Max SPL calculation?
- Thread starter Ignite
- Start date
If I remember this correctly, each time you double the amplifier power you'll get a 3dB increasement.
So If you have a driver with 90dB/W sensitivity, it means that with 1 W you will will get 90dB. With 2W 93dB, with 4W 96dB, 8W 99dB, 16W 102dB, 32W 105dB.... So If you are want to play really loud, go for drivers with high sensitivity. It will probably be a lot cheaper than buying a bigger, more powerfull amp.
/Freddie
So If you have a driver with 90dB/W sensitivity, it means that with 1 W you will will get 90dB. With 2W 93dB, with 4W 96dB, 8W 99dB, 16W 102dB, 32W 105dB.... So If you are want to play really loud, go for drivers with high sensitivity. It will probably be a lot cheaper than buying a bigger, more powerfull amp.
/Freddie
f4ier has the correct equation for calculating excursion, but I would just like to point out some additional qualifications to the units. SPL is the rms value, in dB, even though excursion is given in peak value,and these calculations are based on the SPL in 2pi (or half) space, not 4pi. You would need twice this excursion to gennerate the same SPL in free field.
So
Ok i am a bit slow, is there some calculation given an amount of watts and sensitivty that tells you a theoretical max spl? For example I have SoundStream Tarantual series T4-15 with a 91db at 1 watt at 1 meter, and will be pushing those with a 2000 watt rm Picasso PCA200D amp also from soundstream. Without sitting there figuring out exponents (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128,256,512,1024,2048) i know this because of computer programming lol. By your calculations i would only hit around 124db. I think that is right, 11 double in power, 3db gain for a total gain of 33db added to a sensitivity of 91db = 124. However on 1000 watts and 2 10" in a ported box i hit 138.9 on a term lab meter (official meter of db drags) and the box was to small for the speakers, and the starting sensitivity was only 82. Something just don't add up, with 2 15"'s seeing 2000 watts i should be in the 145-150 on the term-lab meters.
Ok i am a bit slow, is there some calculation given an amount of watts and sensitivty that tells you a theoretical max spl? For example I have SoundStream Tarantual series T4-15 with a 91db at 1 watt at 1 meter, and will be pushing those with a 2000 watt rm Picasso PCA200D amp also from soundstream. Without sitting there figuring out exponents (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128,256,512,1024,2048) i know this because of computer programming lol. By your calculations i would only hit around 124db. I think that is right, 11 double in power, 3db gain for a total gain of 33db added to a sensitivity of 91db = 124. However on 1000 watts and 2 10" in a ported box i hit 138.9 on a term lab meter (official meter of db drags) and the box was to small for the speakers, and the starting sensitivity was only 82. Something just don't add up, with 2 15"'s seeing 2000 watts i should be in the 145-150 on the term-lab meters.
Re: Spl
While it takes into account the boost from placement near boundaries, it completely disregards the room's reverberant characteristics and speaker directivity.
With direct radiating speakers in typical rooms the SPL is greater at the listening position (whether 5, 10, or 20' away) than what you predict at 1 meter on-axis.
soufiej said:
While it takes into account the boost from placement near boundaries, it completely disregards the room's reverberant characteristics and speaker directivity.
With direct radiating speakers in typical rooms the SPL is greater at the listening position (whether 5, 10, or 20' away) than what you predict at 1 meter on-axis.
The maximium output level (MOL) of a closed box system is mainly limited by two factors; cone excursion and maximum power dissipation in the voice coil. The excursion limit dominates for low frequencies.
For a bass-reflex system MOL is increased around the Helmholtz resonance, but another limit is also introduced due to port overloading.
The limits are all frequency dependent.
The resulting MOL is dependent on frequency and is rather complicated to calculate by hand. It ends up something like this (for a bass-reflex system) (gray curve)
[IMGDEAD]http://www.tolvan.com/basta/Basta!UsersGuide_files/image073.jpg[/IMGDEAD]
For a bass-reflex system MOL is increased around the Helmholtz resonance, but another limit is also introduced due to port overloading.
The limits are all frequency dependent.
The resulting MOL is dependent on frequency and is rather complicated to calculate by hand. It ends up something like this (for a bass-reflex system) (gray curve)
[IMGDEAD]http://www.tolvan.com/basta/Basta!UsersGuide_files/image073.jpg[/IMGDEAD]
Hi Svante,
I see the four regions in the basta curve.
1.) The nearly flat on the right.
2.) the dip where Xmax limit sets in.
3.) the slope just to the left of the dip.
4.) the roll off at the extreme left.
Can I presume that the Xmax from SPL formula applies to region 3?
If it does, then how do I use it when two drivers are mounted in the box?
I see the four regions in the basta curve.
1.) The nearly flat on the right.
2.) the dip where Xmax limit sets in.
3.) the slope just to the left of the dip.
4.) the roll off at the extreme left.
Can I presume that the Xmax from SPL formula applies to region 3?
If it does, then how do I use it when two drivers are mounted in the box?
AndrewT said:
No, Xmax limits in regions 2 and 4. In region 3 the vent limits MOL. I am not sure which formula you are referring to, but almost certainly it is only valid for region 2 (not 4). Most probably it is intended for closed boxes (and this was a bass-reflex box).
Here are the limits that are used to calculate MOL in Basta!
[IMGDEAD]http://www.tolvan.com/basta/Basta!UsersGuide_files/image082.png[/IMGDEAD]
You can look more closely at how it works in the user's guide:
http://www.tolvan.com/basta/Basta!UsersGuide.htm
Hi Svante,
the formula in post3
I would think that prediction is correct for the one driver.
The reference you pointed to, shows region 3 with a minima with rising maximum SPL either side of the minimum (not clearly visible in the posted graph).
You are surely referring to some other formula, unfortunately I could not find the formulae in the Basta site.
So I come back to my original question? How do I adapt the graph or formula to take account of two drivers in the cabinet?
the formula in post3
would show a continually falling SPL as frequency drops.
I would think that prediction is correct for the one driver.
The reference you pointed to, shows region 3 with a minima with rising maximum SPL either side of the minimum (not clearly visible in the posted graph).
You are surely referring to some other formula, unfortunately I could not find the formulae in the Basta site.
So I come back to my original question? How do I adapt the graph or formula to take account of two drivers in the cabinet?
AndrewT said:
Ok, so there is no single formula in Basta!, the response is rather calculated by simulating a rather complicated network of mechanical and electrical components.
This is partially my point, equations work for simple model cases, but in real life several things limit MOL. To get a grasp on the behaviour of a system over the entire frequency range it is best to simulate it.
The formula you mention is probably for closed boxes, and they don't behave like the bass-reflex box. For the closed box, the MOL will drop proportional to 1/f*f just as in your equation. For the bass reflex, the curve becomes bent because of the support from the vent.
If you have two drivers, Sd is doubled. This in turn leads to + 6 dB in MOL (as limited by Xmax).