Amplifiers and Signal Levels for Unpowered Speakers
Unpowered speakers require signals with higher voltage than consumer and
professional equipment can provide directly. These levels are known as speaker level
audio signals, while audio devices such as tape recorders and audio mixers usually
provide line level signals. An audio amplifier boosts line level signals to speaker levels to
properly drive speakers. Wide-gauge speaker cables that can handle the higher
electrical strength of speaker levels are used to connect the amplifier to speakers. For
more information about audio signal levels, see Volume 1, Chapter 12, “Connecting
Professional Video and Audio Equipment.”