@djones51
A square wave is an infinite series of odd harmonics above the fundamental. When an amp clips, the waveform stops at the power supply limit and creates an odd multiple series of the clipped fundamental. Below is an abreviated list of 200Hz odd harmonics to 20kHz. They continue forever. As you can see, they cover all driver ranges. Note that if only a portion of the wave is clipped, that period is the fundamental and the odd harmonic progression starts there. 1% clipping @ 200Hz starts @ 20kHz and continues upward. On a 200wpc amp, that’s 200w into the tweeter for a few µs. 200Hz 10% clipping starts @ 2kHz and supplies full power for a dozen plus full power harmonics continuing to the amplifier bandwidth.
H# Hz
003 600
005 1000
007 1400
009 1800
011 2200
...
091 18200
093 18600
095 19000
097 19400
099 19800
101 20200
Music has an approximately 50% power ratio per octave and acoustic instrument harmonics are only a fraction of the fundamental, so there is very little power actually sent to the HF driver. [Electronic instruments, buzz guitar and heavily Eq’d program can have a grossly skewed driver eating power spectrum.]
Hz Pwr %
200 100%
400 50%
800 25%
1600 13%
3200 6%
6400 3%
12800 2%
25600 1%
When a tube amp distorts, there is a fair amount of lower even [2nd & 4th] harmonic distortion which is a good indication the amp is losing control and gives fair warning. A good SS amp with robust power supply gives no warning and dumps the full spectrum willingly. By the time user hears it, it can be too late for the HF driver.
Hence a low power SS amp into inefficient speakers is more of a risk.
A square wave is an infinite series of odd harmonics above the fundamental. When an amp clips, the waveform stops at the power supply limit and creates an odd multiple series of the clipped fundamental. Below is an abreviated list of 200Hz odd harmonics to 20kHz. They continue forever. As you can see, they cover all driver ranges. Note that if only a portion of the wave is clipped, that period is the fundamental and the odd harmonic progression starts there. 1% clipping @ 200Hz starts @ 20kHz and continues upward. On a 200wpc amp, that’s 200w into the tweeter for a few µs. 200Hz 10% clipping starts @ 2kHz and supplies full power for a dozen plus full power harmonics continuing to the amplifier bandwidth.
H# Hz
003 600
005 1000
007 1400
009 1800
011 2200
...
091 18200
093 18600
095 19000
097 19400
099 19800
101 20200
Music has an approximately 50% power ratio per octave and acoustic instrument harmonics are only a fraction of the fundamental, so there is very little power actually sent to the HF driver. [Electronic instruments, buzz guitar and heavily Eq’d program can have a grossly skewed driver eating power spectrum.]
Hz Pwr %
200 100%
400 50%
800 25%
1600 13%
3200 6%
6400 3%
12800 2%
25600 1%
When a tube amp distorts, there is a fair amount of lower even [2nd & 4th] harmonic distortion which is a good indication the amp is losing control and gives fair warning. A good SS amp with robust power supply gives no warning and dumps the full spectrum willingly. By the time user hears it, it can be too late for the HF driver.
Hence a low power SS amp into inefficient speakers is more of a risk.