What is RMS mean in home theater system?

Question

What is RMS mean in home theater system?

Answer 1

RMS basically means at what watts a system can continually run at. A speaker could have a maximum output of 200 watts, but only 65 watts RMS. That means it can peak at 200 watts, but will only sustain or continually put out 65 watts of sound.

Answer 2

To re-iterrate a bit on previous answers if a system says it has 100 watts rms with a max or peak output of 200 watts it means that it has the ability to go as high as 200 watts but will most likely stay in the 100 watts range.

Answer 3

Honestly, it really doesn't mean anything these days.  

Most receivers and amps that are mid-to-low level can't output what the claim.

Example:   A Sony HT receiver that claims it does 100 watts x 7 channels is lying.  It can do 100 watts on any ONE of the 7 channels, but not all at the same time.   Plus, there's no real standard for rating RMS.   Look at all the the car stereo stuff...amps that claim they can do 500 watts RMS.    Yeah, right....you have to spend THOUSANDS on a home amp that can put out that much power, and it'll weigh a ton.  

/rant off.  

The true definition of RMS is Root Mean Square.

Refers truly to the voltage, and using it for wattage isn't really right.   Average Power is a more correct term.

Basic rule of thumb is, the higher the RMS is, the more power your amp can put out.   Higher is always better.

Answer 4

Ponytail gave a great answer - good work.

There are LOTS of ways to measure power. Honest companies   use Root Mean Square.  Dishonest companies use "Peak" or "Peak Envelope Power" (PEP) - this basically measures the power on the highest point of a sound wave.

BUT WAIT - THERES MORE:

You need to read the fine print on power numbers.  Honest companies will admit they measure power:

- Using RMS power (peak power makes the system look more powerful)

- Using an 8 ohm load (6 or 4 ohm load makes the system look more powerful)

- All channels driven (Using only 2 channels "stereo" mode makes the system look more powerful)

- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) should be less that 0.1% (Letting distortion reach 1% is audible, but makes thte system look more powerful).

Check with us if you are considering a system that claims more than about 150 watts per channel.  We will try to expose the tricks they use.

Answer 5

You want the real answer? Well here goes.

It stands for 'Root, Mean, Square'.  Basically, in electrical terms it means that the wattage, in this case, is measured three different ways. An average is obtained by adding the Root Wattage, the Mean Wattage, and the Square Wattage, and dividing by three to obtain the True R.M.S. Wattage. These measurements have to be accurate. Peak output is rarely accurate.

In layman's terms this means that it will run at that power all the time, and not just for Peak intervals.

If you paid $100.00 for the Home Theater System, It's probably measured in Peak Wattage. If you paid $1000.00 for a Home Theater System, and especially if it contains M.O.S.F.E.T. in the Amp, it is most likely True R.M.S. Wattage.

For example: a good Receiver with 65 Watts R.M.S. will blow away a Receiver with 500 Watts Peak, which probably really means 100 Watts Peak times five channels.Happy shopping!

P.S. A receiver is an Amp with a Tuner built in.

Answer 6

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