How To Read Amplifier Power Ratings

You cannot blame amplifier manufacturers if they boast about their products as having power ratings way below what it can really do.  The competition is fierce, and whoever cannot produce the amplifier power that could simulate a sonic boom in intensity would indeed be beaten or eaten by the bigger companies.  Since you already know that as a fact, the best thing that you can do is not to believe every word they would say about their products stereo power or class power. Instead, you have to know how to read power ratings by looking at their manuals and labels and by finding out what it really means.

The following are some tips on how to help you in making a wise choice in buying the right equipment, whether it is one fit for a stadium or just a small one for your entertainment system such as a subwoofer amplifier.

1. Find out how much power it produces in watts.  If it says that it produces 300 watts to 600 watts, then it means that its normal power can be doubled.  You can actually notice the power increase if it has such a difference.
2. Check its EIA rating. The EIA or the Electronic Industry Association bases their rating on the power output of an amplifier’s single channel in mid-band.  The problem with this one is that it tends to blow up the rating by 20% at most.
3. Manufacturers tend to boast about their amplifier design’s peak power.  You may just as well take a look at this too. Peak power is the total output when all channels are engaged.  An amplifier can hold to its peak power for only a short while. Hence, this cannot really tell you how powerful the equipment is.
4. The FTC rating is the more reliable standard for reading the power. FTC or the Federal Trade Commission checks if a product passes standards.  To do so it allows the item to operate on two channels. Its result is the basis for the rating.
5. The RMS or root mean squared is probably one of the things you will notice first when you look for labels that inform you of the power the amplifier circuit can produce.  However, as a layman without the slightest background in electronics, this may be hard to understand. Besides, this one is only useful for those involved in acoustic engineering.

Understanding all those numbers in the labels about the ratings of amplifier power may really not be your line. Since you will need information about it, nevertheless, you might as well ask the help of technicians or any expert in the equipment. If you have the time, you can also search the web on related issues and discussions. Include basic knowledge in electronic power supply, wires, calculators, ratings etc.  and you may be able to read the rating yourself without help.