Enter the amplifier power, speaker sensitivity, and distance from the speaker into the calculator to determine the speaker load in decibels (dB).
Speaker Load Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the speaker load:
L = S + 10 * log(P) - 20 * log(D)
Variables:
- L is the speaker load (dB)
- S is the speaker sensitivity (dB/W/m)
- P is the amplifier power (watts)
- D is the distance from the speaker (meters)
To calculate the speaker load, add the speaker sensitivity to 10 times the logarithm (base 10) of the amplifier power, then subtract 20 times the logarithm (base 10) of the distance from the speaker.
What is Speaker Load?
Speaker load, in this context, refers to the sound pressure level (SPL) that a speaker will produce at a certain distance when driven by a given amount of power from an amplifier. It is an important factor for sound engineers and audio enthusiasts to ensure that the speaker system is suitable for the intended environment and can achieve the desired volume without distortion.
How to Calculate Speaker Load?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Speaker Load:
- First, determine the amplifier power (P) in watts.
- Next, determine the speaker sensitivity (S) in dB/W/m.
- Next, determine the distance from the speaker (D) in meters.
- Next, gather the formula from above = L = S + 10 * log(P) – 20 * log(D).
- Finally, calculate the Speaker Load (L) in decibels (dB).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
amplifier power (P) = 100 watts
speaker sensitivity (S) = 85 dB/W/m
distance from the speaker (D) = 2 meters
