distance from you to the speakers, the sensitivity of the speakers, and the wattage you're using to drive the speaker.

Wattage is important, but it's really hard to get decent specs on how much power a receiver can really put out.

Just for an example:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm
Compare the MFG. Rating to the Output @ clipping.

I just mention this to say that buying based on wattage ratings might not give you the best idea of the quality of a receiver.