How much power do your speakers need? | Crutchfield 

this is the most helpful video regarding decibels to watts i've seen so far.

I've been researching speakers and AVR's for my first surround sound set up. This video was the best at describing decibels to watts. But then again, anything Crutchfield is gonna be spot on. Thanks!

Very good explanation. The visual really helped. Thank you!

This was the best explanation of this subject I've ever seen

Excellent explanation and examples. Very helpful. Thanks!

Brilliant explanation! 4 yrs later still best video. Everything is so confusing

Very informative, thanks!

Great Sharing knowledge, Shot cut and clear .

This is good understanding tutorial. Thanks

This is the best video on this topic.

The formula is simply N+1. This assumes that N is the amount of Watts you currently have...

excellent being a very visual person , that was the first time i have started to understand that topic . very well presented . lucid and concise .👍👍👍

A great explanation. I finally know what to look for when sizing up speakers, thx.

Clear and great explanation. Thank you for those fantastic information.

This was so helpful. This whole time Im thinking my speakers are under powered because of how much my amp puts out versus how much rms my speakers can handle. I dont even need need a bigger receiver or add an amp.

bravo guys, this helps a lot. You are the only one who could explain this simple thing so well. And this explains why the class D amplifier consume so little electric power!!!

Thank you for your information. Now i know which monitor speaker i have to buy for my needs.

this is the first time that I clearly understood driver sensitivity

Amazing explanation.

Very go start please do more to help us with the math of a 5.1 or 7.1.2

Thanks for this video. It confirms that I don't have to worry about how weak my choice of possible avrs could be. I prefer to listen below 80dB for the loudest sounds, i.e. explosions and rock music. So I'm sure my speakers will perform well enough at 2 meters distance.

Thanks for this explanation. I appreciate it.

great explnation on the subject

It’s all about headroom and the amps design. If you buy some 100 watt consumer market receiver, it probably has four 25 watt transistors and this is not capable of even using at it’s rated power. Not that you would need to listen to it at 100 watts but if you did it would sound like crap and be full of distortion and clipping. If you buy some high end amplifier it might have 36 output transistors and rates their amp at the same wattage you would be listening to it at the bottom end of its range which no clipping and no distortion. So how many watts do you need for a full range floor standing speaker? At minimum you want to be at the manufacturers recommended wattage. But you would probably be better at double that.

You explained about spl and wattage.. what about 1) spectrum and power distribution and 2) loudness

Great job, nice explanation. But I didn't understand the last part( about changing the watt and how it affected the db)

Thanks

Great 👍

Also a good idea to allow for dynamic range as well of at least 10dB. So yeah 8 watts gets the target, but ideally you want to time's that by 10 for burst power for dynamics so more like 80 watts really.

Left out was important that the room be anechoic, lined with sound dampening material. The normal listening room csn vary widely, from draoes and carpet to hardwood floors. Classical music is very dynamic and in concert peak at 95-105 dB but have long passages doen at 40 dB quiet library. Duration is part of the damage to hearing. FYI.

So how much power do my speakers need?

Hi Rob!

One of the best information on internet 🔥

All I know about speakers is that you want to have the maximum power of the amp be lower than the maximum wattage of the speaker so the speaker doesn’t blow up. I’m basing all of this on a guitar amp context.

There is more to it.. with higher watts you get Authority Control deep imaging sound stage opens instruments n vocals greatly improve and a whole lot more ! 😊

You seem to be discussing sound pressure level changes in what is called for Pi space or environment without floors walls are ceilings. In real rooms your number should be about half I would think. Or, am I missing something significant? Thanks!

Great video but I still have one question, is there a specific frequency speaker sensitivity is measured at?

I have 4 Klipsch AW-650 speakers i just purchased for a large outdoor pool area. I have not purchased stereo/amp yet, I was looking at the Pyle PD1000BT 4-channel amp receiver 200 watts x 2 @ 8 Ohms or the Plye PD3000BT 4-Channel amp receiver 300 watts x 2 @ 8 Ohms. I would appreciate any input, help or recommendations.

I have 5 surround system speakers that I want to connect to a mixer, how to do that?

Hm..was looking for something else..slightly related.. but.. how does those numbers work on a speaker panel? 3*4 feet poly vs ie a 4*8 feet balsa sheet using a dayton. Are they only for box speakers or all speakers?

Thanks, I thought that I had to buy another more powerful amp.

This is an excellent explanation. Thank you! However, there seems to be a mistake in the last example: It should have been 90db (not 87db) sensitivity for the first scenario (example at the bottom). That's the same example you had given in the previous segment while explaining the relationship between db output and power (90db sensitivity, 8 watts, 4 meters which translates to 87db output). Then it would match with the 2nd scenario (example at the top): 93db + 4 watts + 4 meters which is also 87db output.

What about the height or level of speakers to listener?

Very informative. I am the original owner of a Marantz 2230b reciever. I have been trying to figure out high and low sensitivity speakers. My amp is rated at 30 amps per channel. Can I use speakers that are rated at 86db?

Excellent video BUT we need to translate all this into specific amplifier/ speaker combinations.

Also each extra speaker you add outputing same signal increases decibel output by 3. There are some power calculators online just for this.

I want to ad it

Hi. very helpful and good video. So im currently noob to this hi-fi word. I have FL FR and Centre speakers from B&W - FPM series connected to an old marantz NR 1501. 8 ohms provide 50 w output. My question, is this enough power ? The speakers can go up to 120 W the listening distance is 2,7 meters (ish).

How about the 900 watts ?

I think it would have been better to put the dB at the microphone, saying "there this is what you hear" in opposition that what the speaker is producing.

so it still begs the answer with your 87 sensative speakers what watt per channel in an AV rec do you need. ? I can figure the addition of the watts acccrding to distance and listening level but say you answer was 8 watts more needed ..to what baseline are we looking inthe AV - all AVrec will come at least a 30-50 watt perchannel

Quick question, for a 105 watt per channel receiver Yamaha RX-A1000 , is it best to have 100 watt speakers, or 200 watt speakers, and what would be the difference? trying to replace my tower speakers.

Hello 👋 I have a Amp which puts out 105 watts pro Chanel, and my speakers are 120 watts at 4-8 ohms with a sensitivity of 87 db. So even at 2 watts my speakers are still going to be very laud ?

...all the power.

asking a question before I watch , I heard no such thing as a stupid question but here we go lol , I have a Nakamichi sound bar the rear and surround sound speakers are 50 watts a piece I wanna switch them for LG spk8-s speakers they are 70 watts each can I switch the 50 watts to 70 watts , I'm not looking to make it louder I'll be fine with 50watts it's just the nakamichi speakers are big and bulky old school looking I want more modern smaller . so yea would I be ok switching? if it helps the nakamichi is the 9.2.4

At least I understood this sensitivity issue.... Could you help me with my choice? I have a Harley Benton 100W (8ohms) that I want to use with a 112 guitar cabinet loaded with a Celestion F12-X200 8 ohms, 200W, 97 db sensitivity speaker. Is this Poweramp suitable? Thnx

I want to reach 105-110 db in my car at ear position, I have speakers that are rated for 45watts rms but I’m not even reaching 100 db really and speakers are in the door and face in obviously. So not even pointed toward the ear and is about 4-4 1/2 ft from ears maybe more or less depending on height and how forward and backward the seat is. They are powered by a Sony and towards the high end of the volume I notice the voices sound gurgling and distorted. Idk if that is because the speakers are maxing out on power or is the headunit is maxed out and I need an amp

@3:16 the Sensitivity rating should be 90dB. Correct me if I am wrong.

You say that when you double the listening distance from your speakers, the sound pressure level drops by 6db. This is only true when measured under anechoic conditions. In the real world, like a typical lounge or listening room, there boundary reinforcements. Reflective surfaces which reduce sound pressure level loss by as much as 3db!

I have speakers of 100w each, if i power them with amp of 20w per channel will the speakers are loud enough for a room

Why my speaker turn on but does not connect to Bluetooth or anything the 4000 professional

So what happens when i add more speakers. If I have a 100 watts per channel with 2 driven, how many watts each of my 5 speakers getting do you do 100 divided by 5?

Hi, i am having klipsch RP280FA, RP-450C and RP150M speakes and Yamaha TSR-700(100W/channel, 2 channel driven). My listnening position is 10ft(3M) from speakers, i am increasing my volume level to 40 to hear my desiring sound. I am not using any external amp. Can you suggest what should i do to hear all dynamics with out going to that high volume level and till now i am not using any Sub but i had one which is klipsch 112SW. If i use the SUB and make the towers as small in the confuguration and setting cross over to 80, will the sound change?

I have an 88db speaker and im powering it at 110 watt in my theatre room and i am listening it at 4.5 mtr.. how much db is i am hearing..and is that good or not?

For your home system, 20 watts may be enough, if you have very efficient speakers, and don't listen with the walls shaking.

I was looking to obtain a “bookshelf” type of system. I found a Jensen system rated at 35W. I’m trying to figure how much volume it might put out? Is that enough to hear wafting through a 2000 sq. ft. one story, or barely fill one room? I might like to plug up my guitar through a practice amp and play along. I saw another system without a turntable with 700W. Not wanting to entertain folks two cities away lol. Just want to generate some respectable volume with getting the cops called on me haha. Thank you

I'm sorry but I've been looking everywhere for answers but off topic question: "If i have a 250w active loud speaker and decides to just use a portable power station, let's say a 600w power station, how long will it last?" Same question, The JBL Partybox 1000 can put out 1000w of power (sound)...would i too need a 1000w power station? And how long too?

Doesn't it take 16W for the 87dB sensitivity rating speaker to maintain 87dB at 4m? Because at 4m, there will be -12dB reduction. So, to compensate for the reduction 4*3dB by doubling power 4 times from 1watt, should result in 16W instead of 8W right? Pls correct me if I'm wrong.

i have a speaker and i took out the battery, its a 5 volt. Will it brake if i put a 7 volt on it ?

I feel like for me that this is missing explanation on pairing the right wattage from a AVR to speakers. Example, I have an AVR that is rated at 150w/ch at 8ohms. Do I look for speakers that are rated for 150w at 8ohms or do I look for speakers rated half that of the AVR?

I have 2 x 12" woofer rated for 300W continues and 600W peak with sensitivity 92dB (+/-2), impedance of 8 Ohms, resonance freq 25Hz (+/-20%), freq range f20>>3kHz. Can someone tell me, how do I select mid-range and tweeter for my woofer?. I want to build a decent 3 way speaker system for my home use.

I'm confused. I keep seeing videos saying that it's bad to buy speakers with higher RMS than the AVR can handle per channel. So say I have a 70watt per channel AVR. I have two 94db speakers that are rated at 85 watts. I am sitting 3 meters away. To listen at 88db It would take 4 watts of power. So then I have 66 watts left over for that channel? How is that bad?

the same applies to car audio?

Pls advice amp watt for 82db speakers with max 15w/30w at 8 impedance…. Thanks

from my understanding it means i dont need a 150w amp for a pair of 150w speakers. is that correct?

My question is, why do some speaker manufactures make their speakers with low Db ratings???

if my amp gives 45 watts at 8ohm to a speaker that is rated for 8ohm and 97db can my amp run the speaker at around 90db all day with no problem???

Can somebody help me? I have 4000watts samsung giga sound system but amp goes bad, can somebody help me to chose a new amplifier. Thank in advance

What about ohms?? Like 4 ohms vs 8 ohms?

is 145 wpc receiver to 85w speakers at 6 ohms healthy

I understood nothing. I just want to know what's the power number I need to power up 2 speakers of 2000 watts. Do I need a 4000 watts amplifier? Thanks for your answer if you get me in a couple days.

all sensitivity ratings are not measured the same throughout manufactures. Klipsche, for example, uses boundary gain in their testing. basically they cheat.

Why don’t all speaker manufacturers all just make high sensitivity speakers then? What’s the advantage of low sensitivity and is it actually audible to humans if there is an advantage in measurement terms?

what could happen when i use 1000watts speakers from 900 watts power supply?

3-4 meters away? That made me lol literally! Im like 2 feet away from my speaker

100 watts speakers are good for home purpose or not?

Hello Sir I Have 120 Watts Amplifier. Can I Use Total 170 Watts Speakers To The Board? Any Problem For Amplifier? And I Decided To Using With Cooling Fan? Any Problem? 2 Speakers = 120Watts 2 Speakers = 50Watts

Will audyssey configure my system for me?

What is this sorcery american speaking of meters? :) very good video, hope people will understand. Too many times have I heard "I have 700W speakers " :D

My speaker are 15w, how much will be his db?

Perfect explanation of power versus how loud the speaker actual is. I tell people all the time that they don't need as much power as they think they do. For instance in a car, I hear guys all the time saying they need all this power, typically in the 1000+ watts range. I ask them why do they need so much power, and they say "So it can get loud." And I say, I bet my roughly 300 watt system will get as loud and sound cleaner than their 3000 watt system. I also prefer to use extremely clean amps such as Audio Art and Phoenix Gold, and of course the old school stuff.

So the higher the db rating of a speaker,the lower the power needed to achieve a targeted db level

i think your math is wrong. if a 93db speaker hits 87db @ 4m and 4w - then you’ll need to add 4x the W (16w in total) on an 87db speaker…

For an audience of 500 how much power wattage will I need?

A loudspeaker will take only what it needs from an amplifier that amplifier does not determine the amount of power required to be delivered to the loudspeaker. The loudspeakers do that! If amplifier underpowered it will distort and clip and thus damage the loudspeakers. You buy power for headroom and linearity. There is No such thing as to much power! It’s there if you were to upgrade your loudspeakers that have say a more difficult impedance load and or require more power to drive them properly etc etc because power and loudspeakers are expensive and live with us for decades. It always pays to spend the money on the front end of a system rather than the source components first. No sense spending money on source equipment that will perform at a level you will not be able too appreciate it hear. It sounds like you’re setting up a party system and consumed with power vs decibel ratings rather than the sound quality of the equipment. Everything matters & everything is important! Nothing is more wasteful than wasting money on stuff that is underperforming as no not giving you your hard earned moneys worth only to turn around and constantly upgrade things to get you to that point of audible nirvana. Get the best bang you can for your buck from the get go on loudspeakers and amplification!

Nick. My. Ok.

Meters? Sup willis?

1,000th like 🖐️

🤯😫😩😣🤨😴🤕🙄😇😭🤣🤣😂😆😁yeah I'm lost 😂😂 anyway next time demonstrate in actual real Time,

I hate these sensitivity ratings they are fake they need to show how much power you need for the lower and upper -3db values, no one listens to music at pure 1K