Sound Level Converter
Convert between decibels, sones, phons, and more with our accurate audio measurement tool
🔊 Sound Level Converter
📊 Sound Level Reference
Common sound levels for reference:
| Sound Source | Level (dB) | Perception |
|---|---|---|
| Rustling leaves | 20 dB | Very quiet |
| Whisper | 30 dB | Quiet |
| Normal conversation | 60 dB | Moderate |
| Vacuum cleaner | 70 dB | Loud |
| Heavy traffic | 85 dB | Very loud |
| Rock concert | 110 dB | Painful |
| Jet engine | 140 dB | Dangerous |
Sound Level Conversion Tool
Our sound level converter is a powerful audio measurement tool designed for professionals and enthusiasts working with acoustic analysis. This decibel calculator allows you to accurately convert between different sound measurement units including decibels (dB), A-weighted decibels (dB(A)), C-weighted decibels (dB(C)), sones, phons, and pascals.
Whether you’re conducting noise level assessment for environmental studies, audio engineering projects, or workplace safety compliance, our converter provides precise calculations to support your work. Understanding different sound measurement scales is essential for accurate audio measurement and interpretation of acoustic data across various applications.
How to Use the Sound Level Converter
Using our converter is simple:
- Enter the numerical value of the sound level you want to convert
- Select the unit you’re converting from (e.g., dB, sones, etc.)
- Select the unit you want to convert to
- Click “Convert Sound Level” to see the result
Understanding Sound Measurement Units
Decibels (dB) are the most common unit for measuring sound intensity, representing a logarithmic ratio between two values. dB(A) and dB(C) are frequency-weighted measurements that approximate human hearing response at different loudness levels. Sones provide a linear perception of loudness, while phons represent equal loudness contours. Pascals measure sound pressure directly in SI units.
Frequently Asked Questions
dB (decibel) is a unit expressing the ratio between two values, commonly used for sound intensity. dB(A) is A-weighted decibels, which adjusts the measurement to approximate the human ear’s response at lower sound levels, filtering out very low and high frequencies that humans don’t perceive as well.
Sones provide a linear scale of perceived loudness, where 1 sone is defined as the loudness of a 1 kHz tone at 40 dB. In contrast, decibels use a logarithmic scale. The key difference is that sones attempt to directly represent human perception of loudness changes, while decibels measure physical sound intensity.
Phons are used to represent the perceived loudness level of sounds. One phon is equal to 1 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level) at a frequency of 1 kHz. The phon scale is based on equal-loudness contours, which show how much sound pressure is needed at different frequencies to be perceived as equally loud.
Different industries and applications use different sound measurement units. For example, HVAC systems often use sones to rate fan noise, while environmental noise regulations typically specify limits in dB(A). Converting between units allows professionals to compare measurements across different standards and applications.
Our converter uses established scientific formulas and conversion factors to ensure accurate results. However, it’s important to note that some conversions (particularly between psychoacoustic units like sones and physical units like dB) involve approximations based on standardized models of human hearing perception.