Sound levels - weird question!

[peter_m]

A 50db sound, how noticeable would it be when music is playing at 84db? Could 50 db be annoying or distracting from the music?

Peter

[peter_m]

Scratch that. Music playing at 80db. Would a 50 db noise be distracting?

[eclectic2k]

well, I suspect that the lower dB noise will be effectively masked, but that depends not just on power, but more than just a bit upon frequency and perception as well.

for just the power level or loudness answer, assuming all else is equal, you'll have to do a bit of log math (here's a good brief answer on that):
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~eclau...eEquations.htm

the total is barely over 84dB. So assuming similar spectrum, the 50dB noise should not be noticable.

[phase_accurate]

So assuming similar spectrum, the 50dB noise should not be noticable.

Thats an important point. Depending on the noise's spectrum and it's TEMPORAL properties the disturbing signal might be either masked or it could be perceived quite well.
So there's no simple answer.

Regards

Charles

[Geek]

Hi Peter,

Depends on the sound. A crying baby is far more distracting than a clothes dryer for example.

My ears are by far from perfect and I can pick out many single conversations in a crowded restaraunt. So, yes the potential for distraction is there.

Cheers!

[AndrewT]

Hi,
I think a sound only 30db below the average level would be very distracting. It would certainly be very audible when the frequencies of the noise are different from the predominant frequencies in the wanted signal.

I would expect that 60db below the average level would be a better target and even that will be audible when the ear can select the low level signal from the wanted signal.

And what happens when the average level subsides to a lower level as most natural music tends to do?