If this were a home theater review website, we’d likely use dB(C) SPL, or C-weighted numbers. That simply means we’re using an A-weighted SPL reading. You may see OPE Reviews and others list 88 dB(A) SPL or 88 dBA SPL. What’s the Deal with A-Weighted vs C-Weighted dB SPL? So, let’s go back to our initial 60 dB conversation… Another conversation measuring: In case you’re wondering-your vacuum cleaner might be that loud! Your ears can begin taking damage starting around 85 dB(A) with prolonged exposure. Keep in mind that as you go up the dB(A) chart, both your perception of sound as well as the actual SPL increases. Below we’ve included one of our favorites. You can find any number of decibel-equivalent examples that help in understanding how loud real world situations are to the human ear. Secondly, we need to understand how SPL affects just how loud something sounds. First, we need to understand that we can measure the actualsound pressure level. We need to keep two things straight when dealing with matters pertaining to the dB scale. Sound Pressure Level and the Decibel Scale For example, we have a lot of testing data and science that lets us know what levels of sound pressure can be sustained safely over various periods of time. Taking that data we can do some amazing things-like calculate ways to prevent hearing loss. Why are we talking about sound pressure levels and decibels? Well, for one, they give us the very numerical scale we use when referring to how loud something is. For the most part, we’re talking about air-and we assume 0 atmospheres (even though that’s not quite accurate). OK, fine-but what IS sound pressure level? SPL measures the difference between the pressure from a sound wave vs the pressure of what it’s traveling through. While it natively uses Pascals (Pa) as a unit of measurement, we use devices that automatically convert that into the more commonly-used decibel (dB) scale. SPL or sound pressure level-in a nutshell-is a measurement of sound pressure. Keeping all that in mind, we assembled a quick article that covers both sound pressure level (SPL) and the decibel scale (or dB scale) in depth. Similarly, most don’t understand the decibel or dB scale either. In particular, we get the what is sound pressure level question almost monthly. While the gas vs battery lawn mower debate heats up and results in less noise pollution, many still have questions. Any time you see a landscape crew, they have over-the-ear earmuffs or other hearing protection (like the ISOtunes Link) to guard against noise. We talk a lot about hearing protection on the jobsite.
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