power handling?

[04_edge 10+ year member]

prolly a newb question, but whats the difference between thermal power handling and mechanical power handling.

also which one is classified as rms??

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[vvblazers777 10+ year member]

Mechanical power handling limits are reached when cone excursions exceed maximum limits. Consider a ported enclosure (also known as bass reflex, or vented enclosure), for which there is little loading of the diaphragm below a limiting frequency, after which cone motion is essentially uncontrolled. In this frequency region, the woofer can physically travel too far and be physically damaged. Thermal power handling may be reached when too much power is fed to the woofer for too long, even if not exceeding mechanical limits at any time. Energy not transferred to the air is converted to heat, almost all in the voice coil, and if not dissipated somehow, will eventually exceed the maximum temperature the voice coil can safely endure. Adhesives can melt, the voice coil former can melt or distort, or the insulation separating the voice coil windings can fail. Each of these events will damage the woofer, perhaps beyond usability.