2. amps-preamps
  3. 186514-184565

-20 DB Volume Measurment

I play my music in the 85 db range on my db meter on my phone. Comfortable but in the range of live music at a concert (except The WHO). The music has transient peaks at 90 db. On the volume knob of my Benchmark pre-amp this equates to a volume level of -20DB give or take. Does that mean my amp has another 20DB to go before the amp hits peak power output and starts to clip? 

n191kt

Showing 1 response by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,591 posts
 

Hi OP:

It used to be we used volume knobs from 0 to 10. Now it’s from negative infinity to 0.

The dB scale is relative to maximum gain of the preamp. It’s just a multiplier which goes from 0 to 1. -20 dB is 0.1 x the input.  On my DAC, 0 dB means the volume is at maximum, then I use the volume on my integrated.

The one big advantage of this type of reporting is it will give you a relative indicator of volume. For instance, if you are paying at -20 dB, and you read 90 dB on the SPL meter, turning your volume to -30 dB will reduce the volume you hear by 10 dB, to 80 dB.

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