OT: Speaker Wattage question

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Darkfalz

I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for what I use
them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my whole
system uses 250 Watts at most.

How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just their
absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?

How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming out but
they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when I'm not using
them).

Thanks.
 
I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for what I use
them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts?
Click to expand...

This is a misleading performance indicator, which measures basically
nothing. Much like an electric motor that advertises it's 'amperage' instead
of 'horsepower' as an indicator of how much 'work' it can do.

In an imperfect world this figure should be a measurement of the highest
Watts that can be input without the speaker being damaged (by physical
contact, overheating...) which is typically mached up against the output of
the amplifier powering the speakers.

Can you see the meaningless of this yet as it pertains to your PC? If it's
not clear, here's a link to satisfy your OT query, go knowledge seeker,
there's learning afoot!

http://www.tomshardware.com/video/20031222/speaker-01.html

p.s. Tom's Hardware is not a recommended site.
 
In an imperfect world this figure should be a measurement of the highest
Watts that can be input without the speaker being damaged (by physical
contact, overheating...) which is typically mached up against the output of
the amplifier powering the speakers.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that's what it IS a measurement of? That the speakers can
take 480 Watts before being damaged? Obviously the sound would be distorted
well before that.
 
"Darkfalz" said:
I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for what I use
them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my whole
system uses 250 Watts at most.

How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just their
absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?

How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming out but
they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when I'm not using
them).

Thanks.
Click to expand...

There are various "marketeering" power specifications, and some of
them exaggerate the actual power by a factor of 10. There is supposed
to be some industry standard way of specifying power (continuous RMS
maybe ?), but the unethical marketeers continue to use PMP (peak
music power) and the like. And computer speakers seem to be the worst
when it comes to power numbers - they are marketed like they are arc
welders or something. I've seen more than a few computer sound products
where the power is quoted at a 10% distortion level - like I would
listen to music that way! Don't believe everything you read.

To answer your other questions, the only way to know would be to
measure the wall current. A "seat of the pants" answer is, how hot
does the amplifier get when no sound comes out ? If the amp is
luke warm, then it probably isn't drawing more than a few 10's
of watts. It really depends on what "class" or architecture is used
for the design of the amp, as to what quiescent power is
wasted when the amp isn't being used. (In some of them, the
power supply section wastes more power than the amp part does.)

Here is somebody who shares my sentiments. This is the first link
that came up in a search:

http://sound.westhost.com/power.htm

I ceased to care about stereos when I was a teenager (and couldn't
afford a good one). The way to buy a stereo, is to go to a store
and do a listening test - if it sounds good, then it doesn't matter
how many watts it draws or handles. Just remember to take a good
test CD or CDs with you, so you can tell that the kind of music
you normally listen to, sounds good on the unit you plan to purchase.

Paul
 
The 480 watts value is probably for all speakers (now, you did not
mention if you have a subwoofer, but I bet you do, and the real story
is more likely 100 peak watts per channel L or R, and 280 watts peak
power in the subwoofer), and this is instantaneous power, or maximum
peak power capability, which lasts in duration for mere milliseconds.
The peak power output is delivered using power storage devices, such
as capacitors or inductors, in the power rails of the amplifier. The
fluff in touting power specs in PC speakers systems has me about to
barf any more. Continuous RMS power output is the number you want to
know b4 buying speakers with built-in amps. Amplifiers are rated
using this spec typically, and a minimally respectable distortion
level should be less than 1%, and oftentimes .1% or less. My 25 year
old receiver has 58 watts RMS output per channel at 0.3% distortion.
A newer receiver I owned produced 100 W RMS with 1.5 dB of rated
headroom (rest it's soul, hehe, I drove that dude hard). Audio
amplifiers (good ones) will also include a "headroom" spec, of say
1-3db. In a nutshell, a headroom spec of 3db means the amplifier can
deliver peak power at 2x the rated continuous RMS output level. In
many cases, the headroom spec will be about 1.5dB. Remember this
ratio: a difference of 3dB is twice power (or 1/2 power if it's -3dB)
and if the value measured is voltage, twice voltage is 6dB, and half
voltage is -6dB. Audio power primer now over.

--
Best regards,
Kyle
| I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for
what I use
| them for, some mp3s and gaming).
|
| My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my
whole
| system uses 250 Watts at most.
|
| How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just
their
| absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?
|
| How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming
out but
| they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when I'm
not using
| them).
|
| Thanks.
|
| --
| http://darkfalz.hypermart.net/
|
|
 
Kyle Brant said:
The 480 watts value is probably for all speakers (now, you did not
mention if you have a subwoofer, but I bet you do, and the real story
Click to expand...

480 Watt PMPO, no subwoofer. Just two fairly big desktop speakers.

Thanks for your explanation (and the other guy). Was just concerned playing
music meant 480 Watts power consumption, which is insane. I have electric
bills to worry about, it's why I got a 17" Monitor with low power
consumption (only 75W).
 
Dude you sound stingy enough so I recommend you just turn on your speakers
if you think you are going to hear a sound and then immediately turn them
off till you know you are due for your next sound burst.

ffs, do you think it would take more to power a pair of speakers than a crt.
Just think about it.
 
Darkfalz said:
480 Watt PMPO, no subwoofer. Just two fairly big desktop speakers.

Thanks for your explanation (and the other guy). Was just concerned
playing music meant 480 Watts power consumption, which is insane. I
have electric bills to worry about, it's why I got a 17" Monitor with
low power consumption (only 75W).
Click to expand...

I doubt it will consume more than 10 or 20W listening at "normal" levels.
If you are that worried, measure it!
 
