Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Dynamic range" in English language version.
the overall dynamic range of human hearing roughly encompasses a full 140 dB
Digital audio at 16-bit resolution has a theoretical dynamic range of 96 dB, but the actual dynamic range is usually lower because of overhead from filters that are built into most audio systems." ... "Audio CDs achieve about a 90-dB signal-to-noise ratio.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)the threshold for pain is between 120 and 140 dB SPL.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "The data aquisition [sic] method of the Sussex MK4 EIM system" (PDF). 24 April 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)The peak sensitivities shown in this figure are equivalent to a sound pressure amplitude in the sound wave of 10 μPa or: about -6 dB (SPL). Note that this is for monaural listening to a sound presented at the front of the listener. For sounds presented on the listening side of the head there is a rise in peak sensitivity of about 6 dB [−12 dB SPL] due to the increase in pressure caused by reflection from the head.
The practical dynamic range could be said to be from the threshold of hearing to the threshold of pain [130 dB]
A nominal figure for the threshold of pain is 130 decibels ... Some sources quote 120 dB as the pain threshold
One of the great discoveries in PCM was that, by adding a small random noise (that we call dither) the truncation effect can disappear. Even more important was the realisation that there is a right sort of random noise to add, and that when the right dither is used, the resolution of the digital system becomes infinite.
The dynamic range of human hearing is [approximately] 120 dB
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "The data aquisition [sic] method of the Sussex MK4 EIM system" (PDF). 24 April 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "The data aquisition [sic] method of the Sussex MK4 EIM system" (PDF). 24 April 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-11.On the other hand, you can also see in Figure 1 that our hearing is slightly more sensitive to frequencies just above 1 kHz, where thresholds can be as low as −9 dB SPL!
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "The data aquisition [sic] method of the Sussex MK4 EIM system" (PDF). 24 April 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-11.The dynamic range of human hearing is [approximately] 120 dB
The practical dynamic range could be said to be from the threshold of hearing to the threshold of pain [130 dB]
the overall dynamic range of human hearing roughly encompasses a full 140 dB
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)The very quietest perceptible sound is about -8dbSPL
On the other hand, you can also see in Figure 1 that our hearing is slightly more sensitive to frequencies just above 1 kHz, where thresholds can be as low as −9 dB SPL!
The peak sensitivities shown in this figure are equivalent to a sound pressure amplitude in the sound wave of 10 μPa or: about -6 dB (SPL). Note that this is for monaural listening to a sound presented at the front of the listener. For sounds presented on the listening side of the head there is a rise in peak sensitivity of about 6 dB [−12 dB SPL] due to the increase in pressure caused by reflection from the head.
A nominal figure for the threshold of pain is 130 decibels ... Some sources quote 120 dB as the pain threshold
the threshold for pain is between 120 and 140 dB SPL.
Digital audio at 16-bit resolution has a theoretical dynamic range of 96 dB, but the actual dynamic range is usually lower because of overhead from filters that are built into most audio systems." ... "Audio CDs achieve about a 90-dB signal-to-noise ratio.
With use of shaped dither, which moves quantization noise energy into frequencies where it's harder to hear, the effective dynamic range of 16 bit audio reaches 120dB in practice, more than fifteen times deeper than the 96dB claim. 120dB is greater than the difference between a mosquito somewhere in the same room and a jackhammer a foot away.... or the difference between a deserted 'soundproof' room and a sound loud enough to cause hearing damage in seconds. 16 bits is enough to store all we can hear, and will be enough forever.
One of the great discoveries in PCM was that, by adding a small random noise (that we call dither) the truncation effect can disappear. Even more important was the realisation that there is a right sort of random noise to add, and that when the right dither is used, the resolution of the digital system becomes infinite.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)The upper limit for a tolerable intensity of sound rises substantially with increasing habituation. Moreover, a variety of subjective effects are reported, such as discomfort, tickle, pressure, and pain, each at a slightly different level. As a simple engineering estimate it can be said that naive listeners reach a limit at about 125 dB SPL and experienced listeners at 135 to 140 dB.
The very quietest perceptible sound is about -8dbSPL
With use of shaped dither, which moves quantization noise energy into frequencies where it's harder to hear, the effective dynamic range of 16 bit audio reaches 120dB in practice, more than fifteen times deeper than the 96dB claim. 120dB is greater than the difference between a mosquito somewhere in the same room and a jackhammer a foot away.... or the difference between a deserted 'soundproof' room and a sound loud enough to cause hearing damage in seconds. 16 bits is enough to store all we can hear, and will be enough forever.