Determining exact power being sent to your speaker


How does one go about determining the exact amount of power being delivered by the amplifier to the speakers? Let's say the amp delivers 160w/channel at 4ohms (or so the reading materials state anyway) but yet the speaker specs show 120w maximum. My current integrated amp shows the volume
attenuation (dB units) in .5db steps ranging from -100 (min) up to 0.0 (max).

All that said, the concern is when should I be concerned about pushing too much power to the speakers and how I can determine the "Don't turn it up past this number on the display or you will damage the speakers..."
vineman55

Showing 2 responses by kijanki

Vineman55, average music power delivered to speakers is only few percent of peak power (unless you listen to sinewaves) It is because average loudness you listen to (half of peak loudness) requires only 1/10 of peak power. In addition music has gaps. I would be more concerned with damage to tweeter caused by clipping when amplifier is too weak. Clipping produces a lot high frequency energy (harmonics) that might burn out tweeter.

Vrms x Irms = Pavg. This average power is equal 0.5 of peak power for sinewave.. Pavg represents dissipated heat while rms value of power curve would be 0.62 of peak power for sinewave and it does not represent anything.