A-weighting, the legal noise standard, rests on dated single-frequency measurements

Evidence

Fletcher and Munson measured equal loudness curves in 1933; soon after, these curves were used in the earliest sound-level meters to calibrate the human impact of sound. There are now several weightings in use, with A-weighting mandated for environmental sound-level meters. It is based on the 40 dB Fletcher and Munson loudness curves (see figure 22.1) and therefore on single-frequency measurements. Despite serious flaws in its value as a measure of either annoyance or damage from broad spectrum sound, it remains the current standard. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2015

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: what alternatives to A-weighting exist (C-weighting? loudness models like Zwicker), and do regulatory bodies show any sign of updating?
• DEFINE: A-weighting is the standard frequency-response correction used in environmental sound-level meters, derived from the 40 dB equal-loudness contour.