Rauschpegel

Rauschpegel is a German term used in acoustics and electronics to denote the level of unwanted random fluctuations, i.e., noise, present in a system or environment. In acoustics, the Rauschpegel refers to the noise level in an environment or within equipment and is typically expressed as a sound pressure level (SPL) in decibels (dB), often with A-weighting (dB(A)) to reflect human hearing. It can describe environmental background noise, such as in a room or city, or the intrinsic noise of a device, such as a microphone or amplifier.

Measurement of the Rauschpegel is usually performed with calibrated microphones and sound level meters. The measurement is carried out over a defined bandwidth or time interval and may be reported as a single value (for example Lp) or as an equivalent continuous sound level (Leq). The resulting figure depends on weighting, bandwidth, and measurement duration.

In electronics and telecommunications, Rauschpegel can refer to the input-referred noise or the noise floor of a component. It is commonly specified as a noise spectral density (for example, Vn/√Hz) and integrated over a bandwidth to yield a total noise voltage, or described by a parameter such as the noise figure. The concept limits the achievable signal-to-noise ratio and, consequently, system performance.

Standards and terminology vary by field. In acoustics, guidelines stem from standards such as IEC 61672 and ISO 1996; in electronics, datasheets provide numbers in units like dBm, dBV, or Vn/√Hz. Rauschpegel is a general term for the magnitude of unwanted fluctuations and requires specification of weighting, bandwidth, and reference level for meaningful interpretation.