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Post by Ex_Vintage on Aug 6, 2018 21:35:40 GMT -5
How do you know you are "pushing" your amplifier. I have relatively low sensitivity speakers and from time to time I crank the volume up to -10db on the volume scale. If 0db represents full power, based on your experience, when does the amp start clipping? When does the amp start running out of headroom? At -10db the sound adequately fills the room (and part of the neighborhood) and the sound is still very clear and coherent, but aside from noticeable distortion, how far is too far?
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 6, 2018 22:17:43 GMT -5
Lets start of with, "0" is reference volume, which is 105 db (that's about the same as 747 taking off, so pretty loud). Hence "-10" is 10 db below reference ie; 95 db (prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 dB can cause gradual hearing loss). And "-20" is 20 db below reference ie; 85 db, somewhat like a diesel truck driving past.
Obviously there are number of assumptions in the calibration of pre amp so that 0 on its volume control actually is 105 db. Things like speaker efficiency, room acoustics, amplifier gain etc. The only real world way to check is to use a sound meter, most commonly by setting the pre amp to -20 db and seeing how it actually relates to the theoretical 85 db.
With the above in mind "0" doesn't represent "full power", pre amps can go to +10/20/30 db or more (ie; higher than 0).
None of the above has any relationship to hardware damage, listening is really the only test.
Cheers Gary
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Post by leonski on Aug 10, 2018 15:21:38 GMT -5
Wouldn't ZERO DB actually be the place on the dial where the preamp has NO gain or Attenuation?
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Aug 10, 2018 15:28:04 GMT -5
Volume control indications have ZERO to do with db readings. It's all relative to the specific design of the gear. "0" on some preamps means off, "0" on some preamps means Max. My advice is ignore this number except as a reference for your memory of "I like it when it says -12" or whatever. As far as recognizing when you are pushing your amp too hard, it takes a trained ear to detect clipping but anyone can hear severe clipping. If it starts to sound harsh you are probably pushing too hard. If your speakers start to make mechanical sounds you are pushing them too hard. And by the way, mine goes to 11.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Aug 10, 2018 15:46:31 GMT -5
Volume control indications have ZERO to do with db readings. It's all relative to the specific design of the gear. "0" on some preamps means off, "0" on some preamps means Max. My advice is ignore this number except as a reference for your memory of "I like it when it says -12" or whatever. As far as recognizing when you are pushing your amp too hard, it takes a trained ear to detect clipping but anyone can hear severe clipping. If it starts to sound harsh you are probably pushing too hard. If your speakers start to make mechanical sounds you are pushing them too hard. And by the way, mine goes to 11. Mine STARTS at 11. Mark
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Post by leonski on Aug 10, 2018 16:57:32 GMT -5
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