can a subwoofer damage speakers

[tschep20]

If a subwoofer like a svs pb2-isd is very close to a speaker (like right next to it by a few inches), can the sub damage it in any way?

[Dr. Spec]

No, unless it is an electrostatic or a ribbon and even then unlikely.

[ken brydson]

If the PB2 takes out a loadbearing wall it could cause some damage:D

God I want one

[Airplay355]

i can only imagine what it would do to a computer screen, my rti150s make my screen vibrate....that cant be good

[Tour2ma]

Doc,
Not to make a big thing, but are you sure?

I was told in my now long ago college days that our dorm rooms were not "speaker friendly". Our individual rooms were about 10 x 18' and most of us set our speakers facing the long wall on a heavy duty shelf over our desk. The drivers ended up starring at a heavy plaster wall about 8' away.

Anyway I was told at high volumes the reflected waves could actually increase the work load on the woofers, putting them in peril... An extreme set-up situation to be sure, but at 100+ db I could see the reflections being an issue.

Anyway, if there's anything to the above, then I could see relative positions where a sub could make it "unconfortable" for a speaker to do its work...

[Dr. Spec]

I suppose if you took the front firng woofer of a sub and stuck it in the face of the mid range driver of a tower they could work against each other. It's kind of a bizarre scenario, though.

You are correct in thinking along the lines of drivers working harder against a close surface or against internal enclosure resistance. A sealed driver always has to work harder than a vented one, for example.