Wattage calculations

[pensacol 10+ year member]

How well does the V x V / ohm equation compare to actual output wattage? Is it even close? I guess what I am trying to say here is I just measures my JL Audio 250/1 and it output 32.8 volts, so that would come to 32.8 x 32.8 / 2 ohms = 537.2 watts. This is with the gain about 1/4 of the way up, 12db octave, set at 42 hz, and 3db boost. Can it be possible to get this much wattage out of this amp with the setting like this or is this calculation not that accurate?

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[thch 10+ year member]

depneds on context.

if you want to know possible power output it will give a rough estimate

if you want to know the actual power to the load during test, it will be off.

gain is not volume. 1/4th up does not correspond to anything meaningful.

42hz seems a bit low.

JL's amp's have adjustable power supplies (RIPS). if you are measuring the output unloaded, then the highest supply will be used, and the results wlll not be accurate.

 

[Stel 10+ year member]

Amps can put out more than their rated power but the signal will be clipped and distorted. Low levels of distortion won't be noticeable.

 

[pensacol 10+ year member]

Yeah I knew they had RIPS, so they put out the same wattage at 1.5-4 ohms and through like 12-14.4 volts, so that kinda confused me on the calculations. That reading was taken with a load on playing a 50 HZ tone. But if I divide that voltage by 4 ohms (which is within the range of the same output wattage) I come up with 256 watts which sounds more logical. The crossover is set at 42 hz and you said that is to low. What should I set it at?