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Subjective Effect of Change in Sound Pressure Level
Changing sound pressure level and the subjective effect on human perception
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There are variations in individual perception of the strength of sound and studies have shown that in general the sound is perceived twice as loud if the sound level increases by 10 dB. Similarly, a 20 dB increase in the sound level is perceived as four times as loud by the normal human ear.
| Sound Awareness | Change (dB) |
| Insignificant | 1 |
| Just perceptible | 3 |
| Clearly noticeable | 5 |
| Twice or half as loud | 10 |
| Significant | 15 |
| Much louder or quieter, four time as loud | 20 |
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