Need help understanding Speaker Spec. terminology

[Methodical]

Hello all. I need help understanding the specs of my speakers. My surround speakers states the following:


Frequency Range: 50Hz-27kHz
-3db limits: 50Hz-26Khz

What does -3db limits mean?

Thanks

 

[emorphien]

I googled for a better answer than I can give you and the first I got was from Best Buy. I haven't read it all yet but...

That "±3 dB" thing means that, when fed with a signal of a certain voltage within the 50 Hz to 20 kHz range, the speaker will give you an audible sound that's no more than 3 decibels louder or softer than the speaker's median response. If a speaker actually plays within ±3 dB through its entire useful range, that's good. (And ±2 dB is great.)

There are a couple of problems with this spec, though. First of all, two speakers with exactly the same rated frequency response can sound completely different. Say one measures +3 dB from 80 Hz to 500 Hz, and -3 dB from 5 kHz to 20 kHz. It'll sound very bloated, boomy and dull. Another speaker might measure -3 dB from 80 Hz to 500 Hz, and +3 dB from 5 kHz to 20 kHz. This one will sound very bright, thin and fatiguing. Same specs, completely different sound.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12077&categoryRep=cat03000&guideID=1043363122371&type=page

 

[no. 5]

What does -3db limits mean?

basicly, it meens that any sound in the frequencys outside those points will be a lot quieter then sounds between the two -3dB points.

so, for your surround speakers it meens that as bass goes lower, 50Hz, 42Hz, 30Hz, it will get quieter to the point that it is inaudible, same for the trebel: the higher above 26kHz (27kHz, 26kHz ect) the quieter it will be (compaired to sounds between the two -3dB points).

of corse for realy useful information a graf is the way to go, but so few companys suply those.

 

[Methodical]

Ahhhh. Thanks for the info. Learned something new today

 

[no. 5]

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