If you’re shopping for a karaoke speaker and feel drawn to huge wattage numbers, stop right there.
That number — especially when followed by PEAK or PMPO — may be the very thing that costs you money, performance, and long-term reliability.
This exact topic is covered in my free Karaoke Essentials Guide – Volume 4: “Full Disclosure”, because it’s one of the most common honey traps used to attract (and deceive) new buyers into purchasing an inferior product.
The Wattage Trap New Buyers Fall Into
It’s completely understandable.
You just want the loudest, best-sounding system for your hard-earned dollars.
But rushing out and buying the first karaoke speaker you see — or worse, making a decision based purely on a single wattage number — is where things go wrong.
It becomes even more misleading when:
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That number is followed by PEAK or PMPO
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Or worse… no explanation at all
When sellers list just a number, there’s a good chance they don’t even know what it represents — or they’re hoping you won’t ask.
The Three Letters You MUST Look For: RMS
When comparing karaoke speakers, there are only three letters that matter:
RMS (Root Mean Square)
You’ll see it written like:
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80 Watts (RMS)
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80W RMS
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Or sometimes: 80W RMS / 400W PMPO
If RMS isn’t clearly stated, you don’t actually know what you’re buying.
Confused? You’re Not Alone.
And that’s exactly why this marketing tactic works.
Let’s break it down clearly.
What Is PEAK or PMPO Power?
If you search Google for “Peak Music Power Output”, you’ll find it described as:
A marketing term for the absolute maximum wattage an audio system can handle for a tiny fraction of a second — not sustained power. It’s often 2–4 times the actual RMS power and should be ignored when comparing real-world performance.
In plain English:
What It Means (and Doesn’t Mean)
PEAK / PMPO Power
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The highest possible output for a split second
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Often measured right before failure
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Completely unrealistic for normal use
RMS Power
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The true, continuous power the amplifier can deliver
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What your speaker can safely handle long-term
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The only number that matters for real performance
Why PEAK Ratings Are Misleading
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No Standardisation – Every brand measures it differently
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Pure Marketing Gimmick – Big numbers sell
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Risk of Damage – Running gear near peak power causes overheating and failure
What You Should Look For Instead
✔ RMS Power Rating
✔ Clear, honest specifications
✔ Matching RMS power between amplifiers and speakers
That’s it. Simple.
Why We Quote RMS at Karaoke Home Entertainment
For the past 34 years, at Karaoke Home Entertainment, we have always quoted RMS power — because it reflects real, usable performance.
However, in recent years we’ve been forced to also list PEAK figures — simply to counter a growing trend of sellers advertising absurd wattage claims like:
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750 Watts (which is actually 150W RMS)
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1000 Watts (really 250W RMS)
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And yes… I’ve even seen portable speakers rated at 10,000 watts
So now you’ll often see our listings presented like this:
Premium Amplifier: 250W RMS [1000W PMPO]
The first number is the real value.
The second number is the marketing nonsense — included only so customers can compare apples with apples.
A Real-World Example
Recently, a new karaoke brand entered Australia, flooding social media with flashy ads proudly displaying a PEAK power rating.
They advertise 120 Watts PEAK.
Sounds impressive… until you realise that’s less power than our entry-level KBEATBOX CS-200PU-V3, which delivers:
80W RMS [400W PMPO]
People are catching on.
We’ve seen this cycle repeat over and over during the last 34 years — hype, quick sales, disappointed customers.
And it’s not just about power ratings either.
Take two KBEATBOX models: the CS-200PU and the CS-286Plus. The CS-286Plus is actually 10 Watts (RMS) lower than the CS-200PU, yet it delivers greater sound output and noticeably better sound quality.
Why?
The CS-286Plus uses a larger timber cabinet and an 8" woofer instead of a 6.5" woofer. These two factors alone dramatically improve efficiency, bass response, and overall volume — proving that real-world performance is about far more than just wattage numbers.
If You’re New to Karaoke — Start Here
To help people avoid these mistakes, I created the Karaoke Essentials Guide Series — five quick, practical reads.
Volumes 2 and 3 are the most downloaded, because people realise they’re getting honest advice — not sales hype.
All of my guides are available as free, instant PDF downloads.
The Core Volumes You Should Read
📘 Volume 2 – The 5 Mistakes People Make When Buying Karaoke
These mistakes are common, expensive, and completely avoidable.
📘 Volume 3 – The Quick Start Purchaser’s Guide
Six simple questions.
Answer “yes” to one — that’s your perfect solution.
Other Karaoke Essential Volumes
📘 Volume 4 – Full Disclosure
Compliance, power ratings, RMS vs PEAK, and why knowing who you buy from matters.
📘 Volume 5 – How to Connect Everything
Helpful before you buy — and invaluable after.
📘 Volume 1 – My Karaoke Journey
Who is — Tim from Karaoke Home Entertainment — read why his 34 years of real-world karaoke experience can guide you.
Want to Go Deeper?
For customers who want more detail beyond the summaries in Volume 3, I’ve also written six deep-dive Best Practice Karaoke Guides covering:
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System capabilities
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Limitations
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Integration with smart TVs, phones, tablets, and laptops
Most people don’t need that level of detail — but it’s there if you want it.
Final Thought
Whether you buy from KHE.com.au or not, at least now you know:
If a seller won’t tell you whether their power rating is RMS or PEAK —
what else aren’t they telling you?
That’s when credibility is lost.
And once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back. 🎤