15dB

15dB is a unit of logarithmic measurement often used in acoustics and electronics to express a ratio between two power or intensity levels. In the context of sound, decibels (dB) are commonly used to measure sound pressure level. A 15dB increase represents a significant change in loudness. Specifically, a 10dB increase corresponds to a tenfold increase in sound intensity, and a 20dB increase corresponds to a hundredfold increase. Therefore, a 15dB increase signifies a sound intensity that is approximately 31.6 times greater than the original sound. This level of increase can be perceived as a substantial difference in perceived loudness by the human ear.

In electronics, dB is used to express gain or loss in signal strength. A 15dB gain means the output signal power is approximately 31.6 times the input signal power. Conversely, a 15dB loss indicates the output signal power is about 1/31.6 of the input signal power. This logarithmic scale is employed because it aligns better with human perception of sound and simplifies calculations involving large ranges of values, such as those encountered in audio engineering and telecommunications. The reference point for the decibel measurement is crucial for understanding its absolute value.