Originally posted by MacAllcock:
We've covered this subject in the past but I can't find the topic, so I sahll repeat (hopefully consistently) what I think I said last time!
There are lots of ways in which manufacturers declare speaker power. Most are meaningless!
The only power rating that is relatively trustworthy is "Continuous r.m.s", which is an indication of how much power a speaker can absorb over sustained period without failure. This figure is always quoted by reputable drive unit manufacturers and can be considered to be a "worst case" figure because loudspeakers are very rately driven at a continous high power level.
Therefore manufacturers may also quote a figure called "Music Power" which is usually double the "RMS" figure, to account for the fact that speakers are rarely driven continuously.
Personally the only figure that matters is RMS. Music power is useful but not as reliable. After this, treat all ratings and descriptions with a huge amount of scepticism.
Power figures quoted without some indication of duration are meaningless. A signal level that would dissipate 1000W into a load if sustained for 1 second only transfers 10 Watts if maintained for 1/100th of a second. As loudspeakers naturally average loads out over a periods of time, a very short term high voltage peak is survivable by most loudspeakers, it is sustaining the level that does the damage.
PMPO usually means "Peak Music Power Output" and is usually twice the "Music Power" value. Happily this suggests that the system is 60W RMS, which is actually pretty decent for a PC system.
The "Burst power" ramble actually applies to amlifier / loudspeaker combinations. Any amplifier (unless woefully underpowered) is capable of driving a lousdpeaker with a short transient signal in excess of it's "continuous" rating, like a really load bass drum, and any loudspeaker attached to the amp (unless woefully underrated) is capable of accepting the transient and producing a louder thud as a result. Neither the amp or loudspeaker would be happy if this thud came along 50 times a second!
Strangely enough, and despite the questions about terminology, if FTC equates to "RMS" then the phrase "500W Maximum Burst Power" could well accurate for transients.
Even if "FTC" equates to "Music Power" this is quite a powerful system and could do a pretty good job for you.
Hope this helps
John
Thanks
------------------
www.tagworld.com/vicentelopez HE'S COMING, MAKE MUSIC, GET READY!
Previous Topic
Index
