Understanding Speakers
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=38119
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Topic: Understanding Speakers
Posted By: badtazboy
Subject: Understanding Speakers
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 9:08 AM
I am having trouble understanding speaker rms and max. I am looking at getting Polk Audio MMC6500 Components. They are rated 125 watts rms and 250 watts max.
I guess my question is: should I be looking for an amp with the rms or max to match up?
And when an amp says 150X4 rms does that mean that the amp will produce 150 watts per channel or 150 divided by 4?
Any help would be appreciated.
Replies:
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 9:17 AM
For your first question, look for an amp that will put out the same or close to the same wattage RMS as the speakers take RMS. Very rarely, if ever, will an amp put out max.
And when an amp say 150X4 RMS, that means it puts out 150 watts RMS to 4 channels. So in other words, the total RMS of said amp would be 600 Watts RMS.
Paul
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 10:29 AM
Here's a post I wrote some time ago about this subject. In general, ignore "MAX" or "PEAK" and work with "RMS." And if you are considering equipment that does not list RMS ratings @ 12 volts, don't buy it. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: badtazboy
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 11:05 AM
Currently I have a Lanzar Vibe430 which is about 7-8 years old and it still runs great. The specifications say that it puts out: 4 x 125 Watts RMS at 4 Ohms and 4 x 250 Watts Max at 4 Ohms which seem to match the speakers. So my assumptions would be that my current amp would match the speakers perfectly or am I missing something?
Posted By: heavilymedicate
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 12:21 PM
Yeah, your right were you should be. I am a bit skeptical that the polks will take the full 125 without popping. Check the manual on the Polk's, sometimes the number quoted is with a crossover (pioneer does this alot) and the full range number will be quite lower. Say a component set will advertise 50rms w/ 80hz high pass Xover or 40rms full range. I looked those up at sounddomain and they seem to be of good quality, but many companies over rate their speakers. Ratings also have allot of variables such as enclosure, how you equalize, how they tested for wattage, type of music you play, ect. The simple of it is - yes, your fine.
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 12:27 PM
That amp would match your speakers perfectly, IF your speakers take 125 watts RMS. Ignore the words MAX and PEAK. They really mean nothing, it's just a marketing ploy to make it seem like the amp or speaer or whatever component is in question, is more powerful.
Example:
Pyramid Crystal PB1281X, 1600 watts max power PB1281X
Phoenix Gold X600.1 amp, 600 watts RMS. X600.1
Which would you rather buy?? Disreguard the brand, only look at the specs.
Paul
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 1:13 PM
I don't need to look at the specs when the brand names tell me everything I need to know. Pyramid has never made an honestly rated amp. Never. Nothing with that name brand on it will ever go through my hands, except on its way to the trash can. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 1:50 PM
My trash can is full of Bose and similar right now. 99% of manufacturers will lie through their teeth about power ratings. Any amp that is rated at 125w x 4 rms will have a minimum of 100amps of fusing, if not more. Badtazboy, what is the size of the fuse in your amp. If it is the standard anywhere arouund 40 amps. your amp is making around 30w rms x 4. ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: heavilymedicate
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 2:02 PM
Gotta go with DYohn on this, brand means so much more then specs. Look at the specs on the Pyramid junk! On the other hand, when MTX puts a spec sheet out that says 250x1rms, you can believe it. Pyramid has never published a believable spec in its history. Also, look for big name brands with questionable specs. Does anyone think the usable frequency response of a pair of cheap Kenwood/Sony/Pioneer 6.5's is 30-30,000hz? https://www.crutchfield.com/S-nIWfDYHko2y/cgi-bin/ProdComp.asp?g=52000&s=0&cc=01&submit1=Click+to+Remove+Items+%3E%3E+&ITM070XIN6X53=&070XIN6X53=on&ITM113KFC1669=&ITM130TSG1640=&ITM158XSV1640=&ITM107MMC650=&ITM108635I=&ITM109P652S== Check that out. is there any doubt that the 200 stuff sounds better then the 50? Because on paper the cheap stuff looks preety good.
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 3:00 PM
I was just trying to say that the RMS power rating is more important than the MAX or PEAK power rating.
Paul
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 3:09 PM
And you'd be right, for the most part. But since you chose Pyramid as a comparison I had to comment on that. The only thing Pyramid is good for is holding the shop door open. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 3:23 PM
not true at all... i frequently take Pyramid units out in the country with me when practicing with my 357 magnum...they make a perfect target..... in fact, unlike their life scan in a car used as an audio product, they are quite hard to kill......
-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 3:28 PM
Get a bigger gun.  ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: Teken
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 3:54 PM
DYohn] wrote:
I don't need to look at the specs when the brand names tell me everything I need to know. Pyramid has never made an honestly rated amp. Never. Nothing with that name brand on it will ever go through my hands, except on its way to the trash can.
LMFAO . . .  On a more serious note, I have seen many people buy these brands. The only conclusion I can come up with is that.
1. They do not know better as a consumer.
2. They do not have the disposable income.
3. They do not care about name brands, since their application does not need the *Golden Ear* effect, simply more power and SPL.
Regards
EVIL Teken . . .
Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 4:08 PM
The only reason I ever had a Pyramid amp is for reasons # 1 & 2.
And DYohn, Pyramid is good for more than that, they hurt when you hit someone with them. Frizby baby, YEA!
Paul
Posted By: badtazboy
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 7:06 PM
Rob @ Forbidden, are you inquiring about my inline fuse or the fuses that are actually on the amp? I am running a 60 amp AGU fuse inline and 2-30 amp fuses on the amp.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: August 26, 2004 at 7:12 PM
2 - 30 amp fuses on the amp will result in about 60w x 4 rms power. A far cry from what you were told or was stated. In order to gain a noticeable difference in output levels a amplifier of double this power would be necessary. Any other difference up or down by 25 watts per channel is probably not going to be audable to you. A meter would see it but I highly doubt that you would.
-------------
Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
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