Amplifier Power and Speaker Volume Calculator

[Aussie Geoff]

Hi,

Here's a LINK to a useful calculator to see how loud a given amplfier power will drive speakers in your room. For Home Theater use 2 or 3 speakers since the rears never really contibute to the maximum volume..

Try different powers (10W, 100W, 200W etc) remembering that:

• 10dB louder is percieved as twice as loud
• 3dB louder is noticable to the ear
• Reference level is 105 Db peaks at your listening point (115 db for the bass)

Easy to see why people love their 200W+ amplifiers!

Geoff

[David Meek]

That's an interesting page Geoff. It also shows how a more efficient speaker (90 db vs 86 db, say) can play a great deal louder than a less efficient one.

[Patt]

Hey Geoff,

That is a pretty neat link........Thanks

[jazznsoccer]

Hmm... Going from 300 watts to 600 watts meant SPL: from 107 to 110.

[Duke]

Yep having twice the power only gives you 3db's

[purplepeople]

It's even cheaper to sit closer. Cutting the distance by 1/2 gives about 6dB increase in direct sound.... if you double the distance, you'd need 4X the power.

[Nick M]

I saw this calculator somewhere... forget where...

I originally used equations from a book I had, but this came out pretty much the same... 118dB+ at my seat... :B

I usually peak around 95-100dB at most during "spirited listening".

[accorddude]

You know I never realized how loud my system can really get. I generally listen to tv at like 65db or so but with movies i turn it up to refrence levels at around 105db. The other night I turned up my system to where I could hear it in my next door neighbors apartment while we were talking over their....gosh wow thats crazy