Does a power mixer's watt capacity have to be more than the speaker's watt program?

Question

I have a pair of Peavey PR10 non-powered speakers. I am looking to purchase a power mixer to go with my PV6 non-powered mixer. The speakers each have a 400 watt program and an 800 watt peak. Would I need to get a power amp that has at least 400 watts, or would you need at least 800 watts because there are two speakers? Or would you need 1600 watts for both speakers?

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

You don't have to match amp and speaker power exactly, but the speakers should be equal to or rated higher than the amp.  You can use a 100 watt amp and 400 watt speakers.  As long as you have enough power in the amp to drive the speakers well, you're fine.  You don't want a 400 watt amp and 100 watt speakers because you could burn out the speakers by overdriving them.

Answer 2

Amp power is a measure of the maximum power it can produce.  Speaker power is a measure of the maximum power it can accept.

If the amp is rated higher than the speakers, then it's too much for the speakers to handle.  But if the max output of the amp is less than the speakers, then the speakers will take it all with no problem.

Some heavy high end speakers require a certain minimum amount of power in order to get full efficiency out of them, even at low volumes, but that's not a measure of power, really.  It relies more on professional knowledge of matching amp and speaker systems.

Answer 3

You don't need the powered mixer AND the mixer because the powered mixer is a mixer and power amp.  Here are the combinations:

mixer - amp - speakers

powered mixer - speakers

mixer - powered speakers

All of these combinations will work.

Don't worry too much about the power ratings etc.  What damages speakers is distortion!!  Watch the "peak" lights on your amplifier.  They should only light up occasionally if at all.