|   Sensitivity - Definition and Explanation Requested | gladtrix
Jul 24, 2001 5:31 AM | | To be honest, I am having difficulty understanding fully the concept of sensitivity. Here are some specific questions:
1. Would you define it?
2. Would you explain the definition (to a layman)?
3. How is it rated?
4. Is a lower or higher number better?
5. What rating range is recommended for a speaker to be considered quality?
6. Is sensitivity just an attribute of speakers? (i.e., do receivers have itÂ… like Ohms?)
7. How does a speaker's sensitivity rating influence the receiver one should purchase?
8. Does sensitivity have any relationship to other ratings, such as Frequency Range, Nominal Impedance, wattage, etc?
9. Anything else I may have missed?
Your help will be much appreciated!
Cheers |
| re: Sensitivity - Definition and Explained | Will L.
Jul 24, 2001 11:46 AM | | I'll do my best - I stand corrected if I'm incorrect.
1. It's a speaker measurement that indicates how much sound (in dB) is produced . Usually from 1 meter away with 1 watt into 8 ohms.
2. If you used one watt of power, how much sound is produced if you stood 1 meter away. E.g. A speaker with 91 dB sensitivity will produce 91 dB 1 meter away if it's fed 1 watt of power.
3. Rated? Not sure what you mean.
4/5. Higher is better, but it's not an indication of how good a speaker will sound. It just means it'll play louder with less wattage.
6. Yes, since it's the only part of a system that produces sound.
7. A speaker with higher sensitivity requires a less powerful amp. This puts less work on the amp = prevents distortion/clipping = prevents damage to the speaker/receiver. Sensitivity is therefore just as, if not more, important than the power rating of an amp.
A 3 dB increase requires a doubling of wattage. Therefore, a speaker with 96 dB sensitivity and a 60 watt amp play louder than a speaker of 90 dB sensitivity and 125 watt amp.
8. Perhaps, I really don't know. I believe designs play the major role. Generally, ported designs are more sensitive vs. enclosed ones. Horn designs (e.g. Klipsch) are also more sensitive. They just move more air.
9. Don't get too caught up in sensitivity unless you have a very large room. I've read that most people don't use more than 10 watts from their amps and watch HT at around 70-80 dB (or something like that). Not even close to maxing out their amp/speakers. |
| Thanks for the detailed response (nt) | gladtrix
Jul 24, 2001 12:33 PM | | |
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