What's louder/ better quality?

[YoungBloodM50 10+ year member]

A sub that is 150 watts rms that actually receives 150 watts, or a 500 watt sub getting 150 rms.

I'm just curious if there is much difference.

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[FIMPALASS 10+ year member]

Really depends on the box. If you underpower subs you want an efficent box.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Not giving a speaker its maximum rated power is not "underpowering", by itself.

Power is one of the most overrated things people get hung up on...

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

depends how effecient the sub it, many subs dont need peek power to get the full output

 

[nateberrier 10+ year member]

depends how effecient the sub it, many subs dont need peek power to get the full output

I have a 15 that does 700rms in a sealed box. Im putting 400 to it maybe and its going at full steam. Put it in a decent box and youll never wonder if that smell coming from your back seat is the VC

 

[O.G. D-Wet 10+ year member]

I have a 15 that does 700rms in a sealed box. Im putting 400 to it maybe and its going at full steam. Put it in a decent box and youll never wonder if that smell coming from your back seat is the VC

wut if theyre only getting under rms?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

wut if theyre only getting under rms?

Doesn't matter...

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

silly Jim, RMS is a requirement. Speakers don't wake up until you put power on them. 750 watts to 1000 watts, isn't simly a change of a decibel or so, it's a lot! After all, it's 250 more watts... Hell, if you can't give a speaker RMS due to mechanical "issues" your supposed to cram it into a ****ing shoebox just so you can use all the power possible. Nobody cares if RMS isn't a power requirement, nobody cares that impedence rise due the excess heat actually makes the speaker quieter, nobody cares that it sounds bad. Hell, companies build most car audio companies subs suspensions to be so stiff just so it will take retard amounts of power mechanically, even free air (I've seen dd subs not bottom out with over 1000, free air) The only thing that matters is that you use every watt available to you, even according to SPL competitors I've met lol.

Edit: To answer OP's question, in general the 500 watt sub with 150 on it is usually better. The coil won't be nearly as hot so less impedence rise and less strain on the speaker as a result.