Audio Systems: Mixing and Matching, sony grx8, fidelity products

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I forgot to mention in my earlier question, btw the sony mini system says that the o/p rated rms power of the amp is 130W RMS/ch. That means that the 2 speakers of that system can handle upto 260W RMS totally , right? Then in your answer why do you say that the speakers of the sony mimisystem may go out if i turn up the akai amp's volume even though the o/p power of the akai amp is just 45 True RMS W/ch?
I'm confused pls pls sort this out for me as I am very eager and interested in matching my akai amp to those sony speakers.


ANSWER: Speaker ratings are to a great extent fiction.  There is no technical standard by which speaker ratings are universally applied.  We find, unfortunately, the makers of shelf, mini and boombox system greatly exaggerate the power ratings.  Whereas the makers of auto and high fidelity products are much more conservative.

But, there is more.  The ratings on amplifier power in such systems mentioned above is even much more exaggerated.  

But, the Akai amp is probably a true power amplifier rating.  Further, the power supply on a hi-fi receiver is more solid than the mini system.  When it squares off with full overdrive it produces pulses and harmonics which can be very dangerous to less than rugged speakers.

So, once again, be careful not to overdrive the speakers.  If you are careful it will be okey.

Finally, a general comment on speaker - amplifier matching:  It is NOT necessary to match power ratings in any strict sense.  The  power ratings on loudspeakers are very unreliable.   The power ratings on amplifiers can be objectively establishes.  BUT the power being delivered to the loudspeaker is a function of the music signal and the volume control setting.  If the volume control is set very low the amplifier may only be putting out a few milliwatts, for example.

Hope this helps.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your answer regarding mixing and matching the akai amp and the sony GRX8 speakers.
Now my sony GRX8 mini hifi system  does not have a LINE  OUT port. Instead it has a MD Out ( i think it stands for MiniDisc). I connected the MD Out to the AUX IN of the akai integrated amp and it worked just fine when i played a CD on the hifi system. The Amp controlled the connected speakers . Is this okay or should I specifically have a LINE OUT port on my minisystem?  

Answer
Yes, it is okey. The MD out is Mini-Disc, as you mentioned and is the same as a line out.  Sony likes to holler and yell at everything they make so that designation is to self-promote their own product selection.  It is just a labeling difference, not an electrical difference.

Best wishes,

c