In the midrange, hand-waving:
FWIWFM - Don
- 1 dB change in volume is about as small as we can distinguish when listening to music (or whatever). This is not the criteria for comparisons (that's more like 0.1 dB) but the smallest step we can detect (just noticeable difference, JND).
- 3 dB is about the step most of us will tweak the volume (or the sound board) when someone asks us to make it "just a little" louder or softer. That also takes twice the power.
- 10 dB is twice as loud (or half the volume for -10 dB) and takes ten times the power.
- 20 dB is four times as loud (or one-quarter the volume for -20 dB) and takes 100 times the power.
FWIWFM - Don