What is a Decibel? #MusicMonday

Just what is a decibel? What does it mean to turn it to 11? If you’re dancing inside the Ministry of Sound as the six Martin Audio ground stack speakers offer the most profound experience of, say, Chemical Brother’s Let Forever Be, just how many decibels are pummeling your body? Here’s more from Ethan Hein:

The first thing to understand is that zero decibels does not mean silence. Instead, it refers to the quietest sound that humans can hear, which is roughly equivalent to the sound of a mosquito from ten feet away. All other decibel levels are multiples of this reference intensity.

The next thing to understand about decibels is that adding them means multiplying the actual sound power levels. Playing your instrument one decibel louder means that you are putting out one and a quarter times as much sound power as you were before. Playing your instrument one decibel quieter means that you are putting out about four fifths as much sound power as you were before.

Learn and hear more!


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