Decibel

A unit of measurement, literally meaning one-tenth of a bel. Primarily used in acoustics, decibel measurements balance the power ratio and amplitude of a wave. In the world of audiophiles and consumer electronics, decibels (dB) are often used to measure signal attenuation and signal-to-noise (SnR) ratios, although a decibel is most commonly synonymous with "loudness" when it comes to amplifier gains or output.