A:
Hi Jacob r.
Thank you for you inquiry on the LG 500W Mini Audio System, Model # CM4530. Your inquiry is a much harder question to answer and is extremely technical, because there is a lot more at play than just the listed Wattage for these systems. I don't know much about the other system, but the LG CM4530's wattage is split up into 160W/Channel for the 2 speakers and 180W for the subwoofer. Now where things really get technical is what the impedance of the speakers is which for the CM4530 is 4 ohms (the Greek symbol for Omega) and 3 ohms for the subwoofer. It is possible for a 500W system to sound louder depending on what ohms the speakers are, but that's only part of it. Generally, the lower the impedance, the more power is going to the speakers. So ultimately, the quality of the speakers will determine which is the better system. Another characteristics that will matter is the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). For the CM4530, it is 10% which is typical for this type of unit.
THD is an amplifier or pre-amplifier specification that compares the output signal of the amplifier with the input signal and measures the level differences in harmonic frequencies between the two. The difference is called total harmonic distortion. Music is made of fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Harmonic Frequencies are multiples of the fundamental frequency, and although each harmonic frequency is lower in level or volume than the fundamental frequency, they still serve in giving a musical instrument its unique sound. When the total harmonic distortion of an amplifier is measured, the difference in the level of the harmonics at the output stage of the amp is compared to the level of the harmonics at the input stage, and the difference is the extent of the distortion. Lower percentages are better, and for more pricey amplifiers where it really matters, THD can be as low as 0.004% compared to the 10% on this unit.
In reality, THD is hardly perceptible to the human ear. Every component adds some level of distortion, but most distortion is insignificant and small differences in specifications between components mean nothing. Listening to these components and evaluating their sound characteristics is the most important way to judge a product. Other factors that may matter is the size of the room in which you intend to have these units in. The speaker wires you're provided also have their own impedance, but then again, you probably need not worry here since on a system like this the impedance they add is pretty insignificant. That difference of 200W between these systems isn't as big a deal as it seems. Listening to the units and comparing them and getting a unit that has the features that meet your needs will be more important...IFV