Question Speakers: DAC and AMPS: Input Voltage, Output voltage, Sensitivity

[CleanCopperz]

I entered the hifi world when I got my first Planar headphones and DAC/AMP. HifiMAN Sundara and iFi ZEN DAC and CAN.

I Assumed it was enough just to buy the things that were recommended or first hand experience.

The Hifi subject has for me become more advance than expected. I see all sorts of technical terms etc.

So I figured that I need to learn more about some terms, because this one makes me worried a little.

Question?:
I have a set of speakers/active that has a Input sensitivity 1V. But I read all these dac/amps/preamp that has output voltage much greater than 1V.

Can somebody explain and give me more indsight on this?

I spoke with a couple of people and they say it does not matter, just plug and play they say

 

[Al ears]

They could be right. I would only be concerned if the headphone amplifier was not powerful enough to drive your headphones...
It has a volume control I believe.

 

[CleanCopperz]

They could be right. I would only be concerned if the headphone amplifier was not powerful enough to drive your headphones...
It has a volume control I believe.

But this question was regarding speaker 🙂

Sorry for the confusion

 

[Al ears]

But this question was regarding speaker 🙂

Sorry for the confusion

I see, same thing applies

 

[CleanCopperz]

Ok. But somehow I should be able to measure it with a multimeter?

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I have a set of speakers/active that has a Input sensitivity 1V. But I read all these dac/amps/preamp that has output voltage much greater than 1V.

Dude you can still use your SCM40A's with pre amplification outputting more than 1V. As I've said before we've used the following components with SCM40A's without any issues -

Kinki Studio Audio EX-P27 outputs up to 3.6V

Naim Audio Uniti Atom Headphone Edition outputs up to 4.4V

dCS Bartók outputs up to 6V

EMM Labs/Meitner Audio MA3 outputs up to 4.36V

ATC SCA2 outputs up to 17V

 

[CleanCopperz]

I just dont understand why they mention 1V if you can go way up.

is it minimum 1V? I dont get it

 

[shadders]

I just dont understand why they mention 1V if you can go way up.

is it minimum 1V? I dont get it

Hi,
I think you need to contact ATC. Their documentation on the website states 112dB SPL and input sensitivity of 1volt.

Is that 1volt RMS or peak ?
Does that 1volt mean the SPL is 112dB or that a more modest 90dB for example ?

It is not clear, and so people who have used the speakers may have driven them with a voltage greater than 1volt and SPL is lower than 112dB, and are reporting that experience here.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[CleanCopperz]

Good idea. Thanks ! 🙂

 

[nopiano]

Hi,
I think you need to contact ATC. Their documentation on the website states 112dB SPL and input sensitivity of 1volt.

Is that 1volt RMS or peak ?
Does that 1volt mean the SPL is 112dB or that a more modest 90dB for example ?

It is not clear, and so people who have used the speakers may have driven them with a voltage greater than 1volt and SPL is lower than 112dB, and are reporting that experience here.

Regards,
Shadders.

Good point. I’d never really thought about it, but it would seem logical if the 1 volt was a similar principle to the 1watt/8ohm standard for 85dB for example.

On ATC power amp P1 they say input sensitivity 2volts = 150 watts, so 1 volt would be half power. But the spec is identical on the 300watt P2, so full power would need 4 volts input presumably?

 

[Roger_A]

[On ATC power amp P1 they say input sensitivity 2volts = 150 watts, so 1 volt would be half power. But the spec is identical on the 300watt P2, so full power would need 4 volts input presumably?
[/QUOTE]

If by the spec being identical you mean that its input sensitivity is 2 volts, then this will be for full output, i.e. 300 watts.

 

[nopiano]

If by the spec being identical you mean that its input sensitivity is 2 volts, then this will be for full output, i.e. 300 watts.

No that’s the thing. It’s still 2volts for 150watts. That’s sensible because if you swapped then everything would be set the same. But the P2 has twice the maximum output (which is only 3dB after all!)
My point being that it’ll need 4 volts for full output.

