: Dedicated Sound Level Meters (SPL meters) use calibrated microphones to provide high accuracy for workplace or legal standards.
: The scale is not linear. An increase of 10 dB represents a 10-fold increase in sound intensity and roughly a doubling of perceived loudness.
, 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
: Many free apps are available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. While convenient for general checks, they may lack the calibration required for official evidence.
: A decibel always requires a reference point. In acoustics ( dB SPL ), the reference is
: Adding a second identical sound source (e.g., two identical 60 dB vacuum cleaners) increases the total level by only 3 dB , resulting in 63 dB, not 120 dB.