Judge Your Systems Loudness Here !!!

A very interesting, detailed depth map, which describes the signs and symptoms with each bit of an increase in SPL (dB). Enjoy


Decibel's (db) are units of the ratios in this table are expressed in decibels and atmospheric in this table are representative of the object (N) and not necessarily what the listener or sound level meter experiences (P).

(N) = NORMALIZED TOTAL AIR POWER ENERGY LEVEL SOUND PLUS ANY WIND, WATTS OR JOULES PER SECOND.THESE LEVELS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED

(P) = ACTUAL PEAK PRESSURE METER READINGS i.e. A FORCE PER UNIT AREA

(NP) = NORMALIZED PRESSURE USED IN EXPLOSIVE MEASUREMENTS, BLAST WIND IS NOT INCLUDED

(Q) = BLAST WIND DYNAMIC PRESSURE CREATED BY THE PEAK SHOCK FRONT OVERPRESSURE (P)

REF. = REFERENCE NUMBER OF DATA SOURCE AND YEAR IN APPENDIX BELOW

DECIBEL LEVEL (N = NORMALIZED)( P = ACTUAL PRESSURE) (NP = BOMB PRESSURE) CAUSE OR EFFECT

-80?(P) UNDERWATER NUCLEAR SUBMARINE MICROPHONES LISTENING TO SHRIMP CHEWING ON FOOD AT 100 METERS DISTANCE

-30 (N) ONE HUMAN TALKING 20 MILES AWAY ( 60 DB / METER AT A DISTANCE OF 20 MILES )-REF.1.2003

-4 TO +4 (N) THE TICKING OF AN ORDINARY WRISTWATCH AT 1 METER -REF.1 2003

0 (N) BEGINNING OF HEARING, A MOSQUITO 10 FEET AWAY, THE EAR DRUM MOVES LESS -REF.1.1990
THAN 1 / 100 THE LENGTH OF AN AIR MOLECULE (N)

3.5 (P) 1E-10 METERS OF MERCURY = 0.0000000001 METERS OF MERCURY

10 (P) ABSOLUTE SILENCE, ATT-BELL LABORATORY � QUIET ROOM �

13 (P) ORDINARY LIGHT BULB HUM

15 (N) A PIN DROP FROM A HIEGHT OF 1 CENTIMETER AT A DISTANCE OF 1 METER -REF.1.2003

30 (P) TOTALLY QUIET NIGHTIME IN DESERT-IMPOSSIBLE ANYWHERE NEAR CITY

35 (P) ANECHOIC HEARING TEST ROOM -REF.1. 1998

40 A WHISPER, A NORMAL CONVERSATION IS 60 DB, NORMAL SOUND 70 DB -REF.1.1983

73.98(P) = 1 uBAR = 1 microbar pressure
85 BEGINNING OF HEARING DAMAGE, EARPLUGS SHOULD BE WORN

93.98(P) = 1 PASCAL PRESSURE

100 NORMAL AVERAGE CAR OR HOUSE STEREO AT MAXIMUM VOLUME -REF.1.1982

107-104 (P) THE BEGINNING OF PAIN AT THE MOST SENSITIVE FREQUENCY OF 2750 HERTZ -REF.1.1982

109 ONE SOUND WATT RADIATING AS A PERFECT SPHERE, 4 PI SQUARE METERS -REF.1. 1986

110 A CAR STEREO WITH TWO 6 X 9� SPEAKERS AND 100 WATTS -REF.1.1982

113.81(P) = 1 MILLIMETER WATER

114-107 A VERY LARGE, POWERFUL PORTABLE RADIO REF.1.1982

116 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO PERCIEVE VIBRATION IN THE LOW FREQUENCIES -REF.1.1986

117-123 HOME STEREO SYSTEM, A VERY LOUD AND POWERFUL 200-2000 WATTS -REF.1.1983

120.24(P) ONE PURE SOUND WATT FLOWING THROUGH 1 SQUARE METER, YOUR ELECTRIC AMPLIFIER MAY BE 3000 WATTS.ALSO A TESTIMONY TO HEARING SENSITIVITY -REF.1.1986