 

[Roger_A]

No that’s the thing. It’s still 2volts for 150watts. That’s sensible because if you swapped then everything would be set the same. But the P2 has twice the maximum output (which is only 3dB after all!)
My point being that it’ll need 4 volts for full output.

Sorry, but I disagree. If the specification is that its sensitivity is 2 volts then this will provide the maximum output that the amplifier is capable of - 150W for the P1 and 300W for the P2

 

[Gray]

I just dont understand why they mention 1V if you can go way up.

is it minimum 1V? I dont get it

You can think of it as a minimum - they're saying it's the minimum amount required to achieve their rated output (that's why they mention 1v.)
If you put less than 1v in, whatever you do with the volume control, you won't reach the rated output.
But you won't exceed the rated output by putting more than 1v in.

HOWEVER 🙄 See post #17 🤪

 

[nopiano]

Sorry, but I disagree. If the specification is that its sensitivity is 2 volts then this will provide the maximum output that the amplifier is capable of - 150W for the P1 and 300W for the P2

No, that’s not what I said. Read it yourself…

P2 – Dual-Mono Power Amplifier - ATC Loudspeakers

Overview Upgrading from the P1 power amp, the P2 adds a much larger power supply and additional output MOSFETs to double power to 300W per channel. It is the ideal solution to drive speakers in larger rooms and/or when a loudspeaker presents a difficult load and will provide an effortless...

atc.audio

The P1 is a click away. They are BOTH 2v = 150 watts

 

[Gray]

No, that’s not what I said. Read it yourself…

P2 – Dual-Mono Power Amplifier - ATC Loudspeakers

Overview Upgrading from the P1 power amp, the P2 adds a much larger power supply and additional output MOSFETs to double power to 300W per channel. It is the ideal solution to drive speakers in larger rooms and/or when a loudspeaker presents a difficult load and will provide an effortless...

atc.audio

The P1 is a click away. They are BOTH 2v = 150 watts

Yes indeed, you're right, it all comes down to the specific quote of the spec.
I think it's more common to quote sensitivity for full rated output.
But in the above cases they do make it clear that 2v = 150W.

 

[Gray]

You can think of it as a minimum - they're saying it's the minimum amount required to achieve their rated output (that's why they mention 1v.)
If you put less than 1v in, whatever you do with the volume control, you won't reach the rated output.
But you won't exceed the rated output by putting more than 1v in.

BUT - you need to be sure that they are actually referencing full output - because in the ATC case, for example, they're not.

I can't understand why you're confused 😆🤪😆

 

[Gray]

Sorry, but I disagree. If the specification is that its sensitivity is 2 volts then this will provide the maximum output that the amplifier is capable of - 150W for the P1 and 300W for the P2

That's what I thought.....before I read the specific output that ATC are referencing (as pointed out by Nopiano in post #15).

 

[Roger_A]

No, that’s not what I said. Read it yourself…

P2 – Dual-Mono Power Amplifier - ATC Loudspeakers

Overview Upgrading from the P1 power amp, the P2 adds a much larger power supply and additional output MOSFETs to double power to 300W per channel. It is the ideal solution to drive speakers in larger rooms and/or when a loudspeaker presents a difficult load and will provide an effortless...

atc.audio

The P1 is a click away. They are BOTH 2v = 150 watts

My apologies. You're right and I have now read the specs. The strange thing is that they quote the sensitivity for 150W output, although the P2 has a maximum output of 300W, when usually the sensitivity is quoted for what will drive them to full output which is what I based my comments on.

 

[nopiano]

My apologies. You're right and I have now read the specs. The strange thing is that they quote the sensitivity for 150W output, although the P2 has a maximum output of 300W, when usually the sensitivity is quoted for what will drive them to full output which is what I based my comments on.

No problem. Now we just have to fathom what the complete spec is on the active speakers, as asked by the OP!