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Sub Watts?????

  • 1 August 2019
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What is the watts output on the Sonos Sub?
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Best answer by jgatie 1 August 2019, 21:03

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Sure, but to talk about watts in a self contained system where the output is only to be found as sound levels is meaningless; watts information is only useful for matching amp to speaker in a separates system.

As to speaker damage, an over powered amp can also easily blow a speaker that isn't rated for its watts, but that would need one to play it noticeably louder than how it usually is played, and is therefore easier to avoid, being usually painful to listen to when so loud, so as to prevent inadvertently blowing it; the low powered ones on the other hand can damage speakers without the speakers themselves going overtly loud, if they work the low powered amp hard enough to cause sustained clipping at even "normal" sound levels.
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Looked at yet another way: the watts number is relevant for an amp for matching it to speakers and loses relevance thereafter, when all that matters is how high the sound levels from the selected speakers can be minus distortion. And that isn't measurable in watts.

A lot of loudspeaker damage occurs when an amplifier is being worked too hard and clipping occurs. A good quality amplifier can be higher-rated than the speakers and run at high volume settings without problems. The Watts rating is more of a guide.
Looked at yet another way: the watts number is relevant for an amp for matching it to speakers and loses relevance thereafter, when all that matters is how high the sound levels from the selected speakers can be minus distortion. And that isn't measurable in watts.
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Or, looked at another way: enough.
Sonos doesn't publish specs like that because the Sub is a self-contained system. Watts mean nothing because the amps are tailored for the impedance and sensitivity of the woofers. Knowing the watts tells you nothing about the capability of the unit because it is only one factor in a bunch of inter-related specs.