Description

This article is from the Car Audio FAQ, by Ian D. Bjorhovde (ianbjor@mobileaudio.com) with numerous contributions by others.

4.2 How does speaker sensitivity affect real world SPL? Will a higher sensitivity give me a larger SPL? [MS]

When it comes to mids and highs, efficiency (sensitivity) is a fairly
good indicator of output differences at the same power level. When it
comes to subwoofer performance, the driver's sensitivity is irrelevant
unless you are also specifying a box volume.

An efficient sub requires a larger box to achieve equivalent extension
to a less efficient sub. In a small box, the less efficient sub will
actually be LOUDER at low frequencies at the SAME POWER as the more
efficient sub.

Linear excursion is a very good indicator of ultimate output capability
(given sufficient power to drive the speaker to that point.) To make
sound you must move air; therefore, the more air you move, the more
sound you make. When comparing two speakers of equal surface area, the
one with greater excursion capability will play louder given sufficient
power.

Continue to:

• prev: 4.1 What are "Thiele/Small parameters?" [CD, RDP]
• Index
• next: 4.3 What are the enclosure types available? [JLD, JG]