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High power rating=better speakers?

Just curious what people's thoughts on the relevance of speaker power ratings. Does more = better? What does being able to handle more power mean? Does it mean the speaker can go louder? I am considering a speaker change. My current speakers are rated at 500W max with 91d sensitivity. The ones I am considering buying are rated at 130W with 89 db sensitivity. They are both large floor standing speakers. Should power handling have a part in my purchasing decision when evaluating speakers? I have never really concerned myself with this spec in the past but the difference between the two speakers I am looking is very large and surprising.

Thank you,
128x128tboooe

Showing 2 responses by gregm

gregm
3,395 posts
 
As above -- indeed, some of the best drive units are not garanteed to withstand even 50W continuous.
BTW, do keep in mind that drive units are the ultimate limitation and most (including the ones your spkrs are wearing) won't take 100W energy let alone 500 -- for more than 1-2 msec. So, please don;t blast them!
gregm
3,395 posts
 
6db is a percieved increase of double
6db change in spl *IS* a doubling -- whether it's perceived as such or not.
To achieve a 3db increase in SPL you need to double the "power" as warnerwh notes.
In simple terms, +3dB gives you a sqt2 increase in sound pressure level (spl), i.e. ~1,4.
the 87 db sensitivity had much larger Xmax specs on the drivers
Hardly. This has to do with the driver construction -- not its rated sensitivity. And do disabuse yourself: your 87dB driver will need 4x the power to match the 93dB driver. So, on paper alone, at 25W for one means 100W for the other. Don't tempt the voice coils by playing the speaker at 100+ levels for too long or the drivers will kick the bucket (or melt, or both):).
OTOH, we rarely listen at 93+dB continuous -- or do we?
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