Thread: Whats a dBu ?
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Old November 2nd 05, 05:30 AM posted to uk.radio.amateur,uk.rec.audio
Stewart Pinkerton
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Default Whats a dBu ?

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:11:55 GMT, "alan ralph"
wrote:

Hi,

At a radio rally, I bought a ALC/AGC module for £5 which seems to be for
audio use. On the supplied data sheet is shows the input and output as
+4dBu. (Unity Gain) With an ALC range of -16 to +14 dBu and headroom 18dB.

Does anyone know what a dBu is ?


It's an old pro-audio industry reference voltage of 0.775 volts rms,
being the voltage required for 1mW into 600ohms. The U stands for
unloaded or unterminated, to show that it's a voltage rather than an
actual power level.

Your quoted value of +4dBU is 1.223 volts rms.
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Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering