akfosezee237
New member
I know it varies by class and brand but in general, should I truly trust this rating?
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How accurate are the RMS rating on car audio equipment?
- Thread starter akfosezee237
- Start date
It does very on the brand, like you said, but it can also very on the product.
Many amps are overrated, especially in lower end brands. Some brands do actually slightly underrate their power values though.
Subs are a little different. They are the same in the fact that lower end brands are going to be exaggerated more then a better quality brand. Typically with a decent quality subwoofer you are going to have a much more underrated value. So most subs can take much more (clean) power then what they are rated for. By clean power I mean powered by an amp that is not distorting or clipping really bad but producing a clean signal.
Most larger manufacturers underrate their subs in order to protect them from unknowing consumers. This can sometimes be by twice the rated value. By underrating their subs they are trying to eliminate people from blowing them as much. If you know what you are doing you can give your subs much more power then they are rated for. There are some instances where you can give them more then twice as much power as they are rated. Speakers would be the same as subs as far as RMS ratings.
It is also important to mention that subs don't really have an "RMS value". By that I mean that there is no single power range that is going to determine when a sub fails. There are many variables that come into play that will determine how a sub could fail.
There is a standard when rating product that some companies participate in. If you see a product that is CEA-2006 compliant then it has RMS that are going to be correctly rated and rated to a set guideline. This ensures that the product is going to be able to handle that amount of power or put out that amount of power.
Good Luck!!!
Many amps are overrated, especially in lower end brands. Some brands do actually slightly underrate their power values though.
Subs are a little different. They are the same in the fact that lower end brands are going to be exaggerated more then a better quality brand. Typically with a decent quality subwoofer you are going to have a much more underrated value. So most subs can take much more (clean) power then what they are rated for. By clean power I mean powered by an amp that is not distorting or clipping really bad but producing a clean signal.
Most larger manufacturers underrate their subs in order to protect them from unknowing consumers. This can sometimes be by twice the rated value. By underrating their subs they are trying to eliminate people from blowing them as much. If you know what you are doing you can give your subs much more power then they are rated for. There are some instances where you can give them more then twice as much power as they are rated. Speakers would be the same as subs as far as RMS ratings.
It is also important to mention that subs don't really have an "RMS value". By that I mean that there is no single power range that is going to determine when a sub fails. There are many variables that come into play that will determine how a sub could fail.
There is a standard when rating product that some companies participate in. If you see a product that is CEA-2006 compliant then it has RMS that are going to be correctly rated and rated to a set guideline. This ensures that the product is going to be able to handle that amount of power or put out that amount of power.
Good Luck!!!
Sooner Boyz
New member
on most amps, the rating of watts is a lie...Only high quality amps (JBL, Kicker, some Fosgates, HiFonics, JL Audio, etc) actually put out what they are stating...a good rule of thumb is you pay about a dollar per true watt if your buying new from a retailer..if your talking subs or speakers, just do what they recommend
I wouldn't trust the RMS values on ICE as far as i could spit
i've worked with sound equipment for decades and they are no where near what professionals use. burnt fingers and bleeding eardrums to prove it.
the thing is they are sold as a package and like the amplifiers it is the visuals ie aesthetics which people like.
and who is going to sit there with an oscilloscope and a SWR meter and a FLUKE meter and measure the real values.
NOW that would be cool to have all that set up in the back of a customized car at a cruise and really show what the package is producing.
Just because its loud it doesn't mean it's good!!
listen to the systems and the clarity then go to a B & O or a BOSE show room and listen to a sound system a third of the so called RMS value of what is in the car and listen to the clarity there. NOW that is perfection
i've worked with sound equipment for decades and they are no where near what professionals use. burnt fingers and bleeding eardrums to prove it.
the thing is they are sold as a package and like the amplifiers it is the visuals ie aesthetics which people like.
and who is going to sit there with an oscilloscope and a SWR meter and a FLUKE meter and measure the real values.
NOW that would be cool to have all that set up in the back of a customized car at a cruise and really show what the package is producing.
Just because its loud it doesn't mean it's good!!
listen to the systems and the clarity then go to a B & O or a BOSE show room and listen to a sound system a third of the so called RMS value of what is in the car and listen to the clarity there. NOW that is perfection