QUOTE(Poadster @ Jun 20 2012, 01:39 PM)
Errr... RMS is a average max power rating, that defines how much power (thus volume and SQ and details the speaker gets) from the amp or HU. Its a indication of the average max electrical current the speakers can receive.... and matching them to a higher RMS amp is the fastest way to kill the voice coils....
Also, an amp churning 100W RMS will send an max 100W to the speakers, and the 90W speakers will still get 100W power, it only can output 90W (based on its own ratings...)... the extra current is the best way to burn them speaker voice coils and suspensions....
But then again, what do i know about ICE and SQL (hah hah hah)....
Well extra RMS draw doesn't necessarily kills off your voice coils and suspensions IMHO. You are forgetting that your amps don't run at 100% efficiency (apart from Class A amps).
A basic rule is to work out your speaker's RMS power rating and impedance loading on each amplifier channel, then make sure the amplifier is capable of delivering 50 - 100% RMS power above the speaker's RMS power rating. An example would be, 1 x 200watt RMS 4 Ohm speaker per channel should have an amplifier capable of delivering 300 - 400watts RMS per channel at 4 Ohms, and if you use 2 x 200watt RMS 4 Ohm speakers per channel and you require an amplifier capable of delivering 600 - 800watts RMS at 4ohms, and so on.
It all depends on individuals actually. I drive my tweeters & mids each with 200W RMS. Am I over-killing my speakers & tweets? Theoretically it may look like I am but I am also considering the efficiency rate the amplifier runs at and the gain its set to deliver.
***YES....the speakers will get 100W RMS if you feed them 100W RMS actively but if you're running them passives - that's what your crossovers are there for....
This post has been edited by Xai-V-iaX: Jun 20 2012, 02:03 PM