Probably not solely an SQ discussion thread, but you tend to get more informed replies in here.
When I bought my set of Boston Pro 6.4's nearly a decade ago, they were rated at up to 80watt rms (from memory!!). The new 6.5 series will happily soak up 20-400 watts according to their website.
Anyone who knows me knows I think those 6.4's were the clearest, most detailed and loudest damn speakers I've yet to hear, and the copped a whopping 55wrms from a PG M series amp. Even off 40wrms from a RF BBQ amp they still brought home the bacon.
What's gone wrong with the world? I conceed "headroom" is a wonderful thing, but I couldn't for the life of me stand to listen to my Boston's at full noise for more than a song at a time: it was too damn loud. So, unless the sensitivity of speakers built in the last few years have dropped to Besser Brick proportions, wouldn't 8 times the power going into what is probably a fairly similar speaker rip your head off?
I'm not picking on Boston here - i'm using them as an example, as I've used them. People go looking for a 2x100 wrms amp "of quality" to power a set of $250 splits these days - has marketeering really gone this far? Do I need to upgrade my pissy little 50x2 Soundstream amp because it isnt going to drive my new splits "properly"?
/rant.
Full Version: Speaker ratings....... what has changed in 10 years?
Damn interesting question there.
I suppose a few things have changed in the past few years, in particular people's understanding of power handling of speakers, as well as the relative cost on amplification.
At the end of the day, speaker manufacturers simply can't manufacturer speakers with glowingly obvious sensitivity shortcomings compared to other competitive models - even with cheap power for the pickings - as the speakers are invariably compared in a back-to-back switched demo on a board and people will often choose the 'louder' speaker over the quieter one. This is an old sales trick.
Buy the speakers you like to sound of, then apply as much power as you need to achieve the volume required. If this isn't loud enough, add more speakers and power power as required.
Ignore watts until there's some meaningful comparitive measurement available. While the new CE2006 rating system is a stepo forward for ampifiers, what it does to help speaker choice is debatable.
I suppose a few things have changed in the past few years, in particular people's understanding of power handling of speakers, as well as the relative cost on amplification.
At the end of the day, speaker manufacturers simply can't manufacturer speakers with glowingly obvious sensitivity shortcomings compared to other competitive models - even with cheap power for the pickings - as the speakers are invariably compared in a back-to-back switched demo on a board and people will often choose the 'louder' speaker over the quieter one. This is an old sales trick.
Buy the speakers you like to sound of, then apply as much power as you need to achieve the volume required. If this isn't loud enough, add more speakers and power power as required.
Ignore watts until there's some meaningful comparitive measurement available. While the new CE2006 rating system is a stepo forward for ampifiers, what it does to help speaker choice is debatable.
"I couldn't for the life of me stand to listen to my Boston's at full noise for more than a song at a time: it was too damn loud. "
I'm sure you know what your doing, but just to confirm you sure it's not speaker distortion that's making them painful to listen to at full volume?
I'm sure you know what your doing, but just to confirm you sure it's not speaker distortion that's making them painful to listen to at full volume?
From another point of view, NOTHING!
The audio industry is still blowing power figures out of proportion to the point that most people are "taught" to ask for things by how many watts "it has" without knowing why they are asking and then when they are given the answer, still don't know what it really means.
I'm not bagging "the public".
I'm bagging this industry and it's excessive use of marketing hype. I've been guilty, our reps have, and also the manufacturers.
[end RANT /end] :oops:
The audio industry is still blowing power figures out of proportion to the point that most people are "taught" to ask for things by how many watts "it has" without knowing why they are asking and then when they are given the answer, still don't know what it really means.
I'm not bagging "the public".
I'm bagging this industry and it's excessive use of marketing hype. I've been guilty, our reps have, and also the manufacturers.
[end RANT /end] :oops:
great question!...ive only just jumped back into it after.....perhaps 5 yrs or so?....and i feel a little bewildered at the rate at which things have progressed!.....
the variety is mind blowing, what i thought i knew about this or that a few yrs ago just doesnt apply so much anymore
the variety is mind blowing, what i thought i knew about this or that a few yrs ago just doesnt apply so much anymore
2 things have changed. 1 brands like PG/RF/Boston that underated to the max back then are now up against brands that are at the opposite extreme, and pump up figures to the point specs are basically useless.
2 Most brands that a few years ago wouldnt go near a PMPO rating now often use them so they arent unfairly compared with the pump the figures up crowd.
As stated above ppl often tell me I got a 1000w sub and some 250 w splits etc, at which I nod and think to my self, that doesnt even make sense. Speakers use power and arent like the motor in a car that makes power. The classic is when they say theu have a 1000 w amp too, and I find out its a bo$$. Hmmm anyway like I say forget the specs and just listen, to watt is what, as for me, specs are mostly useless, even just as a rough guide, as they are so inaccurate from so many brands and probably the least informative thing about a car audio product.
As we never know at any point in time what power we are using, due to Musics transient nature, it seems specs are basically for bragging rights only, and as they are not set in stone, thats like bragging about a cars quater mile time, when never having run one "it shoud do low 10s mate "
peace
Cyberpunky
2 Most brands that a few years ago wouldnt go near a PMPO rating now often use them so they arent unfairly compared with the pump the figures up crowd.
As stated above ppl often tell me I got a 1000w sub and some 250 w splits etc, at which I nod and think to my self, that doesnt even make sense. Speakers use power and arent like the motor in a car that makes power. The classic is when they say theu have a 1000 w amp too, and I find out its a bo$$. Hmmm anyway like I say forget the specs and just listen, to watt is what, as for me, specs are mostly useless, even just as a rough guide, as they are so inaccurate from so many brands and probably the least informative thing about a car audio product.
As we never know at any point in time what power we are using, due to Musics transient nature, it seems specs are basically for bragging rights only, and as they are not set in stone, thats like bragging about a cars quater mile time, when never having run one "it shoud do low 10s mate "
peace
Cyberpunky
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