Audioholics recently posted a 105 minute video chat session of experts (including the estimable Sean Olive) on improving speaker measurements, particularly how to communicate them to residential users. It has many interesting points.
At 37 minutes or so, he posts a slide for "sound level capability." This is his "ballpark" method for estimating sound level for the average residential home theater room, good to +/- a few dB. It says, to paraphrase
For a 3000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity (at 2.83 VRMS ) - 7 dB.
For 6000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity - 10 dB
For 9000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity - 13 dB
At 100W, add 20dB; At 200W, add 23 dB; at 400W, add 26 dB
So a 100W amplifier and a speaker with 85dB sensitivity will produce around 98 dB for a listener in the typical 3000 ft^3 room.
I can't recall such a clear model for estimating amplifier and speaker requirements.
So, how reasonable is it? If it's not reasonable, what's the next change to make?
The entire discussion is at:
At 37 minutes or so, he posts a slide for "sound level capability." This is his "ballpark" method for estimating sound level for the average residential home theater room, good to +/- a few dB. It says, to paraphrase
For a 3000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity (at 2.83 VRMS ) - 7 dB.
For 6000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity - 10 dB
For 9000 ft^3 room, Seat SPL = Sensitivity - 13 dB
At 100W, add 20dB; At 200W, add 23 dB; at 400W, add 26 dB
So a 100W amplifier and a speaker with 85dB sensitivity will produce around 98 dB for a listener in the typical 3000 ft^3 room.
I can't recall such a clear model for estimating amplifier and speaker requirements.
So, how reasonable is it? If it's not reasonable, what's the next change to make?
The entire discussion is at: