When choosing a speaker system, the buyer often focuses on the power parameters specified by the manufacturer. What these values mean and how to choose them correctly, we will tell in our article.
What is rated power?
The content of the article
- What is rated power?
- What is peak power and RMS power
This is a parameter that shows the extent to which the signal acoustics can work stably and with optimal sound throughout the life of the device.
IMPORTANT. The term as such does not characterize the sound volume, but the reliability of the speakers.
The nominal value is limited to non-linear sound distortions, in their standard range. The human ear does not hear such vibrations, they appear at the output of the speakers (amplifier), but are absent in the sound source. In other words, this value directly depends on the amount of nonlinear distortion and therefore its real number is much less, for example, the maximum power of the equipment.
There is another definition of the term: this is the value generated in the middle position of the subwoofer volume control.
Unscrupulous manufacturers often use an advertising trick: they mask other numbers under the standard number (peak value, etc.). In budget equipment, as a rule, it is difficult to find the right indicator.
In Russia, the nominal and sinusoidal powers are used as the main acoustics. The last parameter indicates the real value of the signal at which the long-term and stable performance of the acoustics is maintained. The sinusoidal indicator everywhere replaces the nominal values, it is indicated in the name of the columns and in the passport data.
ON A NOTE. European standards use the term DIN instead of the nominal level, it is an analogue of a sinusoidal value.
What is peak power and RMS power
Along with the nominal indicator, these two parameters objectively characterize the real possibilities of your speaker system. Other terms (total, etc.) have a secondary meaning.
Peak PMPO power refers to the ability of the equipment to withstand a certain sound limit without being damaged. The action of the peak with a frequency of 100 Hz lasts up to 1 second during testing. Nonlinear distortions are ignored in the calculation.
For example, 450 W (PMPO) is indicated in the passport. This means that after the action of a signal of this magnitude, the dynamic heads retained full operability.
The maximum (or maximum) power of the RMS indicates at what signal level the system can operate for an hour without breakdowns. The indicator is measured at a sound frequency of 1000 Hz, while non-linear oscillations are kept within certain limits.
For example, the instructions say 20 watts (RMS). This means that the speakers at this value are able to transmit a signal for a long time, while maintaining the performance of dynamic heads.
You can meet the inflated RMS data in the passport to the device. This is due to the fact that the tests use inflated distortions, in which the sound turns into a set of wheezing. Such false information remains on the conscience of the manufacturer.
We hope that our article helped you figure out what the power of the speakers is and how to correctly understand its indicated values.
