Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio What does RMS mean??

I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean an AC voltage that is rated at 110v but actually goes higher than 110v ? That would be like rating RMS voltage?

Are we talking wattage, voltage or amperage? The AC amperage and voltage RMS values will be lower than peak, period.
The Peak is actually the top of the AC peak but if you line up all the peaks (absolute value of all positive and negative peaks) and draw a line from peak to peak, you will see that there is plenty of space under that line, but above the area where the peaks overlap. This space represents periods where the current is lower than peak. Rectified AC current has a ripple effect to it where a true DC source does not. Therefore the RMS value is always less than peak and an AC Peak current of 110 amps is less than 110 amps DC continuous.
If it is rated in watts as resistors usually are, then they would be able to handle equal amounts of power as you say because its a different measurement.

Good reading Here

Excellent explanation in above link, particularly the diag., thanks KnuKonceptz.

warmonger: When we refer to say, household electricity as 110vac, it is the rms voltage that is being referred to not the peak. When applied to a 110 ohm resistor 1 amp (rms) current flows producing 110 watts of heating power; the same effect as 110vdc.

Funny, that link shows what I was trying to explain. I was not aware that all house AC voltage was listed as an RMS rating. Where I live they call it 120v and then the appliances are rated at 110v.
Since we're all on the same page...

Also keep in mind that while playing music, you will only be using a fraction of the RMS power on a continuous basis, even if playing your system very loud.