A Test. How much Voltage (power) do your speakers need?

I measured the test tone at:

  • 2 volts or less

    Votes: 335 40.5%
  • Between 2-5 volts

    Votes: 254 30.7%
  • Between 5-10 volts

    Votes: 107 12.9%
  • Between 10-20 volts

    Votes: 55 6.6%
  • Over 20 volts.

    Votes: 77 9.3%

  • Total voters
    828
I've changed amplifiers since I originally took the test. I had been using a Crown D-75A, now I have a pair of Schiit Tyr monoblocks. Just for fun I did the test again. At a listening level about as loud as I ever listen, I measured 2.5 Volts (6.25 Watts RMS). At full volume on my Threshold preamp I measured 13.1 Volts (172 Watts RMS).

Thanks again @Pano for this thread!
 
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I've changed amplifiers since I originally took the test. I had been using a Crown D-75A, now I have a pair of Schiit Tyr monoblocks. Just for fun I did the test again. At a listening level about as loud as I ever listen, I measured 2.5 Volts (6.25 Watts RMS). At full volume on my Threshold preamp I measured 13.1 Volts (172 Watts RMS).

Thanks again @Pano for this thread!
2.5 volts on the output of schiit amplifier...what is gain of the amplifier? 10? 15? So the input voltage on schiit would likely be 0.25 volts? 0.2 volts?
Do you assume that 13.1 volts from preamp in schiit input would not overload it? Whatever the gain. Either overload the input or clipp the ouput?
Can schiit provide 131 volts on output?
Its very strange to state power from preamplifier...
 
On my system one 1 amp i measured 26,8 Volts (in a test), is this 350 Watts RMS ?
If you actually measured 26.8 volts on the test tones provided in this thread then you would need an amplifier rated at 720 watt RMS into 8 ohms to meet your needs. Call it 750 watts. You are well into the power range of outdoor or large venue PA. Is that the type of rig you measured? Or are your speakers very high impedance?
 
Since the first post of this thread
The test is a way of calculating the maximum power that you ever need
Better to read the first post as it explains it better than I can
Brian
Ok, sorry, my post was out of context.

Since i rarely exceed 1 watt by oscilloscope peak reading. On average my main system uses 0.2 to 0.4 watts, yes just few hundered milliwatts.

I was once soundman for amateur music group at work, and we managed to burn few hundred watts cerving vega woofers with 2500 watts behringer. But that's completely different story.

Yes, i failed to read first post now, but i am sure i read it a long time ago. My approach to power required is much simpler.
 
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