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Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit area in a direction perpendicular to that area, also called the sound power density and the sound energy flux density. [2] The SI unit of intensity, which includes sound intensity, is the watt per square meter (W/m 2).
The decibel (symbol: dB) is a relative unit of measurement equal to one tenth of a bel (B). It expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale. Two signals whose levels differ by one decibel have a power ratio of 10 1/10 (approximately 1.26) or root-power ratio of 10 1/20 (approximately 1.12). [1] [2]
Example: A 16-bit system has 2 16 different possibilities, from 0 – 65,535. The smallest signal without dithering is 1, so the number of different levels is one less, 2 16 − 1. So for a 16-bit digital system, the Dynamic Range is 20·log(2 16 − 1) ≈ 96 dB. Sample accuracy/synchronisation Not as much a specification as an ability.
In sound measurement, we measure the loudness of the sound in decibels (dB). Decibels are logarithmic with 0 dB as the reference. [1] There are also a range of frequencies that sounds can have. Frequency is the number of times a sine wave repeats itself in a second. [2] Normal auditory systems can usually hear between 20 and 20,000 Hz. [2]
A graph of the A-, B-, C- and D-weightings across the frequency range 10 Hz – 20 kHz Video illustrating A-weighting by analyzing a sine sweep (contains audio). A-weighting is a form of frequency weighting and the most commonly used of a family of curves defined in the International standard IEC 61672:2003 and various national standards relating to the measurement of sound pressure level. [1]
The 16-bit compact disc has a theoretical undithered dynamic range of about 96 dB; [20] [d] however, the perceived dynamic range of 16-bit audio can be 120 dB or more with noise-shaped dither, taking advantage of the frequency response of the human ear. [21] [22]
When sensorineural hearing loss (damage to the cochlea or in the brain) is present, the perception of loudness is altered. Sounds at low levels (often perceived by those without hearing loss as relatively quiet) are no longer audible to the hearing impaired, but sounds at high levels often are perceived as having the same loudness as they would for an unimpaired listener.
A sound with a loudness of 1 sone is judged equally loud as a 1 kHz tone with a sound pressure level of 40 decibels above 20 micropascals. [1] The phon is psychophysically matched to a reference frequency of 1 kHz. [2] In other words, the phon matches the sound pressure level in decibels of a similarly perceived 1 kHz pure tone. [3]