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First of all I apologize for this basic question; in fact it is still a full mistery for my understanding.
Assume I will use a analog equalizer in my stereo system and that it does not have any input/output level control.If I boost the overall signal of +10dB (+10dB from 100 up to 8000 Hz for istance) ehat is going to happen to the following equipment?
Suppose I will put it just after the preamp, will the power amp manage that increased level or just clip like hell?My main question here is : Is this power amp handling capability named headroom? How can I calculate (based on spec) when I can make it works?
I am prepared to offer a serious Italian dinner to anybody getting the fog away.Many thanks !!!!!
PS.: I have understood that the boost shall be withing the speakers capability ( i.e. never excess both the speaker max SPL and an overall level of 90dB to avoid ear damages)
Follow Ups:
Don't know where grhughes got his info, but each 3dB increase in power is a doubling of power. Around a 9 dB increase in spl "sounds" twice as loud. Obviously, one can run out of headroom in a hurry doing drastic eq, as even a "moderate" 3db increase will require twice the power from the amp at the boosted frequencies.
A safe approach is to use the equalizer primarily to reduce the excess, for instance if your system sounds bass or high deficient, cut the mids.
At low volume listening, the ear is less sensitive to low frequencies, and it would be safe to use as much as 10 dB boost at low levels, just remember to reduce the boost when you crank it up.
20% more power. 10db of boost would be asking the amp to produce 70% more power. All amps clip depending on the efficiency of the load. The more efficient the speaker then the less likelihood of the clipping. It would be helpful to know the efficiency level of your speaker; 90dbSPL measured 1 meter with 1RMS watt input is a medium efficient speaker. Ray Hughes
"Polarities are seldom aware of their polarness." Prospero
Boosting EQ by 10dB does exactly the same as turning up a level pot by 10dB, just on a narrower frequency bandwidth. If you boost too many sliders by too many dBs you may have to turn down the preamp level to compensate.
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