Decibel Levels on Vavle amp or any amp with no display

[skularatna]

How does one know the decibel level at which the amp is playing at if it has no display ? Is there a way to find out?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, the amp won't be playing at a decibel level - only a source/amp/speakers combination can do that.

And you can check that using a sound pressure level meter.

 

[chebby]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=226470&C=Froogle&U=226470&T=Module

I cannot imagine why anyone would need one unless they play their music really loud and want to brag about how loud it is, or have some legal dispute with a neighbour over noise!

Meters on amplifiers - despite being pretty - are useless and totally inaccurate unless feeding into 8 ohm resistors. (Rather than real world, variable loads like speakers.)

 

[Andrew Everard]

chebby:I cannot imagine why anyone would need one unless
they play their music really loud and want to brag about how loud it
is, or have some legal dispute with a neighbour over noise!

...Or want to set their surround system up accurately.

 

[the record spot]

Or they own a Turbosound PA? Okay, not in yer typical semi-d I grant you.

 

[chebby]

Andrew Everard:
chebby:I cannot imagine why anyone would need one unless
they play their music really loud and want to brag about how loud it
is, or have some legal dispute with a neighbour over noise!

...Or want to set their surround system up accurately.

I never realised people used valve amps for surround but yes, point taken.

 

[skularatna]

Im not using my valve or surround its purely for music and as for the decibel reading, it was just curiosity. I will be buying an SPL later this year to setup the surround sound though.

 

[the record spot]

You're buying the SPL??? Leave Celtic alone matey boy!!

Ah, a sound pressure thingy.....my error.

 

[skularatna]

LOL yep a sound pressure thingy or level ....as it's most commonly known 😉

 

[Andrew Everard]

chebby:
I never realised people used valve amps for surround but yes, point taken.

It's not common, agreed, but just to prove it can be done, there's this...