Q
QuestForThe13thNote
Guest
Here is a question someone might be able to work out as an academic maths exercise and it's very interesting I think.
my pre amp goes from stating 'min' i.e. No volume, at -80db. When I then click one increment on the volume dial it goes to -79db, hence why I know min is at -80db. The lower the number the louder the volume i.e. -40db is louder than -50db. The display always shows it as minus, then the number and then db (for decibel) after the number.
as I understand it the pre amp signal is attentuated (let's not be too techy but just say suppressed) hence why it's shown in a minus scale, with zero being maximum signal and no volume suppression or attenuation i.e. Max volume. So obviously it doesn't relate to the actual delcibel level as it's a signal db reading, and any db reading from say a soundmeter reading speakers is always positive anyway. But I do understand the signal reading still relates to the db scale which is a logarithmic scale. Ie for every 3 db increase I think the volume doubles. I've been told by Cyrus that it's just maths that determines why it can only get to -80 and not say -90 or -100 or lower.
so the question is can this maths be proven and worked out, and if so can you show me how you'd get there in a calculation. Also does anyone else have pre amps that go down to -80db being minimum, to test this principle/theory/assumption etc. I do find it weird how lots of audiophile manufacturers use this type of minus db scale but I guess once you understand it, it's function seems to make more sense.
my pre amp goes from stating 'min' i.e. No volume, at -80db. When I then click one increment on the volume dial it goes to -79db, hence why I know min is at -80db. The lower the number the louder the volume i.e. -40db is louder than -50db. The display always shows it as minus, then the number and then db (for decibel) after the number.
as I understand it the pre amp signal is attentuated (let's not be too techy but just say suppressed) hence why it's shown in a minus scale, with zero being maximum signal and no volume suppression or attenuation i.e. Max volume. So obviously it doesn't relate to the actual delcibel level as it's a signal db reading, and any db reading from say a soundmeter reading speakers is always positive anyway. But I do understand the signal reading still relates to the db scale which is a logarithmic scale. Ie for every 3 db increase I think the volume doubles. I've been told by Cyrus that it's just maths that determines why it can only get to -80 and not say -90 or -100 or lower.
so the question is can this maths be proven and worked out, and if so can you show me how you'd get there in a calculation. Also does anyone else have pre amps that go down to -80db being minimum, to test this principle/theory/assumption etc. I do find it weird how lots of audiophile manufacturers use this type of minus db scale but I guess once you understand it, it's function seems to make more sense.