Question 1

How do I convert decibels to power or voltage ratio?

Accepted Answer

Power ratio: 10^(dB/10). Voltage ratio: 10^(dB/20). Examples: 3 dB = 2× power, 1.41× voltage. 20 dB = 100× power, 10× voltage. 6 dB ≈ 2× voltage.

Question 2

What is the difference between dB for power and voltage?

Accepted Answer

Power uses 10×log10(ratio). Voltage uses 20×log10(ratio). Because power is proportional to voltage squared (P=V²/R), the scales differ by factor of 2. 6 dB = 2× voltage = 4× power.

Question 3

How do decibels work?

Accepted Answer

Decibels are logarithmic: +3 dB doubles power, +10 dB sounds twice as loud. 20 dB = whisper, 60 dB = conversation, 100 dB = concerts, 140 dB = pain threshold.

Question 4

What's the relationship between frequency and pitch?

Accepted Answer

Frequency directly determines pitch. A4 = 440 Hz. Each octave doubles frequency. Our hearing ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Decibels to Ratio Sound Converter - Free Online Tool

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