Kavin Tyler 
Speakers are essential parts of a home theater or music system. However, most people don’t know the answer to a simple question: How many watts should my speakers have? This blog will discuss how many watts are good speakers.
How many watts do I need for my speakers?
The number of watts a speaker has is proportional to the amount of sound power delivered. In other words, if you have a pair of speakers rated at 10 Watts, it will be able to play at relatively higher volumes than a pair of speakers with a 5 Watts rating.
An average home theatre set usually has two front speakers, two rear speakers and a subwoofer. The good idea is to check the power rating of your receiver or amplifier, then match it up with that of your speaker system.
If, for example, you have a 5-channel amplifier with 60 Watts per channel, then your front speakers should be rated at least 15-20 Watts each. In addition, the enclosure design of your speakers will also affect their sound quality and power handling requirements.
Speakers with a ported enclosure usually provide a better bass response than those with sealed compartments. Nevertheless, a ported square can handle more power than its sealed counterpart, especially in the lower frequencies.
The efficiency of a speaker is also an essential factor to consider. It determines how loud you can play your speakers with a given amount of power. Generally, most home theatre speakers are more than 90dB efficient.
What are Speaker Watts??
In the most general meaning, a watt is a unit measuring power. It describes the rate at which electric energy is converted from one form to another. In this case, watts explain how powerful your speakers are in sound volume.
Ideally, a speaker with 50 Watts or more can be easily heard even when placed far away from your TV or stereo. However, it is recommended that you use speakers with less than 50 Watts if you own a small room.
If the volume level in the room is beyond what your speaker can handle, it can cause distortion, permanent damage and poor sound quality. It might lead to unwanted trips to the repair store.
Matching Amplifier to Speaker Wattage
Although most modern home theatre receivers or amplifiers are multi-channel surround sound, the volume output is still limited. Thus there’s a need to match your receiver/amplifier’s wattage with that of your speakers.
Speakers can be rated according to their minimum impedance. Speakers with higher minimum impedance are harder to drive and need more power. Speakers with lower minimum impedance need less energy and are thus recommended for receivers with smaller wattage outputs.
There’s also a new term called RMS watts which is the true continuous power of an amplifier or receiver. It is essential to match between your speaker and receiver/amplifier to avoid sound distortion and poor sound quality.
Some speakers are also designed with high-quality amps that have built-in short circuit protection to prevent them from any damage in case your receiver/amplifier fails.
Is a Higher Watt Speaker Better?
A higher watt speaker is not automatically better. When shopping for speakers, you need to consider other factors apart from the number of watts. For example, two speakers with 100 Watts ratings may deliver different sound quality even when played at the same volume level because one is more efficient or ported while the other is a sealed enclosure.
Conclusion
So to answer the question, “how many watts do I need for my speakers” – It depends on your amp or receiver. If you have a high-quality multi-channel amplifier, then go with speakers with higher minimum impedance and more power handling capability. The emphasis here is on multi-channel because if your receiver/amplifier is only 2-channel, it will be more difficult for your speakers to handle high power.
FAQs
What is the best wattage for a home theatre?
Ideally, a home theatre system would require at least 100Watts for each centre and front speaker. You can go as low as 50 Watts per channel for the rear speakers and subwoofer.
What is the best wattage for surround sound?
Surround sound isn’t limited to 5.1 or 7.2 channels only. It is an audio format with more than two sound channels coming from more than two-room directions. It creates an immersive experience for movie watchers and home theatre fans alike.
What is the best wattage for music?
100Watts or more minor per channel is sufficient for your speakers to give good quality music.
What is the best wattage for my car?
You can go as low as 50 Watts per channel for your car speakers. However, keep in mind that they’re not built to last, and you may need to replace them after a few months of use.
Should speakers have more watts than AMP?
Yes. A speaker with higher power handling capability is recommended for power-hungry amplifiers because the amplifier will not send out more watts than required.
