I’m looking to buy speakers for which the specs say the permissible Max input is 12W. What does this mean?

Question

My tuner says it has a power output of 110W. Are these the same thing, will the tuner destroy the speakers?

The speakers are made to attach to a plasma TV and are meant to be connected to the TV. However, I would like to also be able to play CD’s through the speakers through my receiver. Can I connect these speakers directly to the receiver if the receiver says it is 110W per channel? Or will this blow the speakers? I guess I don't understand what is happening. My receiver sends the sound to the TV and then the TV sends it to the speakers. I just want the audio to bypass the TV so the TV doesn't have to be turned on if I want to play a CD, for example.

Answer 1

You WILL NOT blow the speakers instantly. 110W power output of the tuner is the MAXIMUM power it will put out. Under normal usage, you won't come near to that power level. However, if you do play the speakers at a loud level, and come across a loud low bass signal, that can blow the speakers. 12W is a puny rating for a speaker, and I would not recommend using them with 110W amplifier.

Answer 2

Have you seen the movie, "Back to the Future"? Well, the opening scene when Michael J. Fox turned up the volume and played a note on his guitar. That is a similar result if you drive a 12 watt max speaker with a 100 watt amplifier.

It sounds like you are trying to run computer speakers. Unless you play at low volumes, these speakers will suffer with 100 watts of power driving them.

Are your speakers powered by AC and plugged into a wall outlet, or just by speaker wires plugged into your amplifier (a tuner is a AM/FM radio, you could mean a receiver which combines an amplifier and a tuner together)?

With 12W rating, this could be the max power that it consumes from your electrical outlet. However, if those speakers only can handle a maximum of 12 watts from your receiver, then you are quite limited as to the loudness of your system before the speakers run out of steam.

You can use a 100 watt receiver to drive a 12 watt max speaker, but be very how you adjust the volume (keep the volume at no more than 25% or less of max volume setting) on the receiver or you will have a strong potential of blowing your speakers. If you haven't already purchased the speakers, I would strongly suggest that you find a speaker system that can handle at least 50 watts, but preferrably 75 watts on up for best results.

How will you know if you are overpowering your speakers? The sound will start to become harsh and distorted. The bass will sound "flubbery".

Happy listening!

Answer 3

If you are hooking up the speakers (12w) to the 110w receiver, you will blow the 12w speakers instantly. Probably just by turning the unit on. If you are asking about hooking up the 12w max speakers to, let us say, your computer, or ipod, or a small desk model stereo, then you need to follow your specs of 12w. That is a maximum rating. Obviously you are hooking up a small system. Your TUNER, or RECEIVER has a higher Maximum output. Larger speakers and louder volume, etc. Electronics stores have some very good 8w to 12w speakers for smaller setup's that sound reasonably well.
Something to keep in mind, Your Stereo or unit that puts out the sound is considered output, your speaker is considered input. Have a good day.

Answer 4

Well first off , if you are going to buy speakers, buy speakers that will handle at least 100 watts of power, or else your receiver could blow up up your speakers. The speakers you currently have will fry almost instantaneously if you connect them to your receiver and turn the volume up. The 12w is all the TV speakers will handle, the w=watts. When you buy your new speakers hook them up to your receiver and you should be able to play your Cd's without your TV being on. Now if you also want to be able to play your TV through your receiver, you will have to hook up your TV from an audio output on your TV to an audio input on your receiver. You can contact me if you need further help.

Answer 5

It says 12W? Normally this is the rating of watts per channel. A power output of 110W is divided by the number of channels used. Unless it is a misprint, I believe your tuner will ruin these speakers.

Answer 6

12W speakers are garbage mate, the sound quality will be really bad, speakers should be at least 100W each. and there is a small possibility of your tuner overpowering the speakers and blowing them