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How much power do I need? Find out using this method...

I've been hanging out on diyaudio and ran across this simple technique to measure the power used by your speakers.  So many discussions here revolve around this question that I thought I'd post the method...

If you have a multi meter, you can use the test tone & technique provided here to calculate how many watts your speakers actually use: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/204857-test-voltage-power-speakers.html

It’s super informative & useful: all you do is set your volume at the max listening level you use, then play the -12db 120hz test tone while measuring voltage at the speaker terminals. Square that value and you’ve got the maximum watts needed. Plenty to read at the link...
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elevick
2,638 posts
 
Sorry, but I never use a sound pressure meter while listening.  I have listened to the Dead drum solos many times...but never "sober".
I wish I could hear a 1db difference.  All I know is my work system is only 10 watts but with 95 db single driver speakers...
Maybe I'll try a sound pressure meter at work, not while tripping :-)
wolf_garcia
6,723 posts
 
Note that "Columbus" had overdubs, and now I have to get my Graceland album out as I remember it being a well recorded thing...hmmm....
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Quite a few live recordings have overdubs as all kinds of stuff happens. A pickup fails or a mic started distorting etc. A good mastering engineer can put an overdub in perspective. Frank Zappa was famous for this. Let me know what you think of Graceland. I listen on a line source system and the perspective might be different on a point source which is what most studios use for monitoring. I don't think so as it is usually just a change in sound stage not the relative position of the instruments.
The way Graceland was mastered originally (has it been remastered?) it sounds as if the engineer wanted to make sure you could hear every detail of every instrument so he moved them all up front. The detail is attractive but a bit surreal. If he had moved Paul's voice up front he would have been way to loud. 
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