Maximum dB SPL from a digital microphone

1. What is maximum SPL for microphones?
2. Do dynamic mics have a max SPL?
3. What should my dB levels Be microphone?
4. What is considered high SPL?
5. What is +10 dB on a mic?
6. How loud is SPL?

What is maximum SPL for microphones?

Max SPL, or maximum sound pressure level, means the highest sound level a microphone can handle before distorting.

Do dynamic mics have a max SPL?

A dynamic mic has no electronics and its SPL limit is a physical limitation: the point where the diaphragm hits the magnet and can move no further. Even with very inexpensive models, this limit tends to be over 180 dB SPL, that is like the sound level of a Saturn V rocket at 5 feet.

What should my dB levels Be microphone?

Most analog electret and MEMS microphones have sensitivity between –46 dBV and –35 dBV (5.0 mV/Pa to 17.8 mV/Pa). This level is a good compromise between the noise floor—which can be as low as 29 dB SPL for the ADMP504 and ADMP521 MEMS microphones—and the maximum acoustic input—which is typically about 120 dB SPL.

What is considered high SPL?

Max SPL is how loud the speaker can play before it breaks or starts to sound really bad. Most sound systems & PA used for Live Music or DJ's usually have a MAX SPL (Sound Pressure Level per speaker) that is between 100-130dB.

What is +10 dB on a mic?

The -10 dB switch you see on some microphones is a "pad" switch, which attenuates the output of the microphone by 10dB. You would use that when recording a very loud source where the microphone output is overdriving your microphone preamp even with the preamp set to the minimum levels.

How loud is SPL?

An SPL meter typically displays a range of sound pressure levels from 20 dB to 140 dB, although it is possible to measure lower and higher than this range.