120-130 FRONT ROW AT A ROCK CONCERT- UP TO 200 REFRIGERATOR SIZE SPEAKERS
AND 50000-300000 WATTS OF CLEAN, FULL FREQUENCY SOUND -REF.1.1981

125 DRUM SET-ONLY AT THE MOMENT OF STRIKING, CONTINOUS LEVEL

126-130 TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL D.J. SYSTEM -REF.1.1984

127 HUMAN TINNITUS (RINGING IN THE EARS) BEGINS -REF.1.1984

127.48 = 1 pound per square foot

128 (P)HUMAN, LOUDEST SCREAM MEASURED AT A DISTANCE OF 8 FEET 2 INCHES

128 HUMAN HEAD HAIR BEGINS TO DETECT VIBRATION -REF.1.1983

128 HUMAN CAN BEGIN TO DETECT VERY SLOW �BLAST WIND� OF 0.124 METERS/SECOND -REF.1.1983

130 (N)MARCHING BAND-OVERALL LEVEL AT A DISTANCE, 100-200 MEMBERS -REF.1.1996

132 EARDRUM �FLEX� TOTALLY NOTICEABLE -REF.1.1982

132.4(P) = 1 SOUND WATT MAXIMUM IN A SMALL SEALED BOX BELOW HYDRODYNAMIC CRITICAL LOW FREQUENCY

133 (N)GUNSHOT- EAR LEVEL, MAY VARY GREATLY TO SIZE AND TYPE OF GUN,
DURATION CONVERTED TO ONE SECOND, PEAK LEVEL MAY REACH 140-160 (P)

133.98 (P) = 1 MILLIBAR PRESSURE

135-122 (P) �VERY LOUD� CAR STEREO, ONLY BASS LEVEL, HIGHS RARELY ABOVE 115(P) -REF.1.1983

135-130(N) LARGE TRAIN HORN -REF.1.1985

135 HUMAN, A SLIGHT COOLING EFFECT BEGINS TO BE NOTICED, FROM AIR EXPANSION -REF.1.1983

136.498(P) = 1 TORR PRESSURE = 1 MILLIMETER MERCURY

137 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS STRONG -REF.1.1983

137-140 HUMAN EAR ALL FREQUENCIES ARE PAINFUL -REF.1.1983

140 EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO HEARING NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE TIME EXPOSURE

140 BLAST WIND = U = (PARTICLE VELOCITY) IS 0.49 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 1 MPH

140 HUMAN THROAT AND VOCAL CORD VIBRATION BEGINS -REF.1.1983
141 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO FEEL NASUEA AFTER A FEW MINUTES -REF.1.1983

141.918(P) = 1 INCH OF WATER PRESSURE

142 HUMAN BODY CHESTPOUNDING IS INTENCE -REF.1.1983

142 (P) INSIDE A CAR WITH TWO PRO 18 INCH WOOFERS AND 300 WATTS EACH -REF.1.1983

143 HUMAN BODY FEELS AS IF SOMEONE JUST FOOTBALL TACKLED YOUR CHEST -REF.1.1983

144 HUMAN NOSE ITCHES -REF.1.1983

145 HUMAN VISION BEGINS TO VIBRATE MAKING IT SLIGHTLY BLURRY, 1-3 DEGREES -REF.1.1983

145-136 (P)�COMPETITION� CAR STEREO, SIXTEEN 12 OR EIGHT 15, OR FOUR 18 SPEAKERS -REF.1.1983

146.1(P) AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY(WIND) IS 1 METER PER SECOND OR ABOUT 2 MILES PER HOUR

147 (N)FORMULA 1 RACE CAR, 700 HORSEPOWER, CHESTPOUNDING AND SUCTION FORCE ON CALM QUIET
MORNINGS CAN CLEARLY BE HEARD 6 MILES AWAY.-REF.1.1991

