Church & Univeristy Carillon Bell Products: Westminster Chimes, Church Bell Hymns



Welcome To CompuChime's Belfry
A Place To Find Answers To Common Questions


How loud will my speakers be, and how much range can I expect?

The data below is based on the manufacturers
data, and two well known properties of sound
Sound level increases 3 db for each doubling of power (Table 1)
Sound level drops 6 db for each doubling of distance from the source (Table 2)

Sound pressure level versus power input to CompuChime Bell speaker at 1 Meter

Note: Internal Horns rated at: SPL = 107 db ( 1 W - 1 M ) / 40 Watts RMS power

Table 1

RMS Watts Input To Speaker
Distance From Speaker In Meters
db Level

1 Watt
1 Meter
107 db (This is the manufacturers spec.)

2
"
110

4
"
113

8
"
116

16
"
119

32 (Speakers rated 40 Watts RMS)
"
122

Note: The sound level increases 3 db for each doubling of power given the same distance

This table estimates the range of the CompuChime bell speaker based on manufacturers data

Conditions are: 32 Watts into speaker, 50 db background noise

Table 2

32 Watts
1 Meter
122 db

"
2 Meters
116 db

"
4
110

"
8
104

"
16
98

"
32
92

"
64
86

"
128
80

"
256
74

"
512
68

"
1024
62

"
2048
56

"
4096 (12288 Feet - 2.3 Miles)
50 (Loudness of Normal Conversation)

Note: The sound level drops 6 db for each doubling of distance

This table estimates the sound level to be 50 db at 2.3 miles. Actual level will vary for off axis readings and obstructions.



What Is Wrong With My Speakers?
They Are Not As Loud As I Expected

Horn speakers are designed to focus sound energy in a manner similar to a person yelling into coupled hands to form a funnel. The idea is to project the sound out as far as possible, but also provide the necessary acoustical coupling for the small diaphragm located in the horns driver. Quite often, when people stand under a church steeple, they expect the carillon speakers to produce a sound level much like the sound from a real bell. If the speakers were pointed right at you, this might be accomplished. However, the speakers are typically pointed towards the horizon. If you were to walk away from the church, you might notice the sound level stays about the same. In other words, the sound level is not getting weaker as you move further away. This is because, the sound level decreases with distance, but the level also increases as you mover closer to the horns focus point.



I Want To Build My Own Carillon But Don't Know Where To Start

When building a carillon, several items should be considered. A little forethought and research might save you from experiencing a lot of frustration and rework later on.












Copyright © 2004 American MicroTech Inc.
All rights reserved

Sound pressure level versus power input to CompuChime Bell speaker at 1 Meter Note: Internal Horns rated at: SPL = 107 db ( 1 W - 1 M ) / 40 Watts RMS power
Table 1
RMS Watts Input To Speaker	Distance From Speaker In Meters	db Level

1 Watt	1 Meter	107 db (This is the manufacturers spec.)
2	"	110
4	"	113
8	"	116
16	"	119
32 (Speakers rated 40 Watts RMS)	"	122
Note: The sound level increases 3 db for each doubling of power given the same distance
This table estimates the range of the CompuChime bell speaker based on manufacturers data Conditions are: 32 Watts into speaker, 50 db background noise
Table 2
32 Watts	1 Meter	122 db
"	2 Meters	116 db
"	4	110
"	8	104
"	16	98
"	32	92
"	64	86
"	128	80
"	256	74
"	512	68
"	1024	62
"	2048	56
"	4096 (12288 Feet - 2.3 Miles)	50 (Loudness of Normal Conversation)

Note: The sound level drops 6 db for each doubling of distance This table estimates the sound level to be 50 db at 2.3 miles. Actual level will vary for off axis readings and obstructions.