
Since you have 200-watt speakers…
You should power it up with an AMP.
Now, you might be thinking…
“How do I know which AMP to get?”
Well, you’re in luck…
Because here’s a handy guide to help you know what to choose.
Continue reading to learn:
- What to consider in choosing an AMP.
- How AMP watts and ohms affect the speakers.
- 3 quick steps in matching your amplifiers and speakers.
- And much, much more…
What size AMP for 200 watt speakers?
For 200-watt speakers, you need a 300 to 400-watt AMP. Moreover, both devices should have the same impedance or ohms. Having otherwise can overload or underload them. This will damage both the speakers and the AMP.
What does 200 watt AMP mean?
A 200-watt AMP means it can output 200 watts of power into your speakers.
After all, the amplifier’s job is to distribute power to connected devices.
In the same way, your speakers also have watts.
But, this is more about how much power they can handle than distribute.
In short, watt (W) describes the amount of electrical power a device can output or receive.
Now, power isn’t the only factor you should consider when choosing an AMP.
You should also take note of its…
Impedance
Measured in ohms (Ω), this describes a device’s capability to reduce electric flow.
It’s also often called electrical resistance.
In this sense…
Speakers with high impedance can only take in low amounts of power because of resistance.
To offset, an amplifier will boost the electrical current by outputting more watts.
And, in theory, more power provides better sound quality and louder volume.
That said, matching the AMP and speakers’ power and impedance is very important…
Because failing to do so can potentially damage the AMP, speakers, or even both.
With that, you might ask…
How do I match my speakers to my AMP?
Pair your speakers with your AMP by considering their respective power and impedance.
And by match, we don’t necessarily mean that they should have the same values.
It just means that the AMP you choose should meet the correct watt and ohm requirements.
Choosing wisely will allow you to make an informed decision on what size of an amplifier to get.
So, to understand what these requirements are, you should…
#1: Identify your speakers’ power capacity
Purchasing an AMP with watts that don’t match your speakers spells trouble.
I’ve mentioned that amplifiers pump power into the speakers…
So, if it’s incompatible, it’ll pump too much or too little power into your audio system.
You can just imagine how bad that can go…
Now, watt listings have 2 values:
- RMS/Continuous Power is what your speakers can operate with in daily use.
- Peak Power is the greatest amount of watts they can handle in short bursts.
With this, match the AMP you’re getting with the speakers’ RMS/Continuous Power.
It’s always the smaller watt number listed.
To help you, your speakers’ watts are usually listed on their casings.
Otherwise, you can always consult the product manual and the manufacturer’s website.
“What AMP power should I choose?”
It’s intuitive to get an amplifier with the same watts as your speakers…
But, it’s better to use an AMP that delivers power at around half or 2 times more than what they can handle.
Doing so will provide a good amount of headroom for your speakers’ sound quality.
It also ensures that they’ll always operate at full power.
So, since your speakers have a 200-watt capacity…
You should get an amplifier that’ll pump 300 to 400 watts.
Warning: Avoid using an AMP that delivers more than double the power of what your speakers can handle. Doing so causes clipped and distorted sound. It can even severely damage the system.
In the same way, an underpowered amplifier can also cause destruction.
See, a speaker receiving less power means it outputs low volumes.
So, you’d naturally set the volume on max at all times.
As a result, the audio might clip. Also, it can cause the speakers to overheat and break.
With that, you should also…
#2: Identify your speakers’ impedance

Matching your speakers’ and AMP’s ohms is just as important.
Since impedance makes it harder for power to reach your audio system…
Having unmatching ohms can certainly underload or overload both the AMP and speakers.
That said, you can find them listed as Nominal Impedance on the manual or the manufacturer’s website.
Moreover, 200-watt amps will often have 2, 4, or 8 ohms.
“What AMP impedance should I choose?”
In contrast with watts…
You should get an amplifier with the same ohms as your speakers.
Now, using an AMP with ohms lower than them will produce weak and distorted audio.
This is due to the lack of power delivered by the amplifier to the speakers.
On the same note, using an AMP with higher ohms is also a bad choice.
It’ll cause the amplifier to output more power than the speakers can handle.
Luckily, AMP impedance can be more flexible than watts.
It’s because some amplifiers can support several ohm values.
Take the Boss Audio Systems R1004 Riot, for example. It can output 400 watts and support 2 to 8 ohms.
As I’ve mentioned, the AMP’s job is to pump enough power into the speakers.
So, it helps that amplifiers should be able to match many speaker impedance values.
#3: Choose the right AMP
With the watts and ohms that you require in mind…
Choosing the appropriate AMP for your 200-watt speakers will now be a breeze.
Remember: The AMP’s power should only be around half to double the speakers’. And impedance should be the same.
To recall, this means you’ll need an amplifier that can put out 300 to 400 watts of power.
Also, 200-watt speakers tend to have ohms of around 2 to 8…
So, you need an AMP that can support any of these impedance ratings.
Now, you’ve identified the specs that the AMP you’re getting needs.
But, I understand that the number of options can still be overwhelming.
So, to give you a better idea of what to choose…
Here are some AMPs that properly match your 200-watt speakers.
I’ve arranged them according to power and impedance.
2 ohms | 4 ohms | 8 ohms | |
300 watts | Rockford Fosgate P300X1 | AIYIMA A07 | Pyle PDA69BU |
400 watts | Taramps TS 400×4 | KICKER CX400.1 | Pyle PLMRA410BT |
Note: You’ll notice that some of these options are car amplifiers. It’s because they’re able to support both home and automobile use.
Read More: 400 Watt Speakers: What Size AMP?