is putting 600 watts rms into a 500 watts rms max ok?

 

It only hurts it if you turn it up enough to produce more than the 500 watts the speaker is made to handle.

 

On the part that's in bold, is the subwoofer 500 watts rms, or is it 500 max??

If the sub is 500rms and you put 600watts rms to it, it'll be fine for bumping hard as much as you want.....if the sub is 500 watts max and you put 600 rms to it, it will run a higher risk of blowing but if you use your judgement, it should be fine...

I ran a 12" HX2 which is 1000max/600rms with a mono 1000rms amp and it pounded the poopie out of that sub but the sub never blew....