148 HUMAN VIBRATION VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND SLIGHTLY PAINFUL -REF.1.198

149 HUMAN LUNGS AND BREATHING BEGINS VIBRATING TO THE SOUND -REF.1.1986

150 (N)ROCK CONCERT �THE WHO� TWO 10 STORY STACKS = 144 DOUBLE REFRIDGERATOR SIZED SPEAKERS, ACTUAL LEVEL REACHED 120 DB AT A DISTANCE OF 32 METERS FOR THIS NORMALIZED READING OF 150 DB.CONTINOUS LEVEL 114-118db (P) AT 32 METERS -REF.1.1982

150 ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER AT 1600 WATTS ON THE ACTUAL VIBRATING SURFACE -REF.1.1991

150 HUMAN SENSATION OF BEING COMPRESSED AS IF UNDERWATER IS OVERWHELMING -REF.1.1983

150 HUMAN SOUND EXPERIMENTS DOWN TO 1 TO 2 HERTZ - REF.13.

152 HUMAN VIBRATION IS PAINUL AND ALSO FELT IN ALL JOINTS -REF.1.1983

153 HUMAN THROAT IS VIBRATING SO HARD IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SWALLOW -REF.1.1983

154 TOY BALLOON POPPING, DEPENDS ON TYPE AND HOW LARGE AND HARD TO INFLATE -REF.1.1986

155 HUMAN BODY COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION TO VIBRATION IS TO THE �CORE� -REF.1.1983

155 HUMAN COOLING EFFECT IS HIGH, AS A GUESS 10 TO 25 DEGREES FARENHEIT? -REF.1.1983

156 (P)IN A MINI-VAN WITH TWENTY 12� WOOFERS AND 19,000 WATTS OF AMPLIFIER POWER.
EACH SPEAKERS IS DISPLACING (PUMPING BACK AND FORTH ) 0.75 INCHES
IF LONG HAIR WOMEN SIT IN IT, HER HAIR WILL FLY OUT OF WINDOW WITH BASS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLY OFF VEHICLE 1/2 TO 2 INCHES, DOOR AND FRONT
WINDSHIELD FLEXION MAY BE UP TO +-2 INCHES OR 4 INCHES PEAK TO PEAK
EVEN WITH EARPLUGS (-30 DB) AND HEADMUFFS (-24 DB) = -54 DB IT�S STILL LOUD -REF.1.1997

156.498(P) = 1 CENTIMETER MERCURY = 0.01 METERS MERCURY

158 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS VIOLENT, NAUSEA BECOMES MORE INTENCE -REF.1.1983

158 (P)INSIDE A ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER BOX REFRIDGERATOR SIZE AT MAX. 5000 WATTS -REF.1.1983

160 (P)FLASHLIGHTS EXHIBIT ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSING-EMP (DIMMING DURING SOUND) -REF.1.1983

162 U.S. FESTIVAL ROCK CONCERT 1983. 10 SEPARATE STACKS, AMPS = 400,000 WATTS (N) -REF.1.1983,-REF.3.

163-153 (N) N.H.R.A. DRAGSTERS- 5000 TO 7000 HORSEPOWER, LIQUID NITROGLYCERIN FUEL,

EARTHSHAKING AT 50 FEET, HUMANS FIND IT HARD TO SEE, AND BREATHE 140db(P) -REF.1.1987

163 (P)GLASSBREAKING LEVEL, MINIMUM, IT IS VERY HARD TO BREAK GLASS WINDOWS.
MANY STORIES COME FROM BREAKING GLASS BUT IT IS HIGHLY VARIABLE: IT IS
EASIER TO BREAK IF THE WINDOW ALREADY HAS A CRACK, IS VERY LARGE OR
OLD AND BRITTLE AND NOT CAR SAFETY GLASS WHICH CAN FLEX MASSIVELY
BEFORE BREAKING. AN OPERA SINGER AT 110 DB MAY BREAK A WINEGLASS BUT IT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF FREQUENCY RESONANCE, AND NOT HIGH SOUND DB LEVEL -REF.1.1987

