Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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RE: speaker listening levels.

Posted by PAR on June 16, 2017 at 00:53:08:
As 6bq5 points out there is no relation between the sensitivity rating of a speaker and the level you prefer to listen at.

You can have a speaker with a low sensitivity of 83 dB or a high sensitivity of 98dB and still listen at 93dB with peaks of 97dB. The difference would be that in one case the amplifier would need to provide over 1 watt and in the other less than 1 watt ( everything else being equal).

A mean listening level with peaks only 4dB higher would indicate that your musical tastes would be modern rock music where dynamic range has been sacrificed to make it all sound loud. Google " loudness wars". Other types of music may have a far wider dynamic range and lstening at an average level of 93dB may require peaks of up to 110dB or more - beyond the capability of some home equipment.

Is listening at 93db average with peaks of 97dB loud? Simply, yes. It can also cause hearing damage over a period that could be contained within an evening's listening session. Please read the linked article.