Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart
Environmental Noise
|
| weakest sound heard |
0 dB |
| normal conversation at 3-5 ft |
60-70 dB |
| dial tone of telephone |
80 dB |
| city traffic inside car |
85 dB |
|
1983 OSHA monitoring requirements begin 90 dB
|
| train whistle at 500 ft. |
90 dB |
| subway train at 200 ft. |
95 dB |
| regular sustained exposure may cause permanent
damage |
90-95 dB |
| power mower |
107 dB |
| power saw |
110 dB |
|
Pain begins 125 dB
|
| pneumatic riveter at 4 ft. |
125 dB |
| jet engine at 100 ft. |
140 dB |
| loudest sound that can occur |
194 dB |
| |
Musical Noise
|
| normal piano practice |
60-70 dB |
| fortissimo singer 3 ft. away |
70 dB |
| chamber music in small auditorium |
75-85 dB |
| regular sustained exposure may cause permanent damage |
90-95 dB |
| piano fortissimo |
92-95 dB |
| violin |
84-103 dB |
| cello |
82-92 dB |
| oboe |
90-94 dB |
| flute |
85-111 dB |
| piccolo |
95-112 dB |
| clarinet |
92-103 dB |
| french horn |
90-106 dB |
| trombone |
85-114 dB |
| timpani & bass drum rolls |
106 dB |
| average Walkman on 5/10 setting |
94 dB |
| symphonic music peak |
120-137 dB |
| amplified rock music at 4-6 ft. |
120 dB |
| rock music peak |
150 dB |
NOTES:
- The brass section playing fortissimo can drown out practically the
whole orchestra.
- 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 occured.
- 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%.
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.
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