Thanks for your answer. I agree on/already knew all that you said.
I don’t believe that I’ve said that a signal never can exceed +4dBu. I’m talking about constantly, everyt day, feeding the speakers a signal that is much higher than this. Exactly how high is of course hard to say, since I realize that the max output designates peak values rather than average values, especially if you’re not playing, I don’t know, white noise at the highest internal volume (that is, turning up all the mixer tracks to max), or whatever would be needed to get a constant signal of the highest max output.
We could remove the actual output volume (air beeing pushed around) from the equation all together. Just imagine that the volume knob always is turned down to zero, and that my overarching question is what voltage I can constantly feed my speakers before they break (if there’s a limit, which there seems to be).
I do understand that it’s no problem if you let the manifested sound volume be a sort of natural indicator that you’re inputting too hot of a signal (in which case the sound will be too loud for comfort, forcing you to turn it down). As I stated in my original post, however, I’m looking for a solution where the sound volume never can be louder than a certain dB SPL (where this volume is much, much lower than when you might suspect that the speakers are being damaged).
Yes, my thinking right now is that I’ll probably buy a hardware limiter that I place in between my Syntakt and my speakers, that I set once and then forget/don’t touch. This should stop any random peaks from getting through. I started this thread to ask for a suitable device.
I’ve never in 20 odd years of going directly into active monitors had any issues either with synths, drum machines, decks etc, but hey if it makes you feel safer go for a limiter. I wouldn’t bother because a cheap one is bound to colour the sound in some way or other, that what most cheap compressors and/or limiters do.
The response youll get is, “Just buy a mixer.” And guessing you’ve figured this out by now, but you are probably gonna distort your signal before it even hits the speakers if youre cranking the master to 11. I wish you well on your audio journey.
Edit: That kind of was their response if a person reads between the lines.
Yep, learning gain staging is a process and this is all a part of figuring out tolerances for gear and when you’re overthinking it all.
If sound is voltage, what is too much? What are tolerances? What frequencies will kill my driver?
I spend a little time helping people with safety planning and often have times communicating fuzzy models, people can sometimes lack the comfort levels to sit with probabilities and likelihoods and want more “never” and “always” levels of confidence and that’s more something that I have to develop for myself / help a person build from within. And there’s never a perfect amount of time + headspace to do so
You sir, mam, miss or other are a better person than I, but I’m trying to be better everyday. This thread, and not flippling out on guitar center (there’s a reason I boycotted them for 10 years) are 2 examples of that being better thing, just from today! I just gotta remember we all started somewhere. Im happy to help, but this touched a nerve from something in my personal life, and that ain’t no one elses fault.
At least this forum seems to be pretty tolerant. Now i just gotta buy some Elektron gear … but it’s next on my list.
Lol, it’s hard to tell how much of this is about personal growth, or about helping someone with audio, I can see it as both. Either way, I went on rambling about both because well, those are the two things ive been focused on for years. Cheers!
… but it’s next on my list. 
