The sone is a perceptually relevant unit that quantifies how loud a sound feels , rather than its physical energy. Its linear scaling makes it intuitive for comparing loudness differences, and it is essential in product design, architectural acoustics, and hearing research.
| Unit | Measures | Scale | Human Perception | |------|----------|-------|------------------| | | Perceived loudness | Linear (2 sones = twice as loud) | Directly proportional | | Decibel (dB SPL) | Sound pressure (physical) | Logarithmic | Not proportional | | Phon | Loudness level | Logarithmic (matches dB SPL at 1 kHz) | Scale for matching loudness | sone definition
The is a unit of loudness , a psychoacoustic measure of how loud a sound is perceived by the human ear. Unlike physical measures of sound pressure (decibels), the sone scale is linear and directly proportional to perceived loudness. A sound rated as 2 sones is perceived as twice as loud as a sound rated as 1 sone. The sone is a perceptually relevant unit that