Are all dBs created equal?
I recently purchased new speakers and I have run into something interesting. With my old speakers I listened at 80 dB average and it was comfortable. At 80 dB average with the new speakers it seems much louder and I have to turn it down to 70-72 dB to get to my comfort zone. Why would 80 dBs sound so much louder with the new speakers? FYI, the new speakers are presenting more detail and refinement. The sound stage is better in every way. What gives?
If we are talking about measured audio dB, then this article may start to help:
https://www.vernier.com/til/3500 also look up :
Lastly though, the Focal seems to be tuned "loud" but they are also notorious for having difficult impedances around 100 Hz. Depending on your amplifier it may seem bass shy.
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That’s for speaker measurements. If the OP is talking about the sound pressure at his listening location that is different.
Efficiency is about output per watt, so 1w/1m is used. The input voltage is adjusted based on the impedance. It's also kind of a PITA to measure so often done at exactly 1 kHz. Sensitivity is about output given an input voltage, so 2.83V/1m is used. In this case the watts could be much higher or much lower than 1. There's no guarantee. The two are equivalent only if the speaker is exactly 8 Ohms, but in either case the SPL is measured the same way. |
That's clear to everyone but me. |
I don’t see how speaker sensitivity or efficiency accounts for what the OP is claiming. It was my first thought as well but I think what he is saying is measured at his listening position 80dB sounded right with the Focal and the Tyler 70dB sounds right. The only thing I can think of is the Tyler frequency response is tilted in the bass and treble hence what I call the smiley face FR which could cause the sound to be perceived "louder" at lower A weighted SLP. Anyway that’s my 2 cents. |
Measurement of loudspeakers output can be very difficult if you are looking for accurate numbers. In a live home environment, you are taking a measurement, but the reality is you don't know what you are measuring. Are you on axis with the active driver, are you measuring a reflection, are you in a null point or crossover point, etc? Too many variables to use those numbers. |
