Thread for Noise Tech Talk

[mtnbound]

Yeah, I don't recommend it. Hope it didn't come across that way!

But, some people like to do it anyway. And given enough distance, it could be done safely.

My point was that, if you are exposed to loud noises, getting your hearing checked might be a good thing. I should have stated that more clearly.

It did not come across that way. Now that you mentioned “given enough distance” I could see that but that’s not where my brain was.

 

[mtnbound]

I am not advocating it, but I can imagine why someone would do it. For whatever reason, they don’t take hearing loss seriously and they don’t understand the risk. I say that as someone who thought it was an “okay thing to do very rarely” without being properly educated on the risks.

Even though I bitch at my guys at work about earpro. I still will walk by and throw earpro at them because someone will not have it on. It amazes me.

 

[4th_point]

It did not come across that way. Now that you mentioned “given enough distance” I could see that but that’s not where my brain was.

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/inverse-square-law-d_890.html

 

[mtnbound]

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/inverse-square-law-d_890.html

View attachment 935988

Is the "sound pressure level" the same as the A or Z measurement?

 

[4th_point]

Is the "sound pressure level" the same as the A or Z measurement?

Sound pressure is just pressure in a fluid - air.

But, A is filtered data or manipulated in a controlled fashion, and Z is unfiltered w/zero manipulation of the data.

 

[Bluefish]

Is the "sound pressure level" the same as the A or Z measurement?

My take on filtering is that the actual pressure is unchanged, all the filtering does is adjust the output for how humans hear it. For gunshots I would guess A weighting under represents the pressure levels in the ear as it ignores low frequencies. From looking at the silencer summit data, there is a small shift from Db to DbA. I personally look at the Db and ignore the A rated data, but for comparison between cans I am not sure it matters.

In regards to under 140, many systems (ie semi auto) have a hard time getting there. Unless I am shooting subs that are really quiet, I use hearing protection. I have a nice set of in ear electronics and use them for hunting. They only offer about 25 db of protection, so adding a can helps reduce my noise exposure down to pretty low levels. Am I safe for one shot with a can, probably, but using a can and ear pro makes it not loud.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

My take on filtering is that the actual pressure is unchanged, all the filtering does is adjust the output for how humans hear it. For gunshots I would guess A weighting under represents the pressure levels in the ear as it ignores low frequencies. From looking at the silencer summit data, there is a small shift from Db to DbA. I personally look at the Db and ignore the A rated data, but for comparison between cans I am not sure it matters.

In regards to under 140, many systems (ie semi auto) have a hard time getting there. Unless I am shooting subs that are really quiet, I use hearing protection. I have a nice set of in ear electronics and use them for hunting. They only offer about 25 db of protection, so adding a can helps reduce my noise exposure down to pretty low levels. Am I safe for one shot with a can, probably, but using a can and ear pro makes it not loud.

Like you, I was of a mind to focus on the A-weighted values, since that is what I can hear and a can that is better on A-weighting will sound better. That is what most manufacturers are selling.

But… if the point is to protect your hearing the most, you want the can that has the lowest Z-weight. And that might not be the same as the can with the lowest A-weight.

 

[Bluefish]

Like you, I was of a mind to focus on the A-weighted values, since that is what I can hear and a can that is better on A-weighting will sound better. That is what most manufacturers are selling.

But… if the point is to protect your hearing the most, you want the can that has the lowest Z-weight. And that might not be the same as the can with the lowest A-weight.

Honestly I think you are overthinking it. For comparison between cans, I don’t think it matters. If there is a shift of which is better simply by weighting it’s probably pretty small. Look at the data Form has provided, the same can, same ammo varies by 1-3 Db day to day. I don’t think measurement is repeatable to enough precision that a difference of less than 3 db matters.

If the data is in Db A, use it. Better than no data and imho it’s still good for comparison.