Loading...
Decibel Comparison ChartDecibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart How -To FINQ: SU®MR NAME: EMAtL: suaMR (Loudness) Comparison Chart Page 1 of 3 Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing. Environmental Noise Weakest sound heard OdB Whjsper Quiet Library at 6' 30dB Normal conversation at 3' 60-65dB Telephone dial tone 80dB City Traffic (inside car) 85dB Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic 90d8 Jackhammer at 50' 95dB Subway train at 200' 95dB Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss IE 90 - 95dB Hand Drill 98dB Power mower at 3' 107dB Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB Power saw at 3' 110dB Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB Pain begins 125d8 Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection 140dB Jet engine at 100' 140dB 12 Gauge Shotgun Blast 1 5d 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 9idB 3 97dB 2 100dB 1.5 102dB 1 105dB .5 110dB http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html 12/21/2015 Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart Page 2 of 3 II .25 or less 11 1 15d II NIOSH Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure Hours per day Sound level 8 85d BA 6 86dBA 4 88dBA 3 89dBA 2 90dBA 1.5 92dBA 1 9 B 5 97dBA .25 or less 100dBA 0 112dBA Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level Normal piano practice Imperceptible Change 1IB Barely Perceptible Change US Clearly Noticeable Change 5dB About Twice as Loud 10dB About Four Times as Loud 20dB Sound Levels of Music Normal piano practice 60 -70cIB Fortissimo Singer, 3' 70dB Chamber music, small auditorium 75 - 85dB Piano Fortissimo 84 - 103dB Violin g2 - 92clB Cello 85 -111dB Oboe 95-112dB Flute 92 -103clB Piccolo 90 -106dB Clarinet 85 - 114dB French horn 90 - 106dB Trombone 85-114d6 Tympani & bass drum 106d6 Walkman on 5/10 94dB Symphonic music peak 120 - 137cIB Amplifier, rock, 4-6' 120dB Rock music peak 150cIB 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. http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html 12/21/2015 Der:ibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart Page 3 of 3 • 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%. Recent NIOSH studies of sound levels from weapons fires have shown that they may range from a low of 144 dB SPL for small caliber weapons such as a 0.22 caliber rifle to as high as a 172 dB SPL for a 0.357 caliber revolver. Double ear protection is recommended for shooters, combining soft, insertable ear plugs and external ear muffs. Statistics for the Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart were taken from a study by Marshall Chasin , M.Sc., Aud(C), FAAA, Centre for Human Performance & Health, Ontario, Canada. There were some conflicting readings and, in many cases, authors did not specify at what distance the readings were taken or what the musician was actually playing. In general, when there were several readings, the higher one was chosen. Additional Resources The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) -http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/top!Gs/noise/ American Tinnitus Association — Information and help for those with tinnitus Hear Tomorrow — The Hearing Conservation Workshop H.E.A.R. — Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers American Tinnitus Association —for musicians and music lovers Turn It to the Left — from the American Academy of Audiology Listen to Your Buds — from the American Speech -Language -Hearing Association Binge Listening? Is exposure to leisure noise causing hearing loss in Young Australians? rpdfl— report from Australian Hearing, National Acoustic Laboratories Hearing Aids and Music: Interview with Marshall Chasin Au D — from the American Academy of Audiology Safe Listening Resources — from the National Hearing Conservation Association OSHA Noise and Hearing Conservation - All contents © 2007 by Galen Carol Audio San Antonio, Texas USA and may not be copied or reproduced without permission. Website by Stylefish, http://www.gcaudio.conVresources/howtos/loudness.html 12/21/2015