Sound Basics - Genelec 8010 Setup Manual

Sound basics

Sound travels approximately 344 m/s (1130 ft/s). It takes 3 ms for sound to travel
1 meter (3,3 ft).
In free-field conditions (no walls, floor, or ceiling) the sound volume drops 6 dB
when the distance doubles.
1 m 100 dB
2 m 94 dB
4 m 88 dB
Sound level increases by 3 dB when the amplifier power doubles.
100 W 85 dB
200 W 88 dB
400 W 91 dB
The industry standard reference sound pressure level (SPL) for cinema and TV
sound production work is between 82 and 85 dB at the listening position.
Frequency spectrum
The audible frequency spectrum covers 10 octaves (up to 40 Hz, 80, 160, 320,
640, 1'280, 2'560, 5'120, 10'240, 20'480 Hz) which can conveniently divide the
spectrum as follows.
Subsonic bass frequencies
Very low frequencies
Low frequencies
Midrange frequencies
Upper midrange frequencies
High frequencies
Extremely high frequencies
22
0 dB
-6 dB
-12 dB
0 dB
+3 dB
+6 dB
below 16 Hz
16 Hz – 40 Hz
40 Hz – 80 Hz
80 Hz – 160 Hz
160 Hz – 320 Hz
320 Hz – 1'280 Hz
1'280 Hz – 2'560 Hz
2'560 Hz – 5'120 Hz
5'120 Hz – 10'240 Hz
10'240 Hz – 20'480 Hz
Not audible for humans.
Lowest audible octave for humans.
Music low frequencies, kick drums, bass
instruments
Low register of a grand piano.
Middle C of a piano.
Music midrange frequencies
Low-order harmonics of most instruments.
The ear is the most sensitive in this range.
Brightness and harmonics
Highest harmonics. Inaudible to humans
above 20 kHz