Convert dBm to dB conversion to volt voltage V to dB dBu dBV dBm mW power level analog audio power watts kilo watt convertor converter audio engineering sound recording - sengpielaudio
 
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● Conversion: Voltage V to Level, dB, dBu, dBV,
and power level dBm with impedance value ●
 
Usually we measure AC voltage V as voltsRMS.
The RMS value of a set of values is the square root of the
arithmetic mean (average) of the squares of the original values.

 
 Voltage V  volts (Root Mean Square = RMS)
 
         ↓         
 
 Voltage level L   
Lu dBu Reference: 0.775 V
LV dBV Reference: 1 V
 Power level L Not used for audio!
L  dBm > > >   ref. 1 mW at ohms
 
The index u at decibel (dB) means unloaded source, V (volt). Some say: The "u" in dBu
implies also that the load impedance is unspecified, or unterminated and is likely to be high.
The index m at dB (decibel) means 1 milliwatt (power) as reference value for 0 dB.
 
If the reverse conversion dBu, or dBV to volts is needed, go to the converter at the bottom.
 
● What is dBu? That has nothing to do with power.
A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V0= 0.7746 volt ≡ 0 dBu
 
● What is dBV?
A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V0 = 1.0000 volt ≡ 0 dBV
The max. domestic recording level of −10 dBV means 0.3162 volts, that is −7.78 dBu
 
Level   Formula volt to level        Voltage   Formula level to volt
 
● What is dBm? That has nothing to do with voltage.
A logarithmic ratio with a reference power of P0 = 1.000 milliwatt ≡ 0 dBm.
The pseudo unit "dBm" is not used in audio and in sound recording.
With the known impedance value you can convert voltage V to level dBm (power) and vice versa.
Often an impedance of 600 ohms or 50 ohms is assumed.
 
For radio frequency systems (RF), impedance matching or power matching is absolutely essential.
 
Level  Formel      Power   Formel 

Rainbow line

● The dBm calculator for impedance matching
or power matching ●
 
 
In sound engineering there is no Power matching or Impedance matching.
In audio we use only Voltage bridging or high Impedance bridging.
 

Enter two values, the third value will be calculated.
Voltage V, level L, and impedance Z.

 
Voltage V   V RMS
 Power level L   dBm re 1 mW 
Impedance Z   Ω
 
 

dBm indicates that the reference power is P0 = 1 milliwatt = 0.001 watt ≡ 0 dBm
To use the calculator, simply enter a value.
The calculator works in both directions of the ↔ sign.

 
Electric power (phone) P: 
watts 		  ↔  Electric Power level LP:
dBm
Start   Start
Reference power P0 = 1 milliwatt (mW) = 0.001 W ≡ 0 dBm

Telephone lines need an input impedance and
an output impedance of 600 ohms for
impedance matching (power matching).

Reference voltage at 600 ohms – 1 mW according to 0 dBm
weiter
Reference voltage at 50 Ohm – 1 mW according to 0 dBm
weiter
 
dBu is a voltage standard where "zero" (as in zero dB on your meters) is considered to be
0.775 volts and +4 dBu is therefore 1.23 volts. dBm is a power measurement (the "m" stands
for milliwatts), where +4 also happens to be 1.23 volts if the load impedance is 600 ohms.
In many cases (and this is "old school" audio) a 600 ohm load can be assumed, however,
in modern day interconnects input impedances are usually much higher, which kind of renders
the dBm standard useless. This is one reason why most gear is rated in dBu, or in dBV
(another voltage standard).

Impedance matching Z2 = Z1 for telephone (phone) lines
Transformer matched 600 ohm phone transmission line

Telephone line amplifier 1 → Telephone line amplifier 2
phone amp
phone amp
 Source impedance Z2    ohms    |      Load impedance Z1  ohms
 
   Voltage damping by load Δ L   dB
   Damping factor DF  = Zin / Zout
● Definition of dBm
 
dBm is defined as power ratio in decibel (dB) referenced to one milliwatt (mW). It is an
abbreviation for dB with respect to 1 mW and the "m" in dBm stands for milliwatt.
 
dBm is different from dB. dBm represents absolute power, whereas in audio engineering the
decibel is usually a voltage ratio of two values and is used then to represent gain or attenuation
of an audio amplifier, or an audio damping pad.
 
If you use modern audio equipment in sound engineering, calculations used at typically
600 ohms impedance for telephone lines or 50 ohmsfor antennas, are not correct.
Matching impedance for power is not used in the field of audio.
You will only use voltage bridging or impedance bridging Zout << Zin (Zsource << Zload)
 
Here are adequate calculators for audio voltage and voltage levels:

Converter: Decibel to Voltage and vice versa
 
Measurement of input impedance and output impedance

 
 
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