DGewichtung

DGewichtung, often referred to as D-weighting, is a specific frequency weighting used in acoustics to process sound pressure measurements. It is one of the standard weighting networks applied to sound level meters, alongside A-weighting and C-weighting.

The purpose of DGewichtung is to approximate the human ear’s response to impulsive and high-frequency content. The curve emphasizes mid- and high-frequency components that are audible during short, sharp noises, while providing less attenuation at low frequencies than A-weighting.

In practice, measurements with DGewichtung yield a D-weighted sound level, often denoted L_D, which can be used to assess the impact of impulsive events such as aircraft noise, explosions, hammer blows, or other transient sources. D-weighted levels are particularly relevant when peak or rapid changes in level are of concern.

DGewichtung is defined in international standards for sound measurement, notably IEC 61672, which specifies the D-weighting network and the procedures for applying it to measured sound pressure. Some national guidelines may adopt the same curve under different reporting conventions.

See also: A-weighting, C-weighting, impulse noise, sound level meter, L_A, L_D.

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