Amplifier Power Calculator

How Much Amplifier Power Do You Need?

The amount of amplifier power you need depends on three main factors: your room size, your speakers' sensitivity rating, and how loud you want to listen. Speaker sensitivity (measured in dB at 1 watt/1 meter) is the most important factor — a speaker rated at 91 dB needs half the power of one rated at 88 dB to play at the same volume.

For a typical living room (200-400 sq ft) with average sensitivity speakers (85-90 dB), 50-100 watts per channel covers most listening scenarios comfortably. Dedicated home theaters or large rooms may need 100-200 watts, especially if you want reference-level playback (105 dB peaks). The "headroom" figure accounts for dynamic peaks in music and movie soundtracks — having extra power prevents clipping distortion during loud passages.

Once you know your power requirements, make sure your speaker cables can handle the load. Use our Speaker Wire Gauge Calculator to find the right cable for your setup.