What Does Watts on Speakers Mean?

There is a lot of confusion regarding the effect of watts on speakers. Questions such as "Does wattage affect the loudness and clarity of a speaker?" and "Should you go for a high wattage rating and ignore the audio quality of the speaker?" are raised.

The problematic issue with speaker wattage is that there is no exact definition. You can think of it as either the overall power that a speaker can handle from the amplifier or the amplifier power that a speaker requires.

Watts are significant when buying speakers, but you should also consider speaker quality. You can improve the sound of your speakers by pairing them with an amplifier. However, you must ensure that it is not paired with an amplifier whose output capabilities exceed the speaker's wattage. This way, you will get the ideal sound quality.

Learn more about watts on speakers so that you are aware of how many watts are necessary for speakers to create excellent sound quality.

Watts in Speakers Explained

Everyone has the same expectation that their speaker will produce the highest possible sound quality. And most of the time, as users, we expect a sound that completely fills the space, has clear treble, deep bass, and a rich middle range. Undeniably, speaker watt is indeed one factor that should be understood and considered if we want a high sound quality. 

Now, you might be curious about "What does watts mean in speakers?". The term "watts" refers to the amount of power that a speaker can handle. People in the past frequently used an amplifier with low wattage and a speaker with a higher wattage, which is a good practice. Nowadays, manufacturers will inform you how many watts each speaker can handle. To avoid damaging your speakers, you must ensure that the amplifier you pick does not provide more power than the speakers can safely handle.

In most cases, manufacturers will give two different power levels for both the speakers and the amplifiers.

For speakers:

• Nominal power: The amount of power a speaker can safely handle over time without damage.
• Peak power: The maximum amount of power a speaker can handle for brief periods without harm.

For amplifiers:

• RMS: A measurement of the average power that an amplifier can produce over time.
• Peak: The maximum amount of power an amplifier can produce in a brief time.

What Are Decibels and Levels and How Do They Affect Wattage in Speakers?

When shopping for audio speakers, watts are only part of the equation when it comes to determining sound quality. Other important factors to consider are decibels and levels.

The loudness of a speaker is measured in decibels, abbreviated as dB. These decibels are a logarithmic unit of loudness, implying that a relatively small rise in the number might correspond to a higher increase in loudness. For instance, if the dB level of a speaker goes from 40 dB to 80 dB, the decibels are doubled, but the perceived loudness will be much higher.

SPL is an abbreviation for "Sound Pressure Level", It is also frequently referred to as sensitivity and efficiency. The value of this parameter represents a speaker's overall volume. A higher SPL level indicates a louder speaker.

Let's say you have two amps; the first has a power rating of 10 watts, and the second has a power rating of 20 watts. Based on the rating, the second one has twice the power of the first. Despite this, there is only a 3 dB rise in the SPL when the wattage is doubled.

Meanwhile, for a speaker to be twice as loud as a 10-watt speaker, a 10 dB increase is required. So, although the second 20-watt amp will be somewhat louder than the first 10-watt amp, it will not produce twice as much sound.

How Many Watts Is Good for Speakers

You may have questions like "How many watts do I need for my speakers? or “What is a good wattage for outdoor speakers". Basically, a speaker with either 50 or 100 watts of power is suitable for large or outdoor events. But this level of power would not be suitable for home usage.

More wattage is required for anyone who hosts parties and events. If you have a powerful amplifier and speakers, this will allow your speakers to play at higher volumes without distorting the sound. We recommend you choose the soundcore Boom 2 Plus speaker for those who love parties. 

On the other hand, between 15 and 30 watts is the ideal range for the wattage of the speaker for home use. The majority of homeowners believe that 20 watts are an appropriate amount. In this case, the soundcore Motion+ will be perfect for homebodies.

FAQ

1. Are Higher Watt Speakers Better?

The answer is yes; the speakers will play at a louder volume and with less distortion at a higher wattage. However, slight variations in power do not result in an audible change in the sound.

2. Do Watts Tell You How Loud a Speaker Is?

Yes. For instance, speakers with 1200 watts can produce a louder sound than speakers with 1000 watts.

3. Does More Watts Mean More Bass?

Yes, if you're using an external subwoofer, more watts equal more bass. The power of the subwoofer is determined by its wattage, so a higher-wattage subwoofer produces more bass.

Conclusion

Does this article answer your question about what do watts mean for speakers? When shopping for speakers, watts are almost always a significant consideration. Pick speakers with a lower wattage rating if you're only going to use them inside your house or even your small room, and pick speakers with a greater wattage rating if you're planning to use them for parties or other outdoor events.