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VAF I-33
Notes on Loudspeaker Usage
There are some matters that should be considered when you use your loudspeakers, both for the first time and every time, to ensure their
best performance. This is true of all high quality loudspeakers regardless of the manufacturer.
Power Handling and Amplifier Selection
'Power Handling' is a much discussed but little understood subject. There are actually 2 issues:
how much power the loudspeakers can take before they start to lose quality and produce distorted sound
•
How much power they can take before they are permanently damaged.
•
The first is a function of the driver and enclosure design, and the spectral and dynamic content of the music, and is usually limited by the
distance that the driver cones can linearly travel. Exceeding this level, particularly during heavy bass passages, results in an obvious
degradation of sound quality. Many loudspeakers will briefly exceed their linear travel during loud passages of music and, provided that it
occurs infrequently and is not excessive, will not unduly impede the overall sound quality.
If the speakers are driven with even more power, the sound will deteriorate further until the point is reached where physical damage occurs.
This is usually the result of the driver voice coils getting so hot that either the glue holding them together melts, or the wire itself burns up
(like fuse wire). The driver will stop working or will produce a distorted sound with audible scraping and scratching sounds. This is bad
news and the driver then needs repair or replacement.
Surprisingly, damage is more common with low powered amplifiers than with high-powered ones. This is because low powered amplifiers
are more likely to be overdriven - this results in a major change in the content of the music signals, which places great stress on drivers. At
the same volume high-powered amplifiers are less likely to 'run out of power' and send distorted signals into the loudspeakers.
The power handling issue is further complicated by the fact that the 'X Watts RMS into 8 ohms' figure most often quoted in amplifier
specifications gives very little information about the way the amplifier will actually deliver power into real loudspeakers on real music
signals. It also gives no indication of how the amplifier behaves when overdriven. Many low powered 'Audiophile' amplifiers, for instance,
will often play louder before producing audible distortion than some mass market amplifiers of 4 times the rated power output!
It is therefore almost meaningless to rate a loudspeaker's power handling as a single number. Despite many requests for just such a
number, we prefer to state the broad range of amplifier power we believe has the best chance of meeting most peoples needs. This range is:
VAF I-33
VAF I-33
Be aware that overdriving ANY amplifier will risk damage to the speakers. If the sound you are hearing is distorted or showing signs of
amplifier clipping TURN DOWN the level. Even a small reduction in the volume control setting may save your speakers.
Most amplifiers deliver their maximum power long before the volume control is turned all the way around. Many are set up for maximum
power with the control set to between 11o'clock and 1o'clock. This will sometimes vary from input to input (e.g. the CD player may play at a
higher level than the FM Tuner).
Be aware also that applying Bass or Treble boost by using the tone controls or any equalisation control of your amplifier has the same effect
as turning the volume control up. The maximum volume control setting should be reduced if using equalisation.
I-33 Owners Manual V1.1 3 March, 2014
20 - 150 Watts RMS (Dolby Digital / DTS)
20 - 150 Watts RMS (Stereo Music Sources)
Most Amplifiers deliver maximum
Power with the Volume control
set between these points
98-091-002
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