How sensitive are you

Willow

My question is about sensitivity on speakers.

What is considered low, average and high. What difference does it make and how much difference does it make ? Does 2 dbls of sensitivity make a difference on the receiver for example ?

gatemplin

Hey Willow,

Sensitivity is the output per a certain voltage (often 2.83 IIRC) at one meter. So low impedance speakers will play louder.

Efficiency is the ouput per watt and at one meter which is usually how speakers are rated.

IMO near 80 dB/ watt is very low, around 90 is high, but some are over 100 db/ watt.

The ratings aren't really directly comparable between speakers. Some speakers are designed without baffle step compensation which inflates the efficiency. Also, speakers run into power compression at different points. So a lower efficiency speaker may pass a higher efficency one as compression sets in.

unc2701

This is fairly ballpark, but:

89-92 is average; 88 & less is low
usually you see 94db+ speakers labeled as high, but for true flea power you're going to need more like 98db. With 16watts a 98db speaker will give you the same volume as a 89db speaker with 128 watts.

Of course, it also comes down to the room size & volumes you intend to play them at.

edit: those low/mid/high figures I gave are for modern speakers... used to be that speakers were pretty inefficient.

steveinaz

Subjectively speaking, 86dB and below would be considered "low" efficiency; 87-89dB would be "average" and above 89dB is usually considered "high" efficiency.

For someone with "typical" hearing, it usually takes an increase/decrease of 3dB to notice an audible difference, but some are more sensitve to level differences.

Efficiency has no bearing on sound quality. It's simply the nature of the specific design; although higher efficiency speakers do require less amplification to reach the same SPL's.

Willow

Thanks you all for the info , I was never clear on that, now I'm half clear

steveinaz

The quick down and dirty is this, efficiency is the loudness in decibles, at 1 watt (2.83v), 1 meter from the speaker.

jcaut

At the risk of making this overly technical...

I think efficiency and sensitivity are getting confused, in the definitions above. Voltage sensitivity is how many decibels of sound, of a specified frequency or range of frequencies, would be produced by a loudspeaker with a given input voltage (usually 2.83 Vrms), measured on-axis at a certain distance (usually 1 meter).

Power sensitivity is the same thing, except that the input signal is given in Watts. Since power can be expressed as volts squared, divided by impedance, -- the voltage level required to produce 1 Watt is the square root of the impedance that it is driving. So, 2.83 Volts is 1 Watt at 8 Ohms. 2 Volts would be 1 Watt at 4 Ohms, etc..

Efficiency is a little bit different and is usually only given for individual drivers and not for a speaker system -- That's why sensitivity and efficiency are usually taken to mean the same thing when talking about a speaker system.

Efficiency is usually expressed as a percentage, and may be used to calculate the theoretical voltage or power sensitivity of a driver. The equation takes into account things like compliance, free-air resonance, and electrical resonance magnification (Qes), and generally assumes that the speaker in question is near a wall or on a baffle of sufficient width to produce 2pi radiation at the frequencies being tested.

I may be wrong here, but I think most manufacturers of hi-fi speakers take the woofer or woofers sensitivity, as calculated from efficiency and assuming 2 pi radiation, and use that as the stated sensitivity. The speakers might not actually acheive that in the real world. Some may actually measure it. I think for PA speaker systems, where real-world volume is more important, it's usually measured.

Sorry for the length

But to answer the original question: Real-world power sensitivity of 88 db or above, is what I would consider pretty high, for a home hi-fi speaker.

Jason

dorokusai

You must also factor in the "type" of speaker. A Klipsch and an SDA rated the same efficiency will not sound the same at 1W/1M.

audiobliss

:eek: Someone said Klipsch!

madmax

Originally posted by dorokusai
You must also factor in the "type" of speaker. A Klipsch and an SDA rated the same efficiency will not sound the same at 1W/1M.

will they both be the same perceived loudness?

dorokusai

If by "perceived loudness" you mean, will I be able to sit in my usual listening position? Hell no....the Klipsch will adjust you into a new area.

gidrah

Not usually. 95dB on decent horns won't be perceived to be as loud as 95dB on conventional speakers.

dorokusai

I guess my Klipsch demos in-house, Heresy/KG4/KG5.2/Forte/KLF30 is crazy talk. I assure you it adjusts your listening position regardless of "known" volume dial spinning. Granted it's not scientific, but the physical movement of my listening position in relation to the speakers was very important...and there have been a couple speakers running through here from time to time.

If there is no perceived difference then why bother owning speakers other than Polk?

A horn load to soft dome tweeter....seriously, you think there is no difference in "perceived" effect? Soundstage wise there is no change?

brettw22

I have nothing to add technically, so I'll just say.....

I'm NOT.....(sensitive)....

gidrah

My not usually was in reply to MadMax. Heck yeah there will be a perceived difference. Just like there would be between horns and electrostatics.

dorokusai

G - Just trying to clarify, nothing but words here. It wasn't anything but a comment. I wasn't sure where your comment was directed, my fault.

F1nut

From my experience, Klipsch horns will back you up.

gidrah

Not a problem buddy. Just 2 guys typing a reply at the same time. Hell, I would've wanted clarification too.