Scott Meyers wrote:
> <snip>
> Heck, wouldn't even take a new page, just rewrite that paragraph to
> include XXdb's maximum at any site. As it is now there is ample room for
> a great variance in application of that nonspecific standard.
<snip>
As a former sound engineer let me say that its not that simple.
1) There are two commonly used weighting scales ( A and C ) which can give
fairly
different results depending on frequency of the sound.
2) How do you measure? Not only how far from the car but also we would need to
address - A) At what throttle opening in what gear
B) Vertical and horizontal angles of the mic and the exhaust outlet.
C) Surrounding structures that can amplify or absorb sound
3) Last and most important is that standard dB measurements are really not
measures
of perceived volume ( how much it annoys you ) but rather of sonic power. What
most
people are annoyed by is a combination of sonic power and various distortion
products
( the "tone" of the sound )
As an example - a little tinny transistor radio can be annoying to the point
that
everyone asks to turn it down yet the thing might be putting out only 70dB. A
high
quality stereo on the other hand can play at 90dB and no one complains.
I propose that it's the "annoyance" level that we would like to regulate not
the dB
level. I can only think of one way to do that and its called ( drum roll please
) ...
COMMON SENSE.
IF YOU'VE GOT A LOUD CAR AND PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT IT THEN
GET A
MUFFLER ON THE DAMN THING :-)
Regards,
Alan Pozner
|