speaker wattage question

[vitaminJ]

I have "200 watt" logitech z2300 speakers - what is the *typical* electricity use? :confused: Does it depend on volume? If it always drains 200 watts I think i'll start turning them off most of the time! Thanks in advance :)

[Tijuana]

I believe it only does 200 watts at full power.

[willy]

You may want to get one of this ... http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6676503&bmUID=1221243069395&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443279714&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

[budric]

On speakers like logitech the 200 watts is peak power. Which the speaker may be able to sustain for fraction of a second before blowing up. The maximum RMS (average/ root mean square) power is much less. And also you usually don't listen to them at the maximum volume so your power usage is even less because you don't want to destroy your ears. If I had to pick a number I'd say it's 10 watts.

[vitaminJ]

You may want to get one of this ... http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6676503&bmUID=1221243069395&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443279714&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

Thank you willy, i think i will get one of those. I heard of these before, very handy. Test all the electricity usage in the house, cool.

Good to know if something is a few watts or a few hundred.

[Tijuana]

On speakers like logitech the 200 watts is peak power. Which the speaker may be able to sustain for fraction of a second before blowing up. The maximum RMS (average/ root mean square) power is much less. And also you usually don't listen to them at the maximum volume so your power usage is even less because you don't want to destroy your ears. If I had to pick a number I'd say it's 10 watts.

Check the specs, it is 200 rms, 400 peak.

[budric]

Check the specs, it is 200 rms, 400 peak.

I see. It sounds very very high to me, that's why I just assumed it was peak.

[kay188]

VERY rarely that you will ever hit the max RMS of the speakers.

I blast my Z-680s, and i'm not even hitting the max RMS of 500watts.

[vitaminJ]

To answer my own original post in case anyone cares, I got the energy meter. "200 watt" z2300 speakers use 4 watts off, and 13 watts when on but not making any sound. Playing music with 40% bass and 40% volume (100% windows volume) uses between 14 and 51 watts, and averaged 25-ish.

So shutting them off when not in use saves a whole 9 watts. And the super bright blue LED won't keep me awake at night either. :)

Thanks again to willy for the energy meter idea, i plan to test everything in my house. One small caveat for anyone planning to get one: though the part number is the same as the one online, and the online info says 3 year warranty, mine has different packaging and only a 1 year warranty.

Cheers.

[Tijuana]

To answer my own original post in case anyone cares, I got the energy meter. "200 watt" z2300 speakers use 4 watts off, and 13 watts when on but not making any sound. Playing music with 40% bass and 40% volume (100% windows volume) uses between 14 and 51 watts, and averaged 25-ish.

So shutting them off when not in use saves a whole 9 watts. And the super bright blue LED won't keep me awake at night either. :)

Thanks again to willy for the energy meter idea, i plan to test everything in my house. One small caveat for anyone planning to get one: though the part number is the same as the one online, and the online info says 3 year warranty, mine has different packaging and only a 1 year warranty.

Cheers.

Can you do me a favour? Turn it up to full volume, both on windows audio settings, winamp(or whatever your using) and on the speakers and look at the energy meter. Play a song that is heavy on bass and see if it ever reaches near 200.