10dB

10dB is a unit of measurement on the decibel (dB) scale, which expresses a ratio of two power levels or sound levels in a logarithmic manner. The dB scale is used widely in acoustics, electronics, telecommunications, and related fields to quantify relative changes. A change of 10 dB corresponds to a ten‑fold change in power; in terms of amplitude or voltage, a 10 dB change represents approximately a factor of 3.16 increase or decrease, because amplitude ratios are related to the square root of the power ratio. The mathematical expression for a power ratio in decibels is 10 log10(P₂ / P₁), where P₁ and P₂ are the compared power values.

In audio and acoustic applications, 10 dB is regarded as a perceptible difference in loudness for most humans. For example, a gradual increase of 10 dB in a speaker’s output signifies a noticeable but not overwhelming rise in volume. In radio and wireless communications, a 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio is commonly considered acceptable for high‑quality reception. Amplifiers and mixers often specify gain or attenuation values in decibels; a gain of 10 dB indicates a power increase of a factor of ten.

The decibel scale also appears in engineering standards such as the NBS (now NIST) 1968 audiogram, where equal-loudness contours are plotted against frequency, and a 10 dB step represents a notable adjustment. Because the dB scale compresses large dynamic ranges, it conveniently conveys both very small and very large ratios without the need for cumbersome decimal numbers.

Overall, 10 dB serves as a useful reference point in many technical disciplines, indicating a clear and meaningful change in signal levels.