From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: James Courtier-Dutton Subject: Re: What does 0dB refer to? (Logitech USB Speakers) Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:09:23 +0100 Message-ID: <4801F7F3.104@superbug.co.uk> References: <20080411204610.GA32413@tango.0pointer.de> <75b66ecd0804121624m308977dy752d7e7c41dd7ea3@mail.gmail.com> <4801E5CA.7010408@superbug.co.uk> <200804131326.31800.faber@faberman.de> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: Received: from anchor-post-33.mail.demon.net (anchor-post-33.mail.demon.net [194.217.242.91]) by alsa0.perex.cz (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8B19F24673 for ; Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:09:25 +0200 (CEST) In-Reply-To: <200804131326.31800.faber@faberman.de> List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: alsa-devel-bounces@alsa-project.org Errors-To: alsa-devel-bounces@alsa-project.org To: Florian Faber Cc: alsa-devel@alsa-project.org List-Id: alsa-devel@alsa-project.org Florian Faber wrote: > On Sunday 13 April 2008 12:51:54 James Courtier-Dutton wrote: > > >> Are the output levels from the line out/speaker out connectors really >> any different between pro and cheap sound card? >> > > The electric levels do differ. But that's not the point. The point is > that you usually have active speakers and 0dB means full throttle. You > don't have anything to alter the volume between the sound card and the > speakers. > > To give you an impression: My main out is -40..-36dB for work. If I want > to talk to another person in the same room, I have to dim to -46dB max. > If I throw a party, it might go up to -20..-15dB. 0dB will just pop out > the ear drums. > > All active speakers act as a combined amp and speaker. If you have a 50W active speaker, your -36dB for work might be right. But, if you have a 300W active speaker, your -36dB will probably be way too loud. This is essentially my point that the sound card cannot really decide which is a sensible level to output. James