Re: [OT] Practical Application of dB (SPL)


"Todd H." <bmiawmb@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:84abubakao.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Steve Freides" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
Brian, the science is years behind me and I don't remember it all, but I
believe sound pressure levels as measured in db are logarithmic which,
if I remember the definition of that term correctly, means that 110 db
is twice as loud as 100 db,

Your recollection is correct as a rule of thumb. But now we have the
added fun of the word "loud" here which invariably we'll have to
stress doesn't mean the same as "more intense" in terms of the sound
pressure level. :-)

A 10dB(SPL) increase requires 10x the electrical power to the speaker,
and represents 10x the acoustic power of the sound, but, is perceived
by human ears ronly as 2x as "loud."

I know I've messed up in there somewhere, so corrections to the above
are encouraged!

Nah, did rather well I'd say!


The "+10 dB = twice as loud" is a rule of thumb and a rather rough one.
Acutally it varies with frequency and the individual, a 6dB increase in the
midrange where the ear is most sensitive will be perceived as twice as loud
by many people.


.

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