A loudspeaker overload protection circuit for protecting a loudspeaker that is connected to a signal source; the circuit comprises: a compressor that is connected between the signal source and the loudspeaker; the compressor having a first input for receiving an input audio signal (x), a second input for receiving a signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L), a third input for receiving a signal representing the nominal power of the loudspeaker (P N), and an output for providing an output audio signal (y); and a power estimator connected as a feedback network between the output and the second input of the compressor to estimate, from the compressor output audio signal (y), the power consumed by the loudspeaker; the power estimator receiving a signal that represents the voltage (U L) or current (I L) supplied to the loudspeaker and a parameter that represents the ohmic resistance (R L) or the frequency dependent impedance (Z(ω)) of the loudspeaker; in which the power estimator is configured to calculate from the signal that represents the voltage (U L) or current (I L) supplied to the loudspeaker and the parameter representing the ohmic resistance (R L) or the frequency dependent impedance (Z(ω)) of the loudspeaker the power consumed by the loudspeaker, and to supply a signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L) to the compressor; and in which the compressor is configured to attenuate its input audio signal (x) when the signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L) exceeds the signal representing the nominal power(P N) of the loudspeaker; the loudspeaker over load circuit further comprising a time constant estimator and a timing unit which form a further feedback network; the further feedback network being connected to the compressor and having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for controlling the gain (g) of the compressor, in which the further feedback network is adapted for controlling the gain (g) using, dependent on an signal level of the input signal (x) or of the output signal (y), an adaptive control characteristic or a fixed control characteristic in the first mode of operation and an adaptive control characteristic in the second mode of operation. a compressor that is connected between the signal source and the loudspeaker; the compressor having a first input for receiving an input audio signal (x), a second input for receiving a signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L), a third input for receiving a signal representing the nominal power of the loudspeaker (P N), and an output for providing an output audio signal (y); and a power estimator connected as a feedback network between the output and the second input of the compressor to estimate, from the compressor output audio signal (y), the power consumed by the loudspeaker; the power estimator receiving a signal that represents the voltage (U L) or current (I L) supplied to the loudspeaker and a parameter that represents the ohmic resistance (R L) or the frequency dependent impedance (Z(ω)) of the loudspeaker; in which the power estimator is configured to calculate from the signal that represents the voltage (U L) or current (I L) supplied to the loudspeaker and the parameter representing the ohmic resistance (R L) or the frequency dependent impedance (Z(ω)) of the loudspeaker the power consumed by the loudspeaker, and to supply a signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L) to the compressor; and in which the compressor is configured to attenuate its input audio signal (x) when the signal representing the estimated loudspeaker power consumption (P L) exceeds the signal representing the nominal power(P N) of the loudspeaker; the loudspeaker over load circuit further comprising a time constant estimator and a timing unit which form a further feedback network; the further feedback network being connected to the compressor and having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for controlling the gain (g) of the compressor, in which the further feedback network is adapted for controlling the gain (g) using, dependent on an signal level of the input signal (x) or of the output signal (y), an adaptive control characteristic or a fixed control characteristic in the first mode of operation and an adaptive control characteristic in the second mode of operation.