I have a question -
A couple of people have told me that the higher the sensitivity rating on a sub, the louder it will get in real life. Is this true? I though a 15" Subwoofer w/ a sensitivity rating of 96.4 Db just required more power than a 12" w/ a rating of 93 Db? I've noticed that, in general, the bigger you go in sub size the large the sensitivy number gets, so maybe it does have something to do with loudness. An Audiobahn's ABB123Q Triple Angle 12" Sealed Bass Box has a sens. rating of 102 Db. Does this mean it would be significantly louder than there dual 12" (99 Db)? Maybe I'm reading into this spec too much.
Replies (2)
Pinch on 06/25/2003 15:09:32
My understanding of sensitivity is that the higher the number, the louder it will play given the same power. For example, a speaker rated 3dB higher than another speaker will play just as loud with only half the power.
So in answer to one of your questions, I believe that a 15" Subwoofer w/ a sensitivity rating of 96.4 dB would require half the power of the 12" w/ a rating of 93 dB to play at the same volume.
Did I get that right?
Swez on 06/25/2003 16:18:28
Yes, that's the general principle at work here. The higher the sensitivity ratings of a given driver, the less power it takes to hit a give target SPL level.
However.... some less than honest makers rate the efficiency levels not based on 1 watt input @ 1 meter in a anechoic chamber at a specific frequency. That is the norm for Pro end gear ratings per the FCC and industry standards.
But, in consumer products.... makers can jocky the specs any way they please and rate off what makes their products appear to be superior to others. Some use enclosure based numbers, others use 2 watts @ 1 meter and some even rate sub efficiency based on in car
reading. The last one is really a stretch as we get a +15 or +20 dB cabin gain effect at certain frequencies. (basically, taking all three sins of omission into the mix)
In short, figures don't lie... buy liars can figure... know how the efficiency numbers were derived as you compare subs. Don't be surprised if you find a lot of crazy specs and standards thrown in for good measure. The acid test is... how much SPL do they really deliver in your application.
Nuff said,
Swez
A couple of people have told me that the higher the sensitivity rating on a sub, the louder it will get in real life. Is this true? I though a 15" Subwoofer w/ a sensitivity rating of 96.4 Db just required more power than a 12" w/ a rating of 93 Db? I've noticed that, in general, the bigger you go in sub size the large the sensitivy number gets, so maybe it does have something to do with loudness. An Audiobahn's ABB123Q Triple Angle 12" Sealed Bass Box has a sens. rating of 102 Db. Does this mean it would be significantly louder than there dual 12" (99 Db)? Maybe I'm reading into this spec too much.
Replies (2)
Pinch on 06/25/2003 15:09:32
My understanding of sensitivity is that the higher the number, the louder it will play given the same power. For example, a speaker rated 3dB higher than another speaker will play just as loud with only half the power.
So in answer to one of your questions, I believe that a 15" Subwoofer w/ a sensitivity rating of 96.4 dB would require half the power of the 12" w/ a rating of 93 dB to play at the same volume.
Did I get that right?
Swez on 06/25/2003 16:18:28
Yes, that's the general principle at work here. The higher the sensitivity ratings of a given driver, the less power it takes to hit a give target SPL level.
However.... some less than honest makers rate the efficiency levels not based on 1 watt input @ 1 meter in a anechoic chamber at a specific frequency. That is the norm for Pro end gear ratings per the FCC and industry standards.
But, in consumer products.... makers can jocky the specs any way they please and rate off what makes their products appear to be superior to others. Some use enclosure based numbers, others use 2 watts @ 1 meter and some even rate sub efficiency based on in car
reading. The last one is really a stretch as we get a +15 or +20 dB cabin gain effect at certain frequencies. (basically, taking all three sins of omission into the mix)
In short, figures don't lie... buy liars can figure... know how the efficiency numbers were derived as you compare subs. Don't be surprised if you find a lot of crazy specs and standards thrown in for good measure. The acid test is... how much SPL do they really deliver in your application.
Nuff said,
Swez
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