VU-meter directly to amplified output?

I have just built this VU-meter with a LM3916, and it works fine with tape out on my pre-amplifier, but then it won't change along with the volume, and on pre-out it should be very loud before anything happens. So I was thinking about hooking it up to the loudspeaker output on my amplifier, but can it handle it? or will it just burn off?

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David

I've seen the VU-meter from Velleman (K4305) and they have shown how to set it up for high level input, that was to take the positive from high level on the amplifier, and negative from input (low leven i quess), should I set it up like that?

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David