| Root mean square, usually referred to simply as rms, is a mathematical term prevalent in many different fields, including electrical engineering and statistics. The term refers to the process of deriving the square root of the average of a group of numbers
and is one of the primary methods of measuring electrical output in volts and watts of an AC wave.
One of its more recognizable uses of root mean square in regards to computer hardware is as a measurement of power for audio amplifiers, or speakers. Sometimes you’ll see speakers measured using a peak power. This refers to the maximum amount of power a set
of speakers can handle at once. However, obtaining a root mean square measurement is considered a far better indicator of the quality of the speakers, not to mention a better way to rate the amplifier power. This is because a root mean square measurement
is the maximum amount of power a speaker set can handle throughout the lifetime of the speakers.
Speakers are usually rated with a peak or rms measurement, although high-end speaker units tend to use a root mean square measurement, posting an rms power rating somewhere on the individual speaker units.
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