RMS vs PMPO: how loud is that speaker, really?

Walk through any electronics market and you'll see speakers boasting 6,000W, 8,000W, even 10,000W. Then you'll see one next to it rated 100W that sounds louder. What's going on?

Two very different numbers

RMS (Root Mean Square) is the power a speaker can deliver continuously without distorting. It's measured with a steady test signal over time. It's the honest number.

PMPO (Peak Music Power Output) is the absolute peak a speaker might hit for a split second before something gives. There's no single standard for measuring it, so it's mostly a marketing figure — often 50 to 100 times the RMS rating.

So which should I compare?

Always compare RMS to RMS. If a box only lists PMPO, treat it as a rough "this is a big speaker" hint, not a loudness promise.

Use	RMS to look for	Simonex examples
Desk, bedroom	8–20W	Champion, Sangeet
Living room, TV sound	40–100W	Sting 6500 / 6565
House party, small hall	60–80W	Saxon 1200, 1500 Echo
Events, terraces, outdoors	150W+	Saxon 12 AS, 1090 ZX

Woofer size matters as much as watts

A bigger woofer moves more air, which is what you feel as bass. A 12" woofer at 80W RMS will feel fuller than an 8" woofer at the same rating. Our product pages list both.

Don't forget the extras

For parties, wireless microphones, a rechargeable battery and wheels often matter more than another 20 watts. All Saxon trolley speakers include them.

Compare any two speakers side by side on our compare page, or let the finder do the maths.