Basically with a powerfull sub and a weak amp people tend to stretch the amp beyond its limits. It clips, basically instead of sending a nice clean curved wave to the sub it sends square waves ( i.e the peak is flatted or 'clipped') and its at this point where great heat is produced. You'll be fine using a weak amp aslong as all you expect is a weak amp, dont think you can turn it into a monster by turning the gain right up. Its kinda like the theory of why most people with 1.2 nova's drive them around with the needle bouncing off the limiter trying to be big boys. Just drive them for what they are... ;)

^^ nicly put.

it's a bit like have a street race... say a 1.4ltr against a 2.0ltr...

the 2.0ltr knows it has the power so will give just enough with out pushing the limits... where as the 1.4ltr driven by the boy who thinks he can lick anyone ass will be scremming the balls off the engine.... the engine gets hotter and hotter till eventully it just says fuck you mate and goes tits up in a cloud of smoke....

AustinPXX is right you will eventully burn them out, its all to do with flow rates, volts, amps, ohms and all sorts of scientific bolloxz. builds up all the stress of pushing the amp to it limits with a signal that isn't very clean, this results in heat resistants which burns out the copper voice coil.

so allway match amp RMS for sub RMS at least!! or better more AMP power than the sub. the cleaner the signal the better the sound and your sub will appricate it more and last longer if not a lifetime.

yes it is true. im not totally sure why it happens, i think it is due to distortion.

I was ice shoping the other day and this guy was saying that if ur amp isnt powerful enough for ur sub/subs then u can burn the voice coils out???is this true?how does this work?