Speaker sensitivity, impedance, and calculating amp power


This is an elementary question, but I'm not quite understanding how to match amp power to speakers. When I searched around on this forum, I found many discussions which went deep into the weeds. I am hoping for a way of calculating the level of amplifier power I need for speakers with different sensitivities and impedances.

If you have the patience, here's the basic question. So, I've learned that one must consider a number of factors to calculate the amount of amplifier power to drive the speaker:

Sensitivity of the loudspeaker
Loss of db at the listening position
SPL desired at listening position
Amount of headroom desired

Most discussion of the demands a speaker will make on an amp focus on the speaker sensitivity. But the speakers I'm considering vary also in their impedance. How would I use both of those factors to estimate necessary amplifier power to drive them with a comfortable amount of headroom?


128x128hilde45

Showing 1 response by jchiappinelli

Erik (or anyone),

You stated:
So, if you have an 89 dB sensitive speaker, and apply 100 watts, the output at 1 meter will be 109 dB. 
What is the formula for calculating what the SPL would be at 3 meters (typical listening position) rather than 1 meter?

Thanks,
J.Chip