How to Match Power Amps to Speakers for PA Systems

This assumes ONE speaker per channel of a power amp with no parallel connections.

[ChrisThomasBone]

Buck, I really appreciate your videos. I'm a studio engineer starting to get into live sound, and your videos really answer a lot of questions I had about transitioning into live audio

[bacontrees]

I understand sometimes people put a thumbs down, but without explanation, I know not why. This is just math + experience in having great sounding shows.

[leeannuson]

I just have a quick question. What will happen if i use a 500 watts speaker in a 60 watts amplifier? Hope you can advise me.

[mmmbeauchamp]

Hi Buck,
What if I have on both channels : 1x15”sub 8ohms 250watts Nominal with highpass filter at 150hz on it, connected to a 12”top 8ohms 350watts. Do I add the power (250+350=600watts)?
I push those with a CerwinVega CV2800 900watts RMS/channel (limiter ON, Highpass filter OFF) Is it a good match?
Thanks and keep up the good work.

[jeremyr]

this a long shot but been looking every where for how it would best to connect with what am or amps?
2 x JBL SF25 - 500 RMS @ 4 OHMS
2 X JBL TR125 - 225 RMS @ 8 OHMS
1 X JBL 118S SUBWOOFER - 350w RMS @ 4 OHMS

[ceejaycjmusic]

Sir... if the speakers shown 300 watts ( rms ) - continuos @ 8 ohm, 600 watts - program, 1200 watts peak.... which one is average power

[arthurbradford]

Amps are always set to max output!!! You always want that extra power if you need it.
There are always exceptions to the rule. ie: Dirty high-freq amp (noisy) so run at 75% to eliminate noise.
If you're running 1200 watts (wide open amp) to 600 watt speaker (low freq) turn down your crossover NOT your amp. Always put Comp/Limiting on the output of your drive rack to protect the speakers/amps. You can reduce/gain at output of comp/limiter for output (spl) volume.
Amps run at rated outputs/spl/freq etc., at full volume output. WIDE OPEN!

[valentingheorghe]

So, you say that for a loudspeaker rated for 600 W continuous, "if I use an amplifier of 1000 W continuous per channel, I would probably have to turn it down half-way".
If you think that turning down the amplifier controls to half way or 12 o'clock position, it will deliver roughly half the power, this is not true. Why? Because the amplifier front panel rotary knobs actually control the sensitivity of the input stage, by applying positive or negative attenuation to the input signal.
Furthermore, these controls usually are not linear, but logarithmic, meaning that setting it to half way or 12 o'clock position, could lead to an attenuation of about 10 dB or more, meaning that the amplifier will deliver only about 100 W of power to a 600 W speaker.
Actually, if you use an amplifier capable to deliver 1000 W continuous per channel, in order to drive the speakers to their rated continuous power of 600 W, the amplifier front panel rotary knobs should only be turn down a few notches, to about -2 dB or -3 dB, which is way up past half way, to about 3 or 4 o'clock position.
The ratio between 1000 W and 600 W is only 2.21 dB, meaning that your amplifier onlu has 2.21 dB of headroom (reserve power) for peaks.

[jacobvalente]

Ok so if I had two speakers that totaled 2400 watts, should I get a 3000 watt amp