Maybe you've been looking for a new air purifier or a portable air conditioner. It could even be a humidifier or vacuum cleaner, all you know is that you keep seeing something in our specifications that says minimum and maximum noise level and it has a decibel (dB) as a measurement.
Have you ever wondered what exactly that measurement means? What's really the difference between 40 and 60 decibels? Keep reading to learn more about what decibels are, how they're measured, and even what they sound like so you can make the best choice for your home.
What Is a Decibel?
I know, we've all heard that a product is "x" number of decibels and that sounds great, but what does that really mean? First, let's look at what a decibel exactly is:
- Simply, a decibel is the unit used to measure the intensity of sound.
- Mathematically, a decibel is a ratio that describes the sound level. For detailed information on how everything is calculated, check out this explanation from the University of New South Wales.
Wow, That Math Seems Like A Lot
Maybe you're like me and math was never really your strongest subject in school. Here's what you need to know. If you happened to be in a completely empty room void of all sound that would 0 decibels. Now, a normal empty room is still going to have some sort even if there's no people or running appliances. That makes it maybe 10 decibels or 10 times louder than absolute silence. This keeps going on and on depending on the amount of noise.
Ok, But What Are Some Common Noise Levels?
Still with me? While every appliance is going to be different, the following chart provides some general noise levels to give you an idea of what different decibels sound like. 
Want to Hear What Different Decibels Sound Like?
Are you ready to actually hear different sound levels? Go ahead and turn on your volume and press play on the following. You'll be able to hear what a difference in just 10 decibels can make.
In Summary
A decibel is a unit used to measure the intensity of sound. The higher the number of decibels, the louder an appliance is.
Still Have Questions?
If you still have questions about decibels and how to determine which Sylvane products are the quietest, go ahead and give us a call at 1-800-934-9194. We're here to help you find the perfect indoor air quality product for you.
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