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Speaker efficiency? [message #16858] Sat, 21 August 2004 07:12 Go to next message
wunhuanglo is currently offline  wunhuanglo
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Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
Suppose somebody said that their mid-woofer achieved "106dB sensitivity at 80Hz", which someone recently did.

I guess I'd make the assumption that the reference was 1 watt input, rather than gaming the sub-8 ohm impedence vs. 2.83V thing, but you never know.

I read somewhere that 109dB SPL is one equivalent to 1 (acoustic) watt.

If the claim above were true, that would seem indicate a conversion efficiency of over 97%. That seems like a much higher efficiency than I would have thought was possible.

Am I looking at this correctly?

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16859 is a reply to message #16858] Sat, 21 August 2004 07:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Fitzmaurice is currently offline  Bill Fitzmaurice
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Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
Using the figures you give the efficiency would be 50%. 106dB is down 3dB from 109dB, and 3dB represents a halving/doubling of power. Efficiency = power out/power in, expressed as a percentage.

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16863 is a reply to message #16859] Sat, 21 August 2004 11:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
wunhuanglo is currently offline  wunhuanglo
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Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
Damn! What an idiot I can be some times, eh?

Thanks, Bill

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16864 is a reply to message #16863] Sat, 21 August 2004 15:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jbarlow is currently offline  jbarlow
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Registered: May 2009
Esquire
From what I understand 50% efficiency is nearly impossible, some say fully impossible. A Klipschorn is rated 104db. The T36 rated at 108db and I'd say somewhat exaggerated at that. Either way, 106db is real damn good and can only be achieved by a very efficient bass horn.

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16866 is a reply to message #16858] Sat, 21 August 2004 16:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hallowed Sound is currently offline  Hallowed Sound
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Registered: May 2009
Esquire
Efficiency of 100% is measured as 112dB with one watt one meter away radiated as an omnidirectional sphere. If radiated into 1/8 space, it is 121dB/W/M.

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16870 is a reply to message #16864] Sun, 22 August 2004 12:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Magnus is currently offline  Magnus
Messages: 32
Registered: May 2009
Baron
Yes, and their radiation pattern do most likely not occupy full space...

/Magnus

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16872 is a reply to message #16870] Sun, 22 August 2004 15:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jbarlow is currently offline  jbarlow
Messages: 7
Registered: May 2009
Esquire
Good point. A horn making 108db probably would only be able to do about 100db if it was onmidirectional. Jeff

Re: Speaker efficiency? [message #16873 is a reply to message #16872] Sun, 22 August 2004 15:38 Go to previous message
Bill Fitzmaurice is currently offline  Bill Fitzmaurice
Messages: 335
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
Keep in mind that the standard for measuring any speaker's SPL is half-space anechoic, so I wouldn't quibble about a horn being quoted at 108dB. I can't think off hand of any speaker being measured in an omnidirectional mode. When it comes to HF horns the radiating plane is often going to be a wavelength through the majority, if not all, of the passband, so the idea of them radiating onmidirectionally doesn't apply in any event.

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