by solacedagony » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:20 pm
jjohan35 wrote:I have a few more questions. Do I use the watt RMS numbers on the speakers or the amp?
example 1. Say I have a 75 rms x 2 ch amp, used with 100 rms speakers. Which numbers do I use?
example 2. Say I have 300 rms output on my mono amp, used with a 250 rms subwoofer. Which numbers do I use? Thanks!
Since this came up, I just want to explain speaker power handling a little bit to you. The numbers that marketing uses to quantify a speaker's "power handling" are based on a certain set of criteria. Speakers have thermal power handling and mechanical power handling. Really, your "power handling" number would be the lower of the two. But what size box are the speakers? Is the pole ventilated enough for cooling? What crossover point is being used? All of these things affect power handling.
That said, the answer to your question is obviously the marketed specs for amp output.
I would also like to add that a test tone is 100% duty cycle. Music is not. So by setting gains with a multimeter and test tones, you're selling yourself short on the available power (or even setting the amp to clip, if underrated).
[quote="jjohan35"]I have a few more questions. Do I use the watt RMS numbers on the speakers or the amp?
example 1. Say I have a 75 rms x 2 ch amp, used with 100 rms speakers. Which numbers do I use?
example 2. Say I have 300 rms output on my mono amp, used with a 250 rms subwoofer. Which numbers do I use? Thanks![/quote]
Since this came up, I just want to explain speaker power handling a little bit to you. The numbers that marketing uses to quantify a speaker's "power handling" are based on a certain set of criteria. Speakers have thermal power handling and mechanical power handling. Really, your "power handling" number would be the lower of the two. But what size box are the speakers? Is the pole ventilated enough for cooling? What crossover point is being used? All of these things affect power handling.
That said, the answer to your question is obviously the marketed specs for amp output.
I would also like to add that a test tone is 100% duty cycle. Music is not. So by setting gains with a multimeter and test tones, you're selling yourself short on the available power (or even setting the amp to clip, if underrated).