Calculate level (dBu or dBV) to voltage (VRMS)

This calculator converts a given signal level in dBu or dBV to the appropriate voltage level for sinusoidal waveforms.
Just enter either a level in dBu or in dBV, depending on your reference level.

Calculator

This calculator will output the voltage level for the entered decibel level.

dBu
dBV

The calculated voltage level is
0.000 Volt

Reference Base Voltage Application Standard Level Voltage at Standard Level
0 dBu 0.775 V RMS Professional +4 dBu 1.228 V RMS
0 dBV 1.0 V RMS Consumer / Home -10 dBV 0.316 V RMS
Since dBu is referenced to a smaller value, the same voltage will always come out 2.2 dB higher when referenced to dBu than when referenced to dBV. For example, 6 V = 15.56 dBV, but 17.78 dBu.
Another example: your manual specifies you need a signal level of -24 dBu. You can calculate the corresponding voltage here.
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Some background: dBu versus dBV versus dBm

เน What is dBu? A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V0 = 0.7746 volt โ‰ก 0 dBu.
It has a 'reference level' of +4dBu ~ 1,23 V.
The studio recording level (pro audio) of +4 dBu means a voltage of 1.228 volt.

เน What is dBV? A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V0 = 1.0000 volt โ‰ก 0 dBV
It has a 'reference level' of -10dBV ~ 316 mV.
The home recording level (consumer audio) of โˆ’10 dBV means 0.3162 volt, that is โˆ’7.78 dBu.

เน Domestic gear with a โˆ’10 dBV level is usually unbalanced. Studio gear with a +4 dBu level is always balanced.
0 VU = +4 dBu.
The level difference between +4 dBu studio level and โˆ’10 dBV consumer level is ฮ” L = 11.78 dB (12 dB).
The level difference between dBu level and dBV level is ฮ” L = 2.2 dB.
0 dBV equals 2.2 dBu or 0 dBu equals โˆ’2.2 dBV.

เน The maximum undistorted level of audio amplifiers is +18 dBu. In USA it is +24 dBu.

เน In professional audio, the distinction between dBm and dBu lies in their reference point: dBm measures power (referenced to 1 milliwatt into a 600-ohm load), whereas dBu measures voltage (referenced to 0.775 volts, regardless of impedance). Because vintage studio equipment was standardized to a 600-ohm impedance, +4 dBm and +4 dBu both result in exactly 1.228 Volts. While modern high-impedance equipment makes "dBu" the more technically accurate term for voltage measurements, the two are often used interchangeably in manuals to represent the same professional line level.