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Re: [Phys-l] [tap-l] more on sound



I think the web site in question answers this -- the dB scale is comparative, and on audio equipment it is used to compare signal strength with some reference value, not the threshold of hearing. A negative value just means that particular signal is a fraction of the reference value.

On Apr 25, 2006, at 9:21 AM, Anthony Lapinski wrote:

Interesting web site.

I have a related question. Why do some stereo systems (with digital
displays) show negative decibel readings? This seems to contradict the
fact that the threshold of hearing is defined as 0 dB.

tap-l@lists.ncsu.edu writes:
...
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/dB.html

---
Michael Porter
Colonel By Secondary School
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada