Estimate loudspeaker output in decibels from power and sensitivity.
Every tenfold increase in power adds ten decibels, while doubling the distance removes six decibels at the listening spot. Matching amplifier power to the level you need in a room avoids either wasting watts or driving speakers into distortion.
Watts to Decibels
SPL = sensitivity + 10 x log10(watts) - 20 x log10(distance)
SPL = sensitivity + 10 x log10(watts) - 20 x log10(distance) Every tenfold increase in power adds ten decibels, while doubling the distance removes six decibels at the listening spot.
Matching amplifier power to the level you need in a room avoids either wasting watts or driving speakers into distortion.
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Sensitivity, Amplifier power, Listening distance. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.