163 (N)OCEAN WHALE REFERENCE 2 EXP-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER

164 (P)INTERNAL SOUND PRESSURE OF A LARGE JET AIRPLANE TURBINE MOTOR -REF.1.1993

164.568(P) = 1 INCH MERCURY PRESSURE

165-145 (NP) THE COMMON TYPE OF FIREWORKS AT PROFESSIONAL PYROTECHNIC SHOWS -REF.1.1988

165 (N)JET AIRPLANE, BOEING 727-15,000 LBS OF THRUST, DEPENDS ON THE TAKEOFF -REF.1.1982

165(P) MOTOR DRIVEN PISTON HEADPHONES -REF.16.

166 AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY IS 10 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR

170.75 PRESSURE (P) = 1 P.S.I. = 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH MOST SOUND READINGS
HIGHER THAN THIS REFER TO P.S.I. INSTEAD OF DB. BUILDINGS AND HOUSES
HAVE APPROXIMATELY A 50 % CHANCE OF SURVIVAL REF.2.

171-150 (P)WORLDS LOUDEST CAR STEREOS, UP TO 80 SPEAKERS,32 CAR BATTERYS,
100,000 WATTS, 125-138 (N)

171(P) acoustic air pressure generator -ref.12

172 (N) 727, 737, 747, 757, 767 CRUSING AT 6 MILES HIGH MACH 0.84, AT THE GROUND (SEA LEVEL) LOSES AN ADDITIONAL 6 DB BECAUSE AIR DENCITY IS ONLY HALF SEA LEVEL AT A HIEGHT OF 6 MILES

172 FOG IS CREATED, DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE, DEW POINT AND HUMIDITY

173-164 (P)BASS INJECTION TESTS, EXPIERIMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC TYPE SPEAKERS -REF.1.1987

173(P) = hydraulic, whole body dynamic pressure chamber, at 8 hertz -ref.11.

174 AIR BEGINS TO HEAT UP DUE TO COMPRESSION, MOST SHOCK WAVES ARE VERY HOT

174(P) LOUDSPEAKER COUPLED MANOMETER HEADPHONES DOWN TO 1 HERTZ -REF.15.

175 (N) QUARTER DYNAMITE STICK, VERY CLOSE PRESSURE MAY EXCEED 210 db (P)

175.8(P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 250 FEET

177 (P) = 2 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES ARE SIGNIFICANT, 30% SURVIVAL -REF.2.

180 (P) 1 POUND T.N.T. AT 15 FEET -REF.4.

180 (P) = 3 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES IS CATASTROPHIC, WHEN A SHOCK -REF.2.
WAVE HITS A STRUCTURE ITS MOMENTUM AND PRESSURE MORE THAN DOUBLES, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER DB LEVELS, DYNAMIC WIND IS ABOUT 103 MILE / HOUR
AND CAUSES A LARGE PORTION OF DAMAGE, 15 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.

180 (P) = MOTOR DRIVE COUPLED MANOMETER STATIC PRESSURE, 165 DB(P) UP TO 50 HERTZ, -REF.14.

182 (P) 1 TON T.N.T AT 150 FEET, EXACTLY 182.2 DB -REF.4.

183 (P) = 6 P.S.I. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ALL STRUCTURES, PARTICLE VELOCITY
(BLAST WIND) IS 180 MILES PER HOUR. 0.9 MILES FROM HIROSHIMA ATOMIC BOMB
AND 3.3 MILES FROM 1MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB, LESS 0.1 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.