I think Reference Levels are 85db with 20db headroom, which would take the peak to 105db, however, the peak on the Subwoofer is up to 115db. This is all with the AV Receiver volume control set to 0db.
Though this is measured with Calibrated Test Tones, there is no guarantee that the average level of a common movie will be this loud.
As someone pointed out, the speaker Sensitivity, is rated at a distance o
f 1 meter with
1 watt of input for 8 ohm speakers. That is a spec that allows you to compare all speakers fairly. But remember this is with only ONE WATT.
If the speakers are rate at 92db/1w/1m the this is how the output ramps up.
1w = 92db
2w = 95db
4w = 98db
8w = 101db
16w = 104db
32w = 107db
(exceeds Reference Level)
64w = 110db
Because of the limits of the ability of the speaker to travel, know as Excursion Limit, there may be a rated peak sound output. But it is typically well above 100db.
If you look at the spec on the
Monitor Audio Bronze 2, as an example, its Sensitivity rating is 90db, but its Maximum SPL is 113db/pair.
Bronze 2
Sensitivity (1W@1M): 90dB
Maximum SPL (dBA @1M – each): 113dBA (pair)
Again a reminder that the Reference Peaks on the Front/Surround speakers is 105db, it is the Subwoofer that goes to 115db Peak.
Any thing 90db and above would be consider very efficient with a high output per watt of input, any thing 90db and below would be considered a bit lower output, but still a perfectly good sounding workable speaker. When speaker drop below about 85db, they start to move into the low efficiency side. Though there are many low Sensitivity speakers that sound stunning, you just need a little more amp to drive them.
Steve/bluewizard