Speaker Power RatingsSpeaker Power Ratings

ContinuousContinuous: eg. 120 watts: eg. 120 watts Refers to the Refers to the level of long term average power that the level of long term average power that the loudspeaker will handle.loudspeaker will handle.

It is usually measured using a sine wave or It is usually measured using a sine wave or weighted noise inputweighted noise input

Program PowerProgram Power Handling:Handling: eg. 240 watts eg. 240 watts Is measured using a test signal that Is measured using a test signal that

approximates a real world program signal. approximates a real world program signal. Actual program signals have less long term Actual program signals have less long term heating effect for a given power level.heating effect for a given power level.

Speaker Power RatingsSpeaker Power Ratings Peak Power Handling:Peak Power Handling: eg. 480 watts eg. 480 watts Refers to the maximum instantaneous, short Refers to the maximum instantaneous, short

term power that loud speaker will handle, term power that loud speaker will handle, short term refers to intervals under a second, short term refers to intervals under a second, generally no more than 1/10th of a second.generally no more than 1/10th of a second.

Manufacturers tend to rate their speakers for Manufacturers tend to rate their speakers for more power handling than they can actually more power handling than they can actually handlehandle

You should underestimate the amount of You should underestimate the amount of PROGRAM power that a speaker is rated at PROGRAM power that a speaker is rated at and use that as the actual power that the and use that as the actual power that the speaker will handle in “real life” speaker will handle in “real life” environments.environments.