Difference between Watts & RMS going to a subwoofer?
Power is measured in watts. Subwoofer and amplifier power ratings are often listed as “RMS” and “peak” (or “max”). In this context, the RMS power is the amount of power that can be produced continuously without excessive distortion (by an amplifier) or can be handled continuously without damage (by a subwoofer). The key here is continuous power—the unit must be able to maintain that power level for an extended period of time. Peak power ratings are, in theory, the maximum power level that can be produced by an amplifier (or handled by a subwoofer) for very brief periods of time. Because there’s no universal standard for peak power ratings, many companies just use them as a marketing tool. When you’re comparing sub or amp power ratings, you’ll usually want to ignore the peak ratings and look only at RMS ratings. When choosing an amplifier for a subwoofer, the amp’s power rating should be at or below the sub’s power rating.
