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Collaboration, Voice & AV · Foundational

Line Level

The standard audio signal level between devices, +4 dBu for professional gear and -10 dBV for consumer equipment.

Definition

Line level signals connect mixers, DSPs, players and amplifiers. Professional nominal level is +4 dBu (about 1.23 V RMS), while consumer nominal level is -10 dBV (about 0.316 V RMS), roughly 12 dB lower. Interfacing consumer and professional devices may require level matching to avoid noise or clipping.

Example

A consumer media player at -10 dBV feeds a professional DSP input set for +4 dBu, so the DSP input gain is raised about 12 dB.

Exam tip

Remember the reference voltages: dBu is referenced to 0.775 V and dBV to 1 V.

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