hangerkülönbség

Hangerkülönbség, meaning "loudness difference" in Hungarian, refers to the perceived variation in the intensity of sound. This is a subjective perceptual quality, distinct from the objective physical measurement of sound pressure level, though it is closely related. Loudness is influenced by several factors beyond just amplitude, including frequency and duration of the sound. For instance, a sound at 3000 Hz might be perceived as louder than a sound at 100 Hz even if both have the same sound pressure level.

The perception of loudness follows a logarithmic scale, meaning that a doubling of sound pressure level does not necessarily result in a doubling of perceived loudness. This relationship is often described by the sone scale, where a doubling of perceived loudness corresponds to a tenfold increase in sound intensity (a 10 dB increase in sound pressure level). Understanding hangerkülönbség is crucial in fields such as audio engineering, acoustics, and psychoacoustics. It plays a role in music production, noise assessment, and the design of sound systems to ensure an appropriate and comfortable listening experience. In everyday life, we constantly make judgments about hangerkülönbség, distinguishing between a whisper and a shout, or the quiet hum of a refrigerator and the roar of a passing train.