The decibel unit is calibrated to the smallest perceivable loudness change

Evidence

The factor of 10 arises because this makes the result a number in which an integer change is approximately equal to the smallest change that can be perceived by the human ear. A factor-of-10 change in the power density ratio is called the bel; in Equation 1.18 this would result in a change of 10 in the outcome. The integer unit that results from Equation 1.18 is therefore called the decibel (dB). It represents a 10 10 change in the power density ratio, that is, a ratio of about 1.26. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 181

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the bel/decibel naming and the perceptual justification for the unit.
• CANDY: A tweetable tidbit: one decibel is the smallest change the human ear can detect.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 181
• XREF: connects to: Logarithmic hearing means equal decibel steps need larger absolute pressure differences; The just-noticeable difference quantifies the smallest audible change in a sound; The decibel multiplier calibrates integer changes to the ear’s just-noticeable differences (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The just-noticeable difference quantifies the smallest audible change in a sound #expands (0.95)
• The JND is the smallest intensity change the ear can discriminate #corroborates (0.90)
• The decibel multiplier calibrates integer changes to the ear’s just-noticeable differences #corroborates (0.85)