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Collaboration, Voice & AV · Foundational

Headroom

The difference in decibels between a system's nominal operating level and the level at which it clips.

Definition

Headroom allows peaks and transients to pass without distortion. Professional systems with +4 dBu nominal level and +24 dBu maximum output provide 20 dB of headroom. Digital systems express headroom relative to 0 dBFS, the maximum digital level.

Example

With nominal level at -18 dBFS, the system has 18 dB of headroom before digital clipping.

Exam tip

Headroom equals maximum level minus nominal level; dynamic range equals maximum minus noise floor.

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