Is higher RMS watts better?
The RMS power rating is a better indicator of the true power of a speaker. The same can be said about subwoofers, as those with a higher RMS rating tend to sound clean and full when the volume is cranked.
Root mean square is a measurement of how strong an electric current is, with higher RMS power generally meaning more powerful sound.
How's it measured? Bass, as with most things, demands a comparison of quality vs quantity. More bass does not necessarily mean better bass. The power is determined by the wattage of the subwoofer in question, where a higher wattage demonstrates a more powerful subwoofer.
It is recommended that you go with at least 100 watts RMS in order to get a decent amount of power for your subwoofer. This will make sure that your speakers are loud and clear, but it can be improved by using an amplifier as well.
Quick answer: RMS levels for loud, in your face tracks, should range between -7dBFS and -12 dBFS. For more subdued music, go lower at -16dBFS. The minimum we recommend going is -18dBFS.
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How many decibels is 30 watts?
dBm | Watts |
---|---|
30 | 1.0W |
Root mean square or simply RMS watts refers to continuous power handling of a speaker or a subwoofer or how much continuous power an amplifier can output. RMS values are usually lower than peak watts ratings, but they represent what a unit is truly capable of handling.
700 watts RMS is probably more like 450 watts steady.
A 200 watt RMS power rating is how much power a speaker can handle, not how much it requires. Even a 200 watt speaker can sound great with only 30% (60 watts) power applied. However, you'll have low SPL (sound pressure level) or "loudness" with this little power.
Bass amps between 300 and 350 should be powerful enough for most situations. Around 300 watts is a good ballpark for most bassists who play in a loud band. You need enough power to be heard above the guitar amps and drums.
How do I get more bass on my subwoofer?
It is recommended that for optimal quality sound, you should place your subwoofer within 8-12 inches of a wall, facing outwards towards the rest of the room. For even more output, consider placing your subwoofer in the corner of your room, as it can significantly increase the overall sound due to the positioning.
Lots, delends on the distance of measure, dB lowers with distance. Normal speakers give 90 dB/mW but 1000W is 30 dB/W more, so should be 120 dB, but shurely the speakers will deform, and clip, giving lower output.

You can also make minor upgrades to your subwoofer to make it hit harder. Change the small cone in front of the subwoofer, change the voice coil or get a new enclosure for the subwoofer. If you don't want to put much effort into it, just turn the volume to zero and play your track with medium bass.
In this case, about 1000 watts RMS, SSL's website rates it at 1250 RMS.
With a loud track that has the purpose of carrying a bold and intense sound, they should have an RMS level of roughly -7dBFS to -12dBFS. Tracks that don't have that much dynamic energy or quieter parts, would be better suited with an RMS level of -16dBFS to -18 dBFS.
300 watts RMS @ 4 ohms, 500 W (probably RMS) @ 2 ohms.
How loud is a 10 watt speaker? In addition to the relevant items Micah mentions, it is good to realise that an acoustic power of 10 W is really high: sound power level 130 dB. The sound (pressure) level at 1 m distance of the speaker is then some 120 dB.
An aftermarket receiver — you might want 200 to 300 watts RMS of power for your sub. Amplified speakers with around 50 watts RMS per channel — plan on 250 to 500 watts RMS for bass. A 100 watts RMS or higher per channel system — you'll want at least 1,000 watts RMS for your sub.
While the best measure for how loud a speaker can get is Sensitivity, I believe that any speaker rated at 300 watts RMS, fed enough power, can get quite loud. Of course, loudness is relative. Place it in a small room, and it will be ear-splitting loud.
A. A 500W speaker cabinet can be very loud and can cause permanent hearing damage.
How much over RMS can you go?
When you look for an amp for your subs, you will need about 15-20% of headroom. Headroom is extra power above the combined RMS. If your subs are 300 watts RMS combined, then you need 345-360 Watts RMS to have safe headroom. If you go above that, then you will overpower your subs, and damage them.
Whippet. And wide open you could be making your amp output more than the rated RMS power into the minimum impedance. As a guideline, if you have a standard "500 watt" amp you actually only have an amp rated RMS of about 225-300 watts.
Rule of thumb double your power you get 3 db louder so 2 w would be 91db so 3 w would be ~ 92 db.
A four-channel amp works to power: Four speakers; Two speakers and a subwoofer—you can use a four-channel amp to power a subwoofer and two rear full-range speakers by bridging two of the channels to power the sub.
80 watts of power is more than enough for most applications. But the real #'s that count are the sensitivity of your speakers and the powerband of the amp. If you speakers have a sensitivity of 88db they will sound half as loud as speakers with a 91db sensitivity.
A 50 watt per channel amplifier will work fine with speakers rated at 100 watts.
Assuming the standard 50% less power for RMS ratings, the 3,000-watt amplifier as advertised really only has around 300-watts of RMS output.
You need an amp that can deliver ideally about 400 to 500 watt RMS at the ohmage the 2 subwoofers combined will present to the amp. Or you can use a 2 channel amp with 200 to 300 amp per channel.
