decibel difference

[zxczxc]

if a fan has 20dBA and the other one has 40dBA, is the latter twice noisier than the 20dBA one???

 

[frizzlefry]

Simple answer...nope.

Long answer....
Well I don't really know the long answer. But I do remember from my physics class that the dBa measures on a logarithmic scale just like the richter scale. But that's all I know technically.

But a 40dBa fan is hella loud! I wouldn't go for that! Typically tolerable levels are around 30 t 34dBa.

 

[Def]

Something 10dB louder is twice as loud. So that 40dB fan is FOUR TIMES as loud as the 20dB one.

People commonly mistake the fact that it takes TWICE the amount of accoustical energy to produce a sound 3dB louder. For instance, two 20dB fans = 23dB perceived sound level.

For reference, 20dB is equivalent to about a whisper. 30dB is definitely noticeable, but bareable. 40dB is quite loud IMO. My own computer hovers around 28-30dB and I find this about the loudest I'd *want* my computer to be. I can't see how some people tolerate sound levels in the 50-60dB range. It'd drive me crazy.

 

[$pade]

actually I think that 2 fans will be 6db louder than a single fan. If you add another 2 fans you get another 6db so hypothecially if you have a 20db fan:

1 fan: 20db
2 : 26
4 : 32
8 : 38

the reason is because I know that two powered subs will have the potential to be 6db louder than a single sub. I know for sure that if you double cone area you get 3db more and if you double input power you also get 3db more. 2 powered subs have twice the cone area and twice the power of a single sub so you get a net 6db increase.

 

[bomb99]

i had a sunon 60mm 34dba or somethign like that compare to my delta 45dba. is like at least twice as loud