Yes, if the reference level used for decibel scale is above threshold of hearing. According to the chart, a 60 dB sound has an intensity that’s one thousand times that of the 30 dB sound (1,000,000 pW/m 2 compared to 1,000 pW/m 2). Likewise our hearing does not have the same sensitivity at all frequencies. Sound level is not the same thing as sound intensity.
No microphone has the same sensitivity to all frequencies and no speaker reproduces all frequencies equally well, as we will see in Chapter 18 on electronics. In simple terms, the decibel is a logarithmic ratio between two values a measured and a reference value. Decibels present absolute values like the pascal or the watt on a logarithmic scale that is simpler to understand and better relates to the way we perceive changes in loudness. Decibel is dimensionless since its a ratio. This logscale definition is useful when the quantities have a wide range and losses or gains are proportional. The above curves are very much like the frequency response curves of microphones and speakers. Decibel is a unit of measurement that expresses the logarithmic ratio of two physical quantities of the same dimensions. Medium loudness doesn't change the perceived pitch very much. Low frequencies are perceived to be slightly lower than expected if they are very loud. The decibel (symbol: dB) is a relative unit of measurement equal to one tenth of a bel (B).It expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale.Two signals whose levels differ by one decibel have a power ratio of 10 1/10 (approximately) or root-power ratio of 10 (approximately). High frequencies are perceived to be a slightly higher pitch than normal if they are very loud.
It is also the case that intensity has an effect on perceived frequency the same laboratory frequency will appear to be a slightly different frequency if the intensity is different. \( \newcommand\) is due to the tube resonance of the auditory canal (see chapter 12 for tube resonance and chapter 10 for a picture of the auditory canal).