Im not sure if your looking for the techincal meaning of RMS or the genereal use term or whatever lol. But on an amp, it means the "true" amount of watts given constantly. Don't go by max on sumthin, go by the rms!(sub, amp, cd player...) on a sub, it means the amount of watts needed constantly. You wanna match up a subs rms with the amps rms (or have them close) and on a cd player, its the "true" amount of watts given out constantly.
no, i just told you. the defintion of RMS is .707 time that of the peak rating.
many audio companies just use the term "RMS" to desrcibe the "continuous" rating in which their equipment is rated at. most of the time, the continuous rating is about 50% of the max rating.
listen by definition RMS is .707 times that of the peak, BUT audiocomapanies use the term RMS to describe their continuous ratings.
if they truly used RMS as it was meant to be used, then thier nubers would be higher.the rule of thumb is whatever your PEAK ratings are, then about half of that is your Continuous rating(what the audiocompanies LIKE to call the RMS rating).
kinda like how the "gain" on an amplifier isn't really a "gain", b/c it isn't boosting voltage, rather it is an input sensitivity that matches your HU line voltage to that of the amp.
Well if its 1 of those top o the line very expensive brands - then the usually its 1/2 theory 'may' apply .
But when it comes to the very cheaper brands its more like 1/5 or less of the MAX WATTS ratings especially when it comes to speakers/subs - they print in 1 1/2 " size letters 1000 WATTS MAX ! , when u look @ the 1/4" print it'll say 200wrms (thats if u are lucky -lol)
I've seen 400w max then in tiny print 80wrms 700w max then 80wrms & many other bold lies ......
as noted, RMS by definition is the root mean square or .707 * peak measure of the sine wave, but in regards to audio amplifiers, generally the term RMS simply means "peak continuous" power output. The way to go with measuring output of an amplifier is to use the CEA measure for RMS or continuous output. That measure will be accurate.