Understanding Loudspeaker Power Ratings
Tech Talk With Big Tony
Speaker power handling must be the most misunderstood specification in our industry. Knowing the power handling of a speaker is rather useless without considering other specs and details. It’s like knowing the “what” without the “when” or “where.”
Eminence uses an industry standard method (EIA 426A) for establishing power ratings. A speaker is tested in free-air with a continuous noise signal with a 6dB crest factor. This continuous average power rating (or “watts” rating) is basically a thermal limit. Eminence does not associate a watts rating with “RMS.” RMS pertains to voltage or current, but “RMS watts” is an erroneous term. The music program rating is always twice the continuous rating. It is a higher rating because music has many peaks and dips and is not as abusive as a continuous signal. This is a good rating to select amplifier power for proper headroom in a pro audio application. Eminence does not publish a peak rating, but we accept it as four times the continuous rating. Peak is higher because the shorter duration of a burst of sound is less abusive than a music signal or a continuous signal.
