Curious if anyone is using a base line watts to SPL calculation when planning their builds. Aka, when purchasing equipment are you seeking a specific minimum decibel level for your desired build?
What would be a daily rider minimum recommended dB for highway riding?
Backroad or bar hopper riding?
Featherweight competition classes?
Lightweight competition classes?
Middleweight competition classes?
Etc?

Keep in mind that sound quality is paramount however that sound quality should probably be at optimum levels all the way up thru the desired dB for your mission.

Is a program power on an amp at 100w and 2 fairing speakers at 92 spl going to deliver what it takes at 75 mph?
Are they going to blend well with TP speakers off the same amp that are 98 spl? What's the impact to that balancing act regarding DBs?

Just see a lot of discussion about "is this enough watts" or "can I power my speakers off my 45 watt HU" or "all watts are not created equal" or "my JL 600/6 is powering 18 speakers" lol thus imho the dB factor can play a big role when planning your specific build.

In no way in hell am I advocating the dB meter competition shix and that's anti-sql, but I do think an awareness of what DBs can be expected or targeted as we find max clean watts out of amps and that relationship to SPL is important.

A simple calculator can tell u the expected DBs, but what dB is reasonable for the various builds, speaker locations, total watts on the sled, riding style, etc?

Is 115 dB enough for a 4 speaker daily rider setup?
Is 122 enough for a featherweight sled tuned to near perfect balance and SQL?

Just thinking out loud here as this too is a very subjective topic but I do think it's yet another detail to consider individually as we all plan for our personal finish lines/goals.

T

 

Very interesting topic. Looking forward to this discussion and maybe some answers. Like you said, very subjective, with lots of variables that can/do come into play.

 

Very interesting topic and I look forward to seeing the responses here. I'm a very big fan of the JL XD line of amps. Do they have tons of power? Most certainly not. But I do know that for my ears it gives the most sound quality. Of the 5 amps I have had hooked up to the same fairing speakers, the JL wins hands down. I have had amps with more than 2x the power pushing the same speakers and while they did get louder, I felt I was missing the natural warmth and SQ the JL gave.
Could I be louder with more watts? Most definitely. Do I need it to ride at 75-80 mph and still here my music crystal clear? No i don't.
I'm still very green when it comes to the dsp tuning and maybe that would make a difference with the other amps. I just dont have the time to really learn all the dsp has to offer. For me it works, for others it may not and that is what makes this adventure fun. Everyone hears things differently and has their own idea of what they want.
I do look for speakers with at least 95 dbspl when I'm considering a new set because I dont have 400 watts to give them. Also depending on location I may search for even higher. Lots of good choices for me that range

 

Now that I have had my coffee.

We all now it takes almost double the power to gain 3DB. Most of your 2 speaker systems with 200 watts to each speaker will put you about 115+DB. That DB will only carry a certain range of frequencies. So we will not hear lows below 100 hertz. Not that to many 6.5 will carry that frequecy very well without sounding muddy. So this is why the midrange is a popular style speaker in the fairing with a good tweeter or horn.

 

So I'm one who went with the plug and play route and then found this forum and have attended a couple competitions now, and have entered into the rebuilding my system quest. My question is there a rule of thumb when selecting a amp.

I have 10" speakers in my bags that are rated 300 aes and 600 watts program, do you select a amp that will run at program power or somewhere in-between the 2 ratings.

Lots of talk about planning the system before buying, which makes sense but what all does that envolve especially for a novice? How do I know if I want coax in the fairing or mid range with horns, what lower speakers will compliment my fairing selections?
I've heard several systems and talked with the owners about what they are running, just don't always understand the why or what to pair together.

 

In my limited experience I have found that my ears can use a little lower spl speaker in the fairing with 125 and up watts. It seems to add a little more warmth to that stage. For my lowers, same watts with a little higher db speaker. I lose warmth that I wouldn't hear going down the road, but I gain db that overcomes the ambient noises.

My lids are fine parked but lose too much on the move. I'm in the process of rethinking my rear stages. Adding more watts to the lids. While I dig the 880, I think they lack mids and some highs. Adding to the rear stages, I'm hopeful that will bring it all together.

The 125w + going down the road on the front stages is plenty enough to hear at 70mph. I attribute a lot of that because the higher spl in the lowers.

 

Are you talking about watts in relation to speaker dB rating or measuring a bikes dB output in general. If the later then it’s nearly impossible to measure it consistent enough to say “you need these many watts to be this loud” without first figuring out what we’re measuring. Also it’s not just power that makes a system louder.

 

I got the feeling that we were looking/listening for the bikes total dB output. that being said, i think that every individual person's actual hearing quality comes into play to a certain extent and whatever deficiencies that persons hearing has. I have a severe hi frequency loss and a mild loss in general, so what's loud to one person, might not be loud enough for me. just my first thought.
m

 

Its tough because "DB" output doesn't = great or decent sound.

Dude this is a rabbit hole.
Wayyy to many variables.

 

Don't get too far out over the tips of ur skis here brother. This can be a very basic discussion so folks seek out build equipment & strategies that help them obtain their goals or they can just buy shix and hope for the best.

DBs play a big role in many aspects of this so take ur pick on what aspect and let's just try and learn a bit how to leverage that measurement and stay out of weeds if we can.

T