Are you saying that's what it IS a measurement of? That the speakers can
take 480 Watts before being damaged? Obviously the sound would be distorted
well before that.
Click to expand...

Right, they would sound like crap at almost any sound level I gather...

Do not make the mistake (I've read the other replies and your replies) of
thinking 480W has any corelation to any legitimate measurement. It's
nonesense, and a dirty trick.

You made me laugh with the electricity cost comment however...come on,
leaving these things on all day would cost about 2 cents, maybe three if you
are playing expensive music. :)
 
I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for what I use
them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my whole
system uses 250 Watts at most.

How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just their
absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?

How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming out but
they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when I'm not using
them).

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Those are marketing numbers, and mean nothing in reality. The drivers
are probably not more than 10 watts per, 25W for the sub. You would
probably be driving them with under 5W power, the power supply being
probably rated up to 100W.
 
Dude you sound stingy enough so I recommend you just turn on your speakers
if you think you are going to hear a sound and then immediately turn them
off till you know you are due for your next sound burst.
Click to expand...

And get a pair that turns off the AC mains side of the transformer.
(rules out ones that use a wall-wart, and maybe power brick))
 
I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for what I use
them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my whole
system uses 250 Watts at most.

How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just their
absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?

How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming out but
they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when I'm not using
them).

Thanks.
Click to expand...

That is the amount of power they will use at the exact moment they
explode and burn your house down!!

The ONLY power rating you need to be intersted in is the RMS rating
and to get 480W RMS you would need a speaker the size of those big
stacks they use at open air rock concerts!!
 
Are you saying that's what it IS a measurement of? That the speakers can
take 480 Watts before being damaged? Obviously the sound would be distorted
well before that.
Click to expand...
If I had speakers that big I would hook them up to the clapper. Clap
on, clap off. Saving money and having fun at the same time.
 
Buying inexpensive 480 Watt speakers is like buying $20 300 Watt power
supplies. Both are fictional creatures; they don't put out anywhere near
that. These are companies run by the Marketing Department. Anything to
make a sale.
 
scott said:
I doubt it will consume more than 10 or 20W listening at "normal" levels.
If you are that worried, measure it!
Click to expand...

With what? Do I need a special tool or will a normal multitester do the
trick?

On second thoughts I'd rather not be ****ing around with the mains power.
 
I have not read all the posts in this thread, but wattage is irrelevant in
speaker specifications. It is usually an approximate number from the
manufacturer as to when the speakers will disintegrate. There is no accepted
standard for measuring this.

Ratings for the power amplifier section of a powered speaker system is
important, and is expressed in watts PER CHANNEL of continuous power at a
specified impedance (usually 8 ohms). Most computer speaker amplifiers put
out about 5-10 watts per channel of power, and this number is rarely
mentioned since these numbers (for amplifier power) are regulated by the
FTC. Instead they list the maximum wattage of the speaker itself, which is
more impressive to unsuspecting consumers. The manufacturer usually adds up
the total of all speakers to make matters worse.
 
Mark A said:
I have not read all the posts in this thread, but wattage is irrelevant in
speaker specifications. It is usually an approximate number from the
manufacturer as to when the speakers will disintegrate. There is no accepted
standard for measuring this.

Ratings for the power amplifier section of a powered speaker system is
important, and is expressed in watts PER CHANNEL of continuous power at a
specified impedance (usually 8 ohms). Most computer speaker amplifiers put
out about 5-10 watts per channel of power, and this number is rarely
mentioned since these numbers (for amplifier power) are regulated by the
FTC. Instead they list the maximum wattage of the speaker itself, which is
more impressive to unsuspecting consumers. The manufacturer usually adds up
the total of all speakers to make matters worse.
Click to expand...

I wasn't impressed by the 480 Watts, I was concerned about the power
consumption. I'm only impressed by the sound. Compared to the 8 year old
tinny desktop computer speakers I was using, they sounded pretty damn good
:-)
 
Darkfalz said:
I wasn't impressed by the 480 Watts, I was concerned about the power
consumption. I'm only impressed by the sound. Compared to the 8 year old
tinny desktop computer speakers I was using, they sounded pretty damn good
:-)
Click to expand...
If a speaker system consumed 480 watts on average, either the speakers would
fry, or your ears would be permanently damaged. Don't worry about power
consumption, it is quite low.
 
If a speaker system consumed 480 watts on average, either the speakers would
fry, or your ears would be permanently damaged. Don't worry about power
consumption, it is quite low.
Click to expand...
Even lower if you keep in your neighbors' good books :-)
 
Darkfalz said:
I bought a generic pair of 480 Watt speakers (they sound fine for
what I use them for, some mp3s and gaming).

My question is, 480 Watts? My monitor uses only 75 watts, and my whole
system uses 250 Watts at most.

How could this pair of speakers be using so much power? Is this just
their absolute max peak rating if I have them at full blast?

How much would they use normally? How about when no sound is coming
out but they are turned on (ie. should I bother turning them off when
I'm not using them).
Click to expand...

They will be 480 watts PMPO (A spin-doctor term that is supposed to stand
for 'Peak Music Power Output'). it's basically bullshit. It's the
theoretical absolutely loudest they can go for 1,000,000th of a second or
so. They're probably 5 watts RMS (Root Mean Square), it that.

Only cheap shit is sold using the PMPO rating, real gear is quoted in RMS. I
have some '480 watt' speakers here that don't sound as good or as loud as
some Creative 5 watt RMS speakers.

As for power usage, it will be negligable. Especially if they aren't
producing 'sound'. You could leave them plugged in all year and it wouldn't
cost $5 electricity.
 
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