Components, individual rms ratings

[SpArKy]

Hi

I have these focals in the front of my 2015
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-0qfXsvxhlUj/p_091PS165F3/Focal-Performance-PS-165F3.html

Im just playing with ideas at the minute but am considering going full DSP and giving a channel to each speaker and ditching the crossovers.

My question is, how do i know what RMS power for each so i can choose the correct amp?

The kit as a whole says 80W RMS but id have thought that's split up amongst the 3, i couldnt for instance run 6 80w channels.

Some help would be great

Thanks

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[UserName]

Generally speaking you can always use an amp with more power than the rms rating of the speakers. This can give you headroom for dynamics of the music. You can always turn the amp down and the dsp will help balance everything out. I wouldn’t recommend overpowering the speakers to excess though.

For example, I have three two channel amps for my front stage. Each amp is capable of 270 watts rms at 4 ohms for each channel. The mid bass drivers get every bit of it while the mids and tweets are six ohm drivers and can receive 190 watts per channel, but they are turned down to approximately 130 watts per channel. The speakers will usually only see a very small portion of the potential rms unless you are trying to make your ears bleed.

 

[SpArKy]

Generally speaking you can always use an amp with more power than the rms rating of the speakers. This can give you headroom for dynamics of the music. You can always turn the amp down and the dsp will help balance everything out. I wouldn’t recommend overpowering the speakers to excess though.

For example, I have three two channel amps for my front stage. Each amp is capable of 270 watts rms at 4 ohms for each channel. The mid bass drivers get every bit of it while the mids and tweets are six ohm drivers and can receive 190 watts per channel, but they are turned down to approximately 130 watts per channel. The speakers will usually only see a very small portion of the potential rms unless you are trying to make your ears bleed.

so 3 amps @ 2x80W RMS each would be acceptable and set the gain accordingly? or is it actually better to have an overpowered amp running comfortably? rather than an amp that matches the RMS at peak. such as 2x100, or 2x125 or something?

i'd always read that you should match the RMS of the amp to the speakers, is that just a general rule of thumb for noobs then?

 

[UserName]

I think it’s a good guideline for safe operation to get somewhat close to rms but certainly not necessary. An 80 watts per channel amp should be plenty for what you have now and work well if you are conservative with the gains. It will also leave you some wiggle room to upgrade the drivers later if desired. There may be some four channel amps that could fit the bill too.

 

[SpArKy]

I think it’s a good guideline for safe operation to get somewhat close to rms but certainly not necessary. An 80 watts per channel amp should be plenty for what you have now and work well if you are conservative with the gains. It will also leave you some wiggle room to upgrade the drivers later if desired. There may be some four channel amps that could fit the bill too.

thanks mate.

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