High power rating=better speakers?


Just curious what people's thoughts on the relevance of speaker power ratings. Does more = better? What does being able to handle more power mean? Does it mean the speaker can go louder? I am considering a speaker change. My current speakers are rated at 500W max with 91d sensitivity. The ones I am considering buying are rated at 130W with 89 db sensitivity. They are both large floor standing speakers. Should power handling have a part in my purchasing decision when evaluating speakers? I have never really concerned myself with this spec in the past but the difference between the two speakers I am looking is very large and surprising.

Thank you,
tboooe

Showing 1 response by newbee

High power ratings don't equal better speakers, except in the spec's you can calculate how loud they are designed to play before the sound/speakers or your ears distruct. Your current speakers should be able to reproduce sound at 118db +/- a db or so.

The other speakers top out at about 110db.

It is highly unlikely that you would ever listen to speakers at either volume in a home environment. Momentary peaks on very loud music might hit 110db, but rarely.

I have a pair of 92db speakers and in my moderate sized room, using a SPL meter at the listening position, listening as loud as is comfortable to my ears, my peaks are in the mid 90's and consume only a couple of watts of power.

Go for quality sound, beats quantity every time.

FWIW.