Understanding Speaker Power Ratings

When buying speakers, consider the specifications, especially the wattage. The industry does all it can to focus on RMS ratings, but some importers leave the letters RMS off the quoted ratings and inflate the figure to fool buyers.

The key differences are:

RMS Power (Root Mean Square) represents the continuous, sustained power output a speaker can handle over an extended period without overheating or distorting. It is the most important specification for determining a speaker’s everyday performance capabilities.

Program Power is the maximum short-term power the speaker can handle for musical or audio program material. It is typically 2-3 times higher than the RMS power rating. Program power accounts for music and audio’s varying, dynamic nature, with momentary peaks and valleys in power demand.

Peak Power is the maximum instantaneous power the speaker can handle for brief transients or spikes. It represents the highest power the speaker can hold for a split second, like a drum hit or other sharp sound. Peak power is usually 4-5 times higher than the RMS power rating.

Continuous Power is related to RMS and refers to the average power over a long period of time without distortion or damage.

Andrew Says:
“RMS is the most important real-world metric, but the other specifications provide additional context about a speaker’s power handling capabilities. If you see a number followed by a “w” and nothing else, dig deeper to get the RMS rating as this will save you damaging equipment and could save you money. All BishopSound products quote RMS ratings.”