NAD T763 "Soft Clipping" switch

[pmckeealaska]

Well, I hooked up my replacement T763 sent to me by NAD (thanks guys!) and boy was it great to hear music again. I have not started to tweak the channel levels yet, but I do have a quesiton regarding the "soft clipping" switch on the back of the unit. I understand the concept of clipping and how this switch is suppose to protect my equipment, but I'm curious. Is it designed to protect the reciever and the speakers? Since I'm running a 2 channel amp through the unit, do I need to have soft clipping engaged when listening in 2 channel? Do I need to have it engaged at all? Does it limit the output/loudness of the speakers? I never really payed much attention to it before, though I do know I always had it switched on. Any thoughts?

[dorokusai]

Any amplifier that is overdriven (asked to generate levels beyond its undistorted capabilities) will produce distortion (clipping). The result is not only very harsh sound but often damage to speakers — especially tweeters. The selectable "Soft Clipping" feature on NAD amplifiers gently transforms the music waveform as the point of clipping approaches, resulting in much clearer reproduction and simultaneous protection of speakers. One very valuable time to consider using the soft clipping option is during a party. As more and more people crowd into a room, and create more and more background noise, it is all too easy to keep setting the volume higher without realizing just how high you have turned it up. Switching in Soft Clipping will greatly reduce the chance of damage. Nothing, however, can absolutely guarantee protection against cranking volume up and leaving it there for a prolonged period. So it is best to use Soft Clipping as temporary protection until you can get to the volume control to set loudness at a more reasonable point. - NAD

I always use it because there's just no harm in doing so.