SPL = Sound Pressure Level (in dB or dB(A))
Frequency weighting, dB(A), dB(C), dB(Z)
dB(A) – weighting factor which takes in consideration the sensitivity of the human hearing. As our body perceives high frequency sounds more disturbing than low frequency sounds, the dB(A) weighting was introduced. This way, a higher dB(A) level always sounds louder for humans than a lower dB(A) level.
dB(C) – weighting gives more emphasis to low frequencies
dB(Z) – is also called unweighted, linear or flat, no weighting is applied
sound weighting graphs decibel
LAmax = The maximum level with A-weighted frequency response in Fast or Slow time constant.
LAmin = The minimum level with A-weighted frequency response in Fast or Slow time constant.
Lpeak = The true peak level in sound pressure (without time constant), typically a Lpeak will be 3 dB higher than Lmax
1/1 octave filtering – frequencies of measured sound divided in octave bands filtering
1/3 octave filtering – frequencies of measured sound divided in third octave bands filtering
Leq = equivalent sound pressure level over a given time, equivalent continuous sound level
moving Leq = running Leq – the running or moving equivalent continuous sound level
L10 – the sound level that is exceeded 10% of the time
L90 – the sound level that is exceeded 90% of the time
Lxx – the statistical value of the sound level that is exceeded xx% of the time
More info at WikiPedia
Example of sound level:
Sound sources (noise) Examples with distance |
Sound pressure Level Lp dB(A) SPL |
Aircraft, 50 m distance | 140 dB(A) |
Threshold of pain ! | 130 dB(A) |
Threshold of severe discomfort. | 120 dB(A) |
Chainsaw, sledgehammer, 1 m distance | 110 dB(A) |
Disco (average), 1 m from speaker | 100 dB(A) |
Big truck, 10 m distance |
90 dB(A) |
Footpath next to a busy road Sound Level where noise induced hearlng loss starts ! |
80 – 85 dB(A) 80 dB(A) |
Vacuum cleaner, distance 1 m | 70 dB(A) |
Conversational speech, distance 1 m | 60 dB(A) |
Average home | 50 dB(A) |
Quiet library | 40 dB(A) |
Very quiet bedroom | 30 dB(A) |
Background in recording studio or anechoic room | 20 dB(A) |
Rustling leaves in the distance | 10 dB(A) |
Hearing threshold | 0 dB(A) |