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Bass distortion before tweeter distortion with a monitor at high volume?

I am looking at getting a set of monitors for a second system in a small room (12' x 10') , but I would also like the flexibility to play them in my main system in a room that is larger (13' x 25') with cathedral ceilings.

Let's assume that the small speaker I end up with won't be able to produce enough volume without distorting in the larger room.  Most of what I have read indicates that a subwoofer would solve the problem.  My understanding is that I would want to high-pass the bass on the speaker before it reaches the point of distortion, solving that issue.

If that is true, that leads me to believe that generally the tweeter would not be distorting unless the volume is at a higher level.  Is this normally the case?  If not, it seems there would be no point to using the sub. 

To restate the question:  With a high quality monitor, is it safe to say that the tweeter can play at higher volume without distorting compared to the woofer?  I am speaking in general terms here - I am sure there are exceptions.  Thanks.
abnerjack
elevick
2,638 posts
 
A well designed speaker should perform with almost flat response and just roll off in the bass due to size limitations.  Also, how big is your "big" room and how loud do you listen?  I've seen some monitors that rock better than some huge floor standers, take Revel for example.  You can throw 300 watts at them.
Where will my speakers distort if driven with a bryston 300 wpc amp?  I would have to say that it depends on the music.  Jimi Hendrix will distort and possibly fry the tweeters, while Pachelbel's Canon might overdrive the woofer. Something like Diana Krall will probably do the best since she tends to be more in the mid-range.
A sub will help the amp more than the speakers unless you turn up the bass knob.
On a last point:  My favorite repairman always said that 1 watt of distortion will fry a speaker much faster than 100 clean watts.
sfall
346 posts
 
If you have a Bryston 4, you're correct in thinking that it will be able to handle almost any small speaker with ease. But that doesn't solve the problem. There's 2 things you need to consider.Regardless of what happens with bass, all speakers are different. Some may be able to play loud enough for you, while others can't. It has to be taken on a case by case basis, and not generalize.

More importantly, If you have a small speaker, the sub will almost certainty not be able bridge the gap between sub frequencies and the lowest frequencies the small speakers put out. Using an xover to cut out the lowest frequencies in the small speaker is only going to make the problem worse. I think this is where the confusion is coming from. Subwoofers are not woofers. They are not meant to play low frequencies, they're meant to play sub frequencies. The right way to do this would be to use a sub with full range speakers. That way, everything is doing what they were designed to do.
abnerjack OP
208 posts
 
sfall,

You once again make some good points, particularly the gap you mention between the reproducible frequencies of the sub vs the speaker and your statement that subwoofers are not woofers.

I use a pair of Rel T5's and they have crossover capability of 30hz to  120hz.  One of the criticisms I have heard regarding the Rels is that they in fact are not true subwoofers, but instead bass extenders.  Maybe that could work to my advantage in this scenario.

I will use the Kef LS50 as an example of what I am thinking.  The specs on the Kef show it going down to 47Hz.  Let's say that the high pass turns the "woofer" duty over to the Rel at 60 or 65 Hz, relieving the Kef of that responsibility.  Might that work?  
avanti1960
1,500 posts
 
I measured the KEF ls50s in my room and they seem to have a low pass crossover built in- the smooth drop off starts at 80 hz.  
If these are your reference speaker then you need not worry (and do not want to) add your own crossover.  they can play as loudly as you want up to a large conference size room as long as your amp is not driven into clipping.  You will want at least 100 WPC and 150 would not be too much power for them.  
they also integrate well with a subwoofer- i used the JL audio D110 and had a flat, smooth freq response down to 20Hz in room.  
to answer your original question a given speaker driver can handle more power the higher it is crossed over -say in an active system.  
however the distortion you would hear is from the amplifier distorting, not the speaker.  
i saw a demo of the ELAC small monitors where they were over fed power and the speaker voice coil bottomed out into the magnet core and mechanical noise resulted, not clipping.  

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