sound IS funny, db does work, and for people building the things that produce or record sound. Useing db is just another unit used in engineering. Now if someone wants to get into the (very facinating), psychoacoustic side of sound, where another unit has been tried, "phons", prounounced fonz ;) , then it becomes clear that determining sound pressure levels is a tricky thing, as at the low end of perceptable sound the real world power of the actual sound is miniscule when converted into heat or mechanical power, and at the othete end a amp/speaker set up that was 100% efficient would only need 5 or 10 watts of electricity to power a stadium concert. we work with what we have, in a past lifeI got a degree in sound engineering, but barely practiced it, found myself way more into enjoying the products that have been built to be used, but am always greatfull to the people who make it possible, who on occasion are entertained by the sometimes exotic ways that I abuse the equipment, as the good ones take pride in having thought of and planed for such things, but do like confermation from the field. STC ratings anyone?