When calculating mean sound levels is it more accurate to use dB or Pa since dB is on a log scale?
Answer:
dont use db, you cant average a logrithmic number directly.
for those that dont understand log scales,
averaging a 5 and 10 for example, youd think it was 7.5.
the real reading is something like 1E5 and 1E10. The average of them is really something near 5E9 and would really come out to something like 9.3 on the log scale. Your 7.5 number is completely wrong.
Never average on a log scale.
I wouldn't average dB levels...you will get larger differences the more the values differ. Likewise with percentages...always convert to the base value.
There shouldn't be a difference in the accuracies as long as you are carrying it out to the number of significant digits that permits the required accuracy.
It's like saying what is more accurate, measuring something in feet or inches... both are just as accurate if you carry the correct number of digits.
You are introducing artifact when you convert, as in an extra digit that is not accurate - stick with db. Your accuracy will then be based only on the accuracy of your instrument, and not have extra inaccuracy due to conversion between log and linear scales.
Here's how you average dB levels.
10*log{[10^(dB1/10)+. . . 10^(dBn/10)]/n} = Average Sound Pressure level in dB
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