Power handling on 4300's, 4400's, and L Series

[shaansloan]

So why is it that the 4300 series and 4400 series systems have such low power handling? And is it really true?

4311 - 75 watts RMS
4313B - 50 watts RMS
4333A - 75 watts RMS
4343B - 75 watts RMS
4410 - 125 watts RMS
4412 - 150 watts RMS

L96 - 50 watts RMS
L112 - 300 watts RMS

Thanks for your insight

Shaan

[grumpy]

Have to read the fine print, in how "power handling" was defined...
Materials and adhesives improved, so one might expect newer, comparable
systems to handle more power, but "continuous sine wave" and
"music program" power handling (let alone "recommended amplifier power")
are all convenient ways for consumers to compare systems in ways that they
are typically used... at least it would be convenient if all manufacturers chose
the same "spec" or definition to adhere to in testing/reporting.

Frankly, I personally think it's one of the less useful performance metrics (for
home use).

[Robh3606]

Low power handling?? In actual use many of these systems will get uncomfortably loud before you are even close to those RMS ratings. Some of them can literally hurt you, permanent hearing damage, and go on playing all day long at those levels, especially the larger systems. Don't let those seemingly low ratings fool you. They are conseratively rated and can handle peak levels well about the stated RMS levels.

Rob

[Rolf]

I have used up to a 1000W/Ch - and I mean really W - playing so loud you could not be in the room. (For testing) NO problem. Don't worry if the sound is clean. eee That if your ears are "clean".

So why is it that the 4300 series and 4400 series systems have such low power handling? And is it really true?

4311 - 75 watts RMS
4313B - 50 watts RMS
4333A - 75 watts RMS
4343B - 75 watts RMS
4410 - 125 watts RMS
4412 - 150 watts RMS

L96 - 50 watts RMS
L112 - 300 watts RMS

Thanks for your insight

Shaan

[speakerdave]

Your ears will hurt and you will hear "distress" from the speakers before they get destroyed. If you keep playing them under those conditions you are abusing the speakers and could very well blow them.

Manufacturers have tried different methods to make a recommendation on amplifier power and at the same time not expose themselves to complaints, warranty work and legal claims from ham fisted bozos.

Most recent JBL specs (LSR32, for example) give a number for how much the speaker will sustain more or less constantly and another number for maximum size of recommended amplifier. The latter is always higher. The higher-power amplifier will deliver the instantaneous peaks the speakers can withstand and the dynamics of the music require, but the speaker cannot endure being driven with that amplifier flat out and driving the speaker into gross distortion. JBL speakers are designed to reproduce those peaks, and so you are missing some of the JBL value by using a small amplifier that cannot power them, but you have to be able to discern the differences in these ideas.

The classic 604-8G, for example, is a very efficient speaker and will play your music with a small amp for almost all uses, but driven with 200 watts of clean power it really opens up and does a different thing. Its power rating was 50 watts "program", whatever that means.

For a final example, Greg Timbers and Co. in their 80's article on the 380 and 460 subwoofers gave the power rating but added that with more power they sounded better and admitted that they had used up to 2400 watts. He also added that if you use that much power you are on your own.

You need to be able to be guided by your hearing. If the speaker is sounding distressed, you need to turn it down. If your use of the speakers is contradicted by common sense you are headed for trouble. A few years ago someone came on the forums to ask if we could help him understand why L100's were not standing up to being used as SR for his son's band! A member recently posted about the possibility of using 4333's for DJ work. I would never do that. It is a monitor, not a sound reinforcement speaker, and such use would be abuse, especially given that in DJ and SR contexts the culture often leads to cranking it up until something gives.