I did a little lookin' around in this section and didn't find anything:

So , what difference would be made if I got with a reciever with 18watts RMS, rather than one with 25watts RMS. I'm just getting started with my first stereo ever so I'll just be running the speakers off the headunit (because of budget)

P.S.--- I listened to the speakers I'm buying. Focal Reference 6 1/2's up front, 6x9's in the rear powered by a 22RMS reciever and it sounded great.

 

If you are running speakers off the deck, get the one with the higher rms output.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by a98tegLS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you are running speakers off the deck, get the one with the higher rms output.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Take headunit RMS ratings with a grain of salt, for example 25 Alpine watts is more than 25 sony watts. Best idea is to listen and find something you like

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Xsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Take headunit RMS ratings with a grain of salt, for example 25 Alpine watts is more than 25 sony watts. Best idea is to listen and find something you like</TD></TR></TABLE>


Not really. They are all starting to use a standardized test now, so the ratings should all tell the truth between bands now (SHOULD..).

Still doesn't tell you which one has better sound quality, or which one is actually going to hold up and last a long while for you... and with your two companies you listed Alpine would fair a hell of a lot better than sony.

 

Thats cool if they are standardizing it now, I remember a while ago some guy testing some that were supposed to be the same but there was a 10w difference. Will try and find the link

 

A lot of these companies use the ILSI rating. My Phoenix Gold amp is rated at 18.5x4 and kills my roommates 100x4.

btw - ILSI = If Lightning Strikes It