What does +4dBu output level mean in terms of voltage?

[Derro]

Looking at the specifications of some DACs there is reference to the input or output levels using dBu. I am totally new to digital audio and used to seeing output levels in terms of voltages!

How do I compare these against my old world voltages, if say an amplifier has an input voltage of 1V, or 0.5v. In otherwords, how do I know what the output voltage of the DAc will be and therefore know that I will not have too much or too little output voltage to feed my amplifier?

Behringer:
Output Level: +16dBu @ 0 dBFS"
Input Level : -4dBu to +22dBu for 0dBFS

Tapco:
Max Input Level: +4.5dBu
Max Output Level: +4.2dBu

Edirol:
Input Level: -36 to +4 dBu
Output Level : -2dBu

E-Mu:
Input Level: 12dBV (14.2dBu)
Output Level: +6dBV

Benchmark:
Output level: -6dBu to +13.5dBu

Hope that someone can shed some light on this matter for me and educate me!!!

Thanks,

DerrO

[Vinyl Grinder]

With those specs your dealing with the proffesional market (Studio)..I'm sure anyone knows what dB stands for...

dBu, 'u' stands for unloaded..
dBv, 'v' stands for volt..
dBv was the old name for dBu...

dBV is not the same as dBv tho.

Best i find you a link as it's hard to explain.

[Vinyl Grinder]

Here goes that should do it:

http://www.astralsound.com/the_decibel.htm

[Derro]

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