Editing Audio power (section)

===[[Peak power]]===
''Peak power'' refers to the maximum of the instantaneous power waveform, which, for a sine wave, is always twice the average power.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2015/04/pa-power-ratings-1-know-whats-watt/|title=Power Ratings: Know What's Watt - ProAudioBlog.co.uk|date=2015-04-13|newspaper=ProAudioBlog.co.uk|language=en-US|quote=For a sine wave, the peak power is twice the continuous average power.|access-date=2016-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028154124/http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2015/04/pa-power-ratings-1-know-whats-watt/|archive-date=2016-10-28|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/SLEA047|title=Power Rating in Audio Amplifiers|last=Luu|first=Tuan|date=March 2005|publisher=Texas Instruments|quote=Peak power ratings are obtained by using peak voltage. [...] If the dynamic headroom of an audio amplifier is specified at 3 dB, then the amplifier can deliver two times its average power; e.g., if the amplifier is rated for 200 W average power, then the peak power is 400 W.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1274915|title=Understanding Class-D amplifier power supply requirements {{!}} EE Times|website=EETimes|access-date=2016-10-28|quote=The peak power that an amplifier can deliver to the load is [...] PSE(PEAK) = [...] 2 • PSE(RMS)}}</ref> For other waveforms, the relationship between peak power and average power is the [[Peak-to-average ratio|peak-to-average power ratio]] (PAPR).

The peak power of an amplifier is determined by the voltage rails and the maximum amount of current its electronic components can handle for an instant without damage. This characterizes the ability of equipment to handle quickly changing power levels, as many audio signals have a highly dynamic nature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestonelectronics.com/audio/Speakers.htm|title=Speaker Selection and Amplifier Power Ratings|website=www.prestonelectronics.com|access-date=2016-10-28|quote=In an amplifier, the maximum peak power output to a speaker is limited by the amplifier power supply. [...] In an amplifier, the peak power rating is useful for describing the maximum instantaneous limit of its capability for pulse sounds such as drumbeats and bass notes.}}</ref>

It always produces a higher value than the average power figure, however, and so has been tempting to use in advertising without context, making it look as though the amp has twice the power of competitors.