Speaker wattage ratings

[Moustache_Bash]

So, I was talking to a guy from RMCAudio and he was telling me that it's actually ideal to have a 2 to 1 ratio of watts from the head to the speakers. Like, 100 watt speaker? Put 200 watts to it. He was saying it's not usually done because it's not always feasible.

And that doesn't make sense to me. I thought speaker ratings were a max rating. Like, I'm not going to use a 1/2 watt resistor when it's going to dissipate 1 watt. I dunno, has anyone else heard this malarkey before?

[blahquaker]

I've always heard the other way around. if you have a 100 watt head, you should have 150-200 watts combined handling in the speakers.

[kbit]

So, I was talking to a guy from RMCAudio and he was telling me that it's actually ideal to have a 2 to 1 ratio of watts from the head to the speakers. Like, 100 watt speaker? Put 200 watts to it. He was saying it's not usually done because it's not always feasible.

And that doesn't make sense to me. I thought speaker ratings were a max rating. Like, I'm not going to use a 1/2 watt resistor when it's going to dissipate 1 watt. I dunno, has anyone else heard this malarkey before?

I've heard this, too.
I DON'T KNOW WHaT TO BELIEVE

[Moustache_Bash]

So, I was talking to a guy from RMCAudio and he was telling me that it's actually ideal to have a 2 to 1 ratio of watts from the head to the speakers. Like, 100 watt speaker? Put 200 watts to it. He was saying it's not usually done because it's not always feasible.

And that doesn't make sense to me. I thought speaker ratings were a max rating. Like, I'm not going to use a 1/2 watt resistor when it's going to dissipate 1 watt. I dunno, has anyone else heard this malarkey before?

I've heard this, too.
I DON'T KNOW WHaT TO BELIEVE

WHAT IS THIS LIFE

[synthezatory]

Those AC30 2x12 combos are sometimes loaded with a pair of 15 watts alnico blues right? So I guess that could be a pretty good example

[tuffteef]

s'all bout running things efficiency (n) and distortion characteristics and burning out drivers due to overheating

i was asleep in that class so i cant really fill in the rest

[AxAxSxS]

total the wattage off your speakers. 4x12 v30's =120 watts. ideal head for that is 100 watt. 50 watt does not push the speakers to potential. 200 watt head will destroy the speakers.
or I am wrong

[GardenoftheDead]

Those AC30 2x12 combos are sometimes loaded with a pair of 15 watts alnico blues right? So I guess that could be a pretty good example

15 watts to each speaker in that case.

[Communarchy]

total the wattage off your speakers. 4x12 v30's =120 watts. ideal head for that is 100 watt. 50 watt does not push the speakers to potential. 200 watt head will destroy the speakers.
or I am wrong

Vintage 30s, depending on the model, "Classic" is 60 and modern is rated at 70, handle between 60-75 watts. So this is wrong. The fact is this: With heads, the transformers can supply are usually much more power than what the output section can put out. Further, it all depends if you want speaker distortion (which with high wattage speakers 70 and above, IMO, sounds nasty). A lower wattage has more pleasing speaker distortion, as it will break up and compress at a lower, less ear shattering volume, but you must be careful. With two 15watt alnico blues in a 30 watt vox, you should be safe. The 4 el84s are putting out up to 35 watts potentially but the transformer in the amp will cap out. But 4, 25 watt greenbacks on a 100 watt Marshall, watch out, you could blow a speake pushing it, but up to that point, the low wattage break up will sound great. A 100 watt marshall has big heavy transformers to supply a lot of power, and I've seen a few early Plexis with 10 and 15 watt speakers, all blown out. This is my limited experience and understanding.

[benjuro]

Within the last few years I destroyed one of the alnico blue 15 watt speakers in a 412 pushing a Hoof and an Ampeg V2 through it...it sounded godly while it lasted, which was a few rehearsals...

I've talked with someone at Eminence who told me that guitar speakers are pretty efficient and that suggested that I not worry about underpowering them, and that as long as you don't go OVER their wattage rating, you should be fine.
I'm sure he was watering down the concept a little for me