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
koestner
626 posts
 

No, it's more a reference of the input level. Your preamp is telling you that at -20db it is lowering the input signal by that amount. It is independent of your amp.

dabel
1,646 posts
 

Benchmark’s attune jumpers primary purpose … where, studio settings & self powered Monitors is of utmost importance. -20 as default is ideally what Bench recommends when Moving in Stereo.

Power, Corruption, & Lies - New Order

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erik_squires
15,805 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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