For a 1,000 Watt powered sub, you would need about 10 Amperes at 120 Volts, assuming digital amplification.
The best Hz for bass is between 60-250 Hz, as recommended by professionals. These ranges protect speakers from damage and ensure optimal safety and listening experience for you. Listening to bass at too low a frequency outside of this range can damage hearing.
Is 500 watts enough for bass?
You don't need more than 500 watts then, unless your speaker is inefficient. I haven't had a sound person in years. The headroom (even though I'm not playing at a louder volume than I was with my 500 watt head) helps me hear myself better. jamro217, jeff7bass, MobileHolmes and 3 others like this.
On average, 300-500 watts is a good median for a bass amp, and more importantly, having at the very least, a 4x10, 2x12, 2x15, etc. The speakers are of primary importance. A 300 watt bass amp through a good 2x12 bass cab will sound about as loud as a 15 watt guitar amp through a single 12.
If you have a bass amp, you'll want to crank up the bass and treble to get the best sound. If you're using a regular guitar amp, you'll want to turn up the gain. Another way to make your bass guitar louder is by using a distortion pedal. This will give your bass a heavier sound that will cut through the mix better.
Subbass should be peaking at -12dB, so you keep enough headroom for the rest of the song. If mixing with headroom is not working for you, a general rule of thumb is to keep the subbass lower than the kickdrum by about 2 to 5 dB.
Subwoofers are useful if you're trying to improve the bass response in your audio system because they are designed to produce lower audio frequencies, and bass is the lowest level of sound frequency humans hear.
Sure, a 1,500 Watt speaker is louder than a 10-Watt model but definitely not 150 times as loud. As a matter of fact, sometimes a 1,000 Watt speaker can produce more volume than a 1,200 Watt one.
Sounds at or below 70 dBA are generally considered safe. Any sound at or above 85 dBA is more likely to damage your hearing over time. Researchers have found that people who are exposed over long periods of time to noise levels at 85 dBA or higher are at a much greater risk for hearing loss.
Loudness of a 200W system depends on the efficiency of the loudspeakers. High quality small consumer/home subwoofers can easily handle 200W without sounding outrageously loud or breaking.
The 10-inch subs will sound tighter and pluckier, with more clarity in the higher bass frequencies. The 12s will give you more oomph and also more buzzing. But, you'll feel more of the low-end in your chest. So, this becomes more of a matter of preference than a question of sound quality.
This is the number one thing to consider if you are deciding between 10s and 12s. The 12-inch subwoofers handle more power, they play louder, they are boomier, and many people find that they just sound better.
Will subs get louder over time?
Do Subwoofers Get Louder as They Break-In? Yes! It's important to remember that break-in always sounds different than your speakers will after they are broken in, but if you take care of them and listen during this process then you can achieve fantastic results.
A 12-inch subwoofer is known for generating extra bass production with decent bass response Overall the sound quality is not sacrificed, but if you are playing your sub at peak power your system will suffer. It is always recommended to use the RMS Wattage to best utilize your woofer.
120dB with subs is LOUD. 130db in the 30-40hz range can make your ears hurt the next day. 120dB is extremely painful in the midrange. 90-95dB is fine but I like my transients to reach in the 110db+ range.
What 12 inch subwoofer hits the hardest? The Skar Audio Dual 12” Subwoofers in a vented enclosure hits the hardest. It has a peak power rating of 2400 watts with the RMS rating at 1200 watts.
A subwoofer with a lower electrical resistance produces a louder sound than one with a high electrical resistance, which means that 2ohm subwoofers are louder than 4ohm ones. Although louder, 2 ohm subwoofers are also more likely to produce a poorer quality of sound due to its' power consumption.
RMS power handling of a 55 series 12” dual 2 ohm voice coil subwoofer is 400 watts. Two of these subwoofers would mean you need 800 watts of power at to the total circuit impedance.
# of Speakers | Each Speaker Rating (RMS) | Recommended Amplifier Power (RMS) |
---|---|---|
1 | 100 watts | 30-100 watts |
2 | 100 watts | 60-200 watts |
3 | 100 watts | 90-300 watts |
4 | 100 watts | 120-400 watts |
The 100 watt rms is the maximum power that the receiver can provide, it won't hurt your speakers, your good to go. As a general rule your speaker rating should be higher than your amplifier rating because then you can't turn it all the way up and damage the speakers or the amp.
If you're using a factory system for power, look for new speakers with low RMS wattage and sensitivity of 90dB or higher. If you're using just an aftermarket stereo for power, look for speakers with power-handling no higher than 75 watts RMS.
In this case, about 1000 watts RMS, SSL's website rates it at 1250 RMS.
How loud is 5w RMS?
5 watts tube is as loud as a trumpet (aka very loud) cranked.
RMS stands for Root Mean Square. It's a math term that describes the average output of a speaker over time. For example, 150w RMS means a set of speakers can comfortably play 150w over several hours without a problem.