RMS vs. Peak power

When buying a new amp, these two terms can be confusing

Don’t be confused by “Peak Power”. That just represents the highest amount of power that can be handled by the amp for a short period of time. RMS is a better measurement of an amp’s overall power rating as it represents the power that the amp can put out consistently and operate properly.

Think of RMS as the top speed your car can drive while operating properly. I’d say for most normal cars, that is about 65-80 MPH (100 – 120 KPH). Think of Peak Power as the car’s absolute top speed. You could drive that car 150 MPH (240 KPH), but the car would not be able to do it for very long.