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newtoaudio90
Enthusiast
Hi I am looking at some speakers that state the recommended input is 20-150 watts and the 'Program' wattage is 150. What does this mean???
Thanks
Thanks
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Programmer32
Enthusiast
I believe Program wattage is synonymous with RMS or continuous.
The closer your power source is to the high-end of the range the less chance you have of damaging them via distortion if you play them at loud volumes. They will also sound much better at lower volume with proper power.
The closer your power source is to the high-end of the range the less chance you have of damaging them via distortion if you play them at loud volumes. They will also sound much better at lower volume with proper power.
fuzz092888
Audioholic Warlord
I don't know what program wattage means but ignore that. What speakers are you looking at?
It's not RMS for sure. Most people are only using between 5-25 watts RMS during normal listening anyhow so 150 is certainly not RMS.
A better metric would probably be sensitivity than the power handling (not that the power handling can't be useful). Also, what programmer is saying about your power source being closer to the high end of the range thingy is wrong. Look at tube amps, some of them are rated for about 7 WPC and they sound great*.
In my experience distortion is caused by having a crappy amp or power supply, crappy speakers, or trying to play speakers louder than they were meant to be played.
Power generally isn't the issue when listening to speakers at low volumes. Most AVR's these days have excellent power supplies (and specifications) so if you're using a good AVR and the speakers don't sound good then it's probably the things making noises that aren't so good.
A good power supply is a good power supply. It doesn't have to be huge to play program material well. If we look at a speaker with average sensitivity of 87db/1W/1m then you only need about 20 watts to drive those speakers to 94ish db at 9 feet away. That's without taking into account room gain as well, so this means that if you want to listen to 94db continuously on 87db sensitive speakers you only need 20 measly watts of power. However, this is much louder than most people listen to anything for very long.
The reason to have a robust power supply generally has to do with peaks (explosions, really dynamic music etc). During big peaks, power demands can reach 250 watts on up depending on listening levels. It will also depend on if you're crossing the speakers over to subwoofers or not as well.
*Theres more to tube amps than just the wattage, and people argue about tube amps for other reasons ("good" distortion). We'll just ignore that stuff for the moment since my point giving a counter example to the big wattage.
It's not RMS for sure. Most people are only using between 5-25 watts RMS during normal listening anyhow so 150 is certainly not RMS.
A better metric would probably be sensitivity than the power handling (not that the power handling can't be useful). Also, what programmer is saying about your power source being closer to the high end of the range thingy is wrong. Look at tube amps, some of them are rated for about 7 WPC and they sound great*.
In my experience distortion is caused by having a crappy amp or power supply, crappy speakers, or trying to play speakers louder than they were meant to be played.
Power generally isn't the issue when listening to speakers at low volumes. Most AVR's these days have excellent power supplies (and specifications) so if you're using a good AVR and the speakers don't sound good then it's probably the things making noises that aren't so good.
A good power supply is a good power supply. It doesn't have to be huge to play program material well. If we look at a speaker with average sensitivity of 87db/1W/1m then you only need about 20 watts to drive those speakers to 94ish db at 9 feet away. That's without taking into account room gain as well, so this means that if you want to listen to 94db continuously on 87db sensitive speakers you only need 20 measly watts of power. However, this is much louder than most people listen to anything for very long.
The reason to have a robust power supply generally has to do with peaks (explosions, really dynamic music etc). During big peaks, power demands can reach 250 watts on up depending on listening levels. It will also depend on if you're crossing the speakers over to subwoofers or not as well.
*Theres more to tube amps than just the wattage, and people argue about tube amps for other reasons ("good" distortion). We'll just ignore that stuff for the moment since my point giving a counter example to the big wattage.
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newtoaudio90
Enthusiast
Hey Fuzz I was looking at the PSB Image B5
Specs are below?
http://www.psbspeakers.com/content/120502141005-PSB_Image_Series_English_Specifications.pdf
Would still love to know what program wattage is?
Thanks
Specs are below?
http://www.psbspeakers.com/content/120502141005-PSB_Image_Series_English_Specifications.pdf
Would still love to know what program wattage is?
Thanks
M
markw
Audioholic Overlord
Suggestion
} why not ask PSB, who seems to have come up with this term.
...then YOU report back to US.
Since you've repeatedly struck out with this question, (both here and at other sites
} why not ask PSB, who seems to have come up with this term....then YOU report back to US.
fuzz092888
Audioholic Warlord
RMS, Continuous, Program, Peak, volume vs. wattage etc. - L... - Home Recording Studio Help
says that program, RMS, and continuous all mean the same thing
says that program, RMS, and continuous all mean the same thing
KEW
Audioholic Overlord
There is your answer, but you shouldn't really put too much faith in manufacturer's Wattage ratings for speakers.
Speaker manufacturers have learned that many buyers think a higher Wattage rating on a speaker make it a better speaker, sometimes giving it more importance in their buying decision than how the speaker sounds! I'm betting "150 program Watts" has more to do with marketing decisions than any measurements.
If you email them, ask how this was determined.
jonnythan
Audioholic Ninja
In virtually all cases in the home, it's safe to completely ignore any wattage ratings on the speaker itself.
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PENG
Audioholic Slumlord
Those guys made me laugh. They can say anything they want but in the electrical engineering field continuous power is a correct term. If you google for its definition and formula you may find different answers so it is best to refer to text books, encyclopedia Britannica/Americana etc. RMS power is a misnomer/incorrect term but is widely used so what the heck people just accept it as meaning the same as continuous power. Peak is just peak literally but not much use without stating the time duration. Program is, as far as I know undefined so I agree with Mark, just ask the manufacturer (PSB in this case) who uses this term.
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