Handy Dandy Decibel to Loudness chart.

[markw]

Since this topic pps up frequently, when I found about about this utility, I thought I would share it with y'all. Sorry about the poor formatting but the link at the bottom is much prettier.

Oh, Hifive, I underlined something here, just for you.

Weakest sound heard 0dB
Whisper Quiet Library 30dB
Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic 90dB
Subway train at 200' 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Power mower at 3' 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB
Power saw at 3' 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB
Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection 140dB
Jet engine at 100', Gun Blast 140dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB

OSHA Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure
Hours per day Sound level
8 90dB
6 92dB
4 95dB
3 97dB
2 100dB
1.5 102dB
1 105dB
.5 110dB
.25 or less 115dB


Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level
Imperceptible Change 1dB
Barely Perceptible Change 3dB
Clearly Noticeable Change 5dB
About Twice as Loud 10dB
About Four Times as Loud 20dB


Sound Levels of Music
Normal piano practice 60 -70dB
Fortissimo Singer, 3' 70dB
Chamber music, small auditorium 75 - 85dB
Piano Fortissimo 84 - 103dB
Violin 82 - 92dB
Cello 85 -111dB
Oboe 95-112dB
Flute 92 -103dB
Piccolo 90 -106dB
Clarinet 85 - 114dB
French horn 90 - 106dB
Trombone 85 - 114dB
Tympani & bass drum 106dB
Walkman on 5/10 94dB
Symphonic music peak 120 - 137dB
Amplifier rock, 4-6' 120dB
Rock music peak 150dB


NOTES:

One-third of the total power of a 75-piece orchestra comes from the bass drum.
High frequency sounds of 2-4,000 Hz are the most damaging. The uppermost octave of the piccolo is 2,048-4,096 Hz.
Aging causes gradual hearing loss, mostly in the high frequencies.
Speech reception is not seriously impaired until there is about 30 dB loss; by that time severe damage may have occurred.
Hypertension and various psychological difficulties can be related to noise exposure.
The incidence of hearing loss in classical musicians has been estimated at 4-43%, in rock musicians 13-30%.

Click here for the much better formatted link itself.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Walkman on 5/10 94dB

How old is this? (still valid though)

 

[jostenmeat]

What?



Regarding the OSHA part, I remember reading somewhere, I think it was about the guy who was Michael Jackson's engineer, and he did the maximum permitted loudness, for only the 15 minutes a day. He would put his head pretty close to the speaker too. He wanted to make sure there wasn't even the tiniest flaw in the recording.

 

[jp_over]

Very informative; thanks!

 

[digicidal]

...Regarding the OSHA part, I remember reading somewhere, I think it was about the guy who was Michael Jackson's engineer, and he did the maximum permitted loudness, for only the 15 minutes a day. He would put his head pretty close to the speaker too. He wanted to make sure there wasn't even the tiniest flaw in the recording.

Well, he should have either put his ear even closer or not bothered because the music sucks!

Just kidding! Well, not really - I simply hate everything that's ever come from MJ personally - however, I would have to admit that I've never heard anything that wasn't impeccably produced and mixed.

Quite amazing on some of the levels from many of the orchestral instruments - I can attest to it getting plenty loud even in outdoor settings, but I never realized just HOW loud - that's the beauty of clean sound however. I'd add to that list that if it's really distorted... "pain" starts much before the 125db levels.

 

[jostenmeat]

Well, he should have either put his ear even closer or not bothered because the music sucks!

Just kidding! Well, not really - I simply hate everything that's ever come from MJ personally - however, I would have to admit that I've never heard anything that wasn't impeccably produced and mixed.

I'm 99% classical here, and 1% jazz, maybe something like that. So I've never owned an MJ album, no comment on SQ. However, if he was alive, and a ticket wasn't insanely expensive (probably would be though), it would have been fun to see one of his extravaganzas of a show. I rented This Is It bluray after rmk's recommendation.

 

[jostenmeat]

Quite amazing on some of the levels from many of the orchestral instruments - I can attest to it getting plenty loud even in outdoor settings, but I never realized just HOW loud - that's the beauty of clean sound however. I'd add to that list that if it's really distorted... "pain" starts much before the 125db levels.

You edited while I replied. Yes, the instruments . . . what some people might not know is that some musicians deal with less of the energy than with others. A cello, guitar, trumpet, clarinet, etc, is fired away from the musician. A violinist has the F-holes right next to his ear.

 

[digicidal]

And there's nothing worse than having an F-hole right next to your ear (ba-dum-pump).

Yeah, I do that alot as I'll have a parting thought and I've already posted - but I hate posting separately unless they're responses to different people and/or are completely divergent thoughts.

 

[Rickster71]

Quote:
Walkman on 5/10 94dB

How old is this? (still valid though)

The original list made mention of a Blacksmith shop being 90dB