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Old 05-31-2007 | 10:39 AM
  #6  
Black Frog
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 499
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From: Kenosha, Wi USA
Default RE: Always wondered...

ORIGINAL: KodiakArcher
Doesn't matter as long as it's done the same for every bow.
Sure, easier said than done.

And what does the "SAME" mean? It would only be the same for that one location testing several bows. You could do it yourself when comparing bows, but realize the numbers you are getting are fairly meaningless outside of your own personal comparison for that instance.

If the measurements are taken indoors, you'd have to have some standardization of enclosed space volume, and standardization of the sound absorption properties of that volume of space. There is no 'same' in measuring sound levels unless you are doing it in anechoic chamber. They are very expensive to design and build.

And that ain't gonna happen.

Acousticsand sound are very finicky to measure accurately because the surrounding space has a LOT to do with the results. Take aSPL measurement of your bow in a smaller cement-walled basement workshop. It'll be different than if you took that samemeasurement outside in a free-space environment. And it will be different than if you took that measurement in a well-carpeted, high ceiling living room with lots of padded furniture and drapery.

If you think AMO draw and IBO speed specs can be 'fudged' a bit, that is nothing to the way sound readings can be manipulated.

You might say that it would be "close enough" for comparisons, but realize that sound pressure levels are measured in decibels (dB) which is based on a logarithmic scale. General rule of thumb is that 10dB increase in SPL is perceived as twice as loud. So having only a few dB of error can be drastic when actually trying to compare measurements.
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