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From: rfg@hound.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Dynamic Range Estimate
Message-ID: <286@hound.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Aug-83 12:23:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: hound.286
Posted: Tue Aug  9 12:23:31 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Aug-83 13:37:50 EDT
References: <1074@dvamc.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 19

Let's assume your average acoustic suspension loudspeaker puts
out a sound pressure level of about 90db with a one watt input
(Some are louder, some not so loud. For high efficiency PA
speakers add 10-15 db.). Let's also assume the speaker can handle
100 watts of power. That brings us up to about 110db spl (120-125
for PA). OK, further assume it can handle short bursts of 200 watts -
add 3db, total 113 db spl (123-128 for PA).
At the other end, while the speaker can produce levels of sound as
low as you want to estimate, you won't hear them if they are below
the noise level of the listening location. Few listening locations are  
going to have background noise levels below 40db spl. In a car figure
at least 75-80db. Result: effective dynamic range of home type loud-
speakers is around 70 db, only 30-35 in moving car.
Add 3 db for two speakers (stereo) if you want to. You end up
at about the number for a disc (vinyl,lp) system and considerably
less than what CD is capable of. That does not mean that the CD
range is excessive and unnecessary - but that is another story.
                                   Dick Grantges HO-x4341