How loud is loud?

[johnjohn320]

In my rummaging for PA's and speakers and whatnot, every speaker has had a wattage label, telling me how loud the baby will go. I know it's a tough question to answer, but...like...how loud is 80w? 120w? Like, give me something to compare it to? I dunno...

 

[Viper GTS]

Wattage is not a measure of how loud something is.

Viper GTS

 

[Beau]

How large of an area are you using them in?

 

[aphex]

wattage is a measure of how loud something can play without distortion, not really how loud in general.

the more wattage, the less distortion at higher volumes

 

[Beau]

Is that the same for horn pa's?

 

[tcsenter]

Although you could conceivably convert watts into decibels, sound is measured in decibels, not watts.

 

[sohcrates]

Remember that the ear hears logarithmically

A "perceived" doubling of "loudness" requires TEN TIMES the amplification

So basically, as was said above, the more wattage, the better the ability to produce more volume with less distortion...

another big factor, though, is the efficiency of the speakers that you're using

you really can't judge much on wattage alone

 

[Viperoni]

<< In my rummaging for PA's and speakers and whatnot, every speaker has had a wattage label, telling me how loud the baby will go. I know it's a tough question to answer, but...like...how loud is 80w? 120w? Like, give me something to compare it to? I dunno... >>



Get the absolutely highest efficiency speakers you can afford, this will stress out the amp way less as you won't need as much power to drive the speakers to the same level as a set of less-sensitive speakers.

 

[TheBlondOne]

Oh....I thought you were talking about....never mind.

But I WAS gonna answer, though.

--Sarah

 

[Viperoni]

<< Oh....I thought you were talking about....never mind.

But I WAS gonna answer, though.

--Sarah >>



:Q :Q :Q

 

[stonecold3169]

Actually Sohcrates, isn't it that 10 more decibles doubles the loudness, not 10 times the sound?

 

[Viperoni]

<< Actually Sohcrates, isn't it that 10 more decibles doubles the loudness, not 10 times the sound? >>



A 3db increase involves a doubling of power, I dunno how the 3db translate into an sonic increase in loudness though.

 

[DaLeroy]

<< Actually Sohcrates, isn't it that 10 more decibles doubles the loudness, not 10 times the sound? >>



Isn't it to get 3 more decibles you need to double the power???

 

[sohcrates]

<< Isn't it to get 3 more decibles you need to double the power??? >>



Yep, double power to get 3 more decibels....but 3 more decibels is *approximately* a perceived "doubling" of loudness

It's all relative. hehe