Decibel [FAST]

: If one sound is significantly louder than another (by 10 dB or more), the quieter sound barely affects the total decibel reading. Measuring Decibels

The is a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio between two values, most commonly sound intensity or electrical power. Unlike linear scales (like inches or pounds), the decibel scale compresses vast ranges of numbers into manageable figures, reflecting how human senses—specifically hearing—actually perceive change. Core Concepts Decibel

: Named after Alexander Graham Bell, a decibel is literally one-tenth of a "Bel". The Bel itself was found to be too large for common precision. : If one sound is significantly louder than

, the threshold of human hearing. In digital audio, (Full Scale) measures signal level relative to the maximum a system can handle before clipping. Examples of Common Decibel Levels Core Concepts : Named after Alexander Graham Bell,

: A decibel always requires a reference point. In acoustics ( dB SPL ), the reference is

Because the scale is logarithmic, you cannot simply add decibel numbers together.