Originally Posted By: Micah
Say for instance an amp puts out 1000 watts and you hook one 8 ohm woofer up to it, now its driving that woofer at 1000 watts.


Stop right there! Just because an amp is rated for 1000W doesn't mean it is actually putting out 1000W the moment it is powered on. Maybe that's where your confusion lies. A 1000W amp paired up with a woofer does NOT mean that the woofer is being driven at 1000W. The amp does not "drive" the woofer in that sense, instead the woofer draws on the amp.

Here is a loose analogy. Think of an amp like a big magical well (of water). Let's say the well is capable of supplying 1000L of water. If one day you're thirsty and you go to the well for some water, you don't get hit with 1000L of water do you? No, instead you simply pull up and/or drink up as much water as you need in order to quench your thirst.

Likewise, a woofer (you) will only draw as much power (water) from an amp (the well) as needed in order to acheive the desired volume (quench your thirst).