Speaker watts? 1000?

Hi and thanks for looking. Please help! This one's really bothering me.

About a month ago I bought these speakers for my new HDTV:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Speaker-System-Z523-Subwoofer/dp/B002FU5QMK/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1275526126&sr=8-9

I love them; they sound amazing. They are plugged into my TV by a 3.5mm plug cable that splits into a red and a white 3.5mm plugs. The thing is, my sister is telling me that many 5.1 surround systems have 1,000 watts of power (about 200 watts per speaker, give or take?). My speakers cost $80 and only have 40 watts, although that seems to be RMS and not a peak.

So what I want to know is if I overspent on just 40 watt speakers, or if 1,000+ watts on surround systems is just marketing bliss.

Most surround sound receivers put out around 100 watts rms per channel, give or take.

Since when was wattage have to do with loudness or quality? Though I know nothing about speakers, so don't take my word.

I would hazard a guess at that 1000W is the peak. My friend has a 1200W car sub, trying to drive it at 1200W would destory it in a matter of seconds. Also wattage doesnt mean everything. A 3000W system doesnt seem that powerful but when someone tells you that its 3000W at 130db then its bloody loud!

I would hazard a guess at that 1000W is the peak. My friend has a 1200W car sub, trying to drive it at 1200W would destory it in a matter of seconds. Also wattage doesnt mean everything. A 3000W system doesnt seem that powerful but when someone tells you that its 3000W at 130db then its bloody loud!

clyde46

Anything that has descriptors like "max power, dynamic power" can be ignored. I used to have sony xplodes in my truck that had 1200w stamped on them, but the rms (their actual average power) was 350 watts.

To explain real wattage (say rms watts) and not peak....in the most simple way.

If you crank a 40 watt speaker loud, it will become distorted rather quickly.

A 200 watt speaker can retain clarity at much louder volumes than a 40 watt speaker.

So basically, more watts = more clarity at higher volumes.