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Dynamic Headroom

By Robert Silva, About.com

Definition: Dynamic Headroom refers to the ability of a receiver or amplifier to output power at a significantly higher level than normal for short periods to accommodate musical peaks or extreme sound effects in films. This specification is important in home theater, where extreme changes in volume occur during the course of a film.

Dynamic Headroom is measured in Decibels. If a receiver/amplifier has the ability to double is power output for a brief period to accommodate the conditions described above, it would have a Dynamic Headroom of 3db.

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