From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   On 12/11/2025 6:37 AM, John R Walliker wrote:   
   >> What's it do at 1 cm?  Or, do we just pretend there is an   
   >> absence of effect at distances closer than 30 cm?  Why   
   >> 30 and not 10?  Or, 500?   
   >   
   > In the case of the horn system you mentioned there is a   
   > public address mode.  For that to work without gross   
   > distortion there is a fundamental limit of about 191dBspl   
   > when the negative peaks of a sine wave go to zero pressure.   
   > This applies even inside the horn.   
   > The system however has 18 horns, so at short distances   
   > it becomes impossible to come up with a meaningful   
   > measurement.  Where do you measure from?   
      
   Do you think THEORY just stops working without measurements?   
      
   >> My point is, that is a "respectible" manufacturer targeting   
   >> a "knowledgeable" community.  If they had chosen to   
   >> extend their data to shorter distances, they aren't   
   >> "making stuff up".   
   >>   
   >> Consumer markets operate under entirely different assumptions.   
   >>   
   >> What makes one "aspirin" more expensive than another?   
   >>   
   >> If I tell you that this screwdriver is hardened to Rc 65,   
   >> would you purchase it over another hardened to Rc 64?  66?   
   >>   
   >> Why do you purchase one brand of "batteries" over another?   
   >> Is there any reliable data on their capacities?  Have you   
   >> done any specific research?   
   >   
   > I avoid Duracell because I have found that they leak more often   
   > than other brands that I have tried.  I do sometimes test the   
   > capacities of batteries, especially if I am about to buy a large   
   > number.   
      
   Do you think people keep track of that *quantitatively*?   
      
   Do you think they keep track of how often the blade on a particular   
   brand of screwdriver deforms?  Or, the tip sheared off?  Or, the   
   application in which said deformations take place (to make "fair"   
   comparisons)?   
      
   Or, if the aspirins they purchased "last time" came with any   
   digestive problems?  If the weight of the "actives" inside each   
   tablet was consistent?  Their dissolution times?  Yet, the price   
   varies by about a FACTOR of *4*!   
      
   You get a "feel" for a product and make recommendations to others   
   based on that "feel".  And, use advertised information to decide   
   when to move up or down that relative scale based on whether   
   you want something "more" or "less".   
      
   >> Ivory soap claims to be "99.44% pure" -- why aren't other   
   >> soap manufacturers marketing "99.45% pure" products?   
   >   
   > Sometimes there are regulatory limits to the claims that can   
   > be made.   
      
   In most cases, there aren't.  There isn't a 99.45% product because   
   Ivory already cornered that "purity" appeal.  What does "purity"   
   in a bar of soap mean?  Does it make you cleaner?  Less dermatological   
   reactions?  What does the scent of Irish Spring have to do with   
   cleanliness?  Does the abrasiveness of Lava make a real difference?   
      
   I buy LED light bulbs.  They all CLAIM to have lifespans of 50,000+   
   hours.  Yet, I've replaced most of them, already, even under the   
   "recommended operating conditions".  Should I look for another   
   product that claims 100,000+ hours?   
      
   Engineers get used to absolutes.  It's psychologically comforting   
   to be able to lean on some "hard numbers" to bolster your claims.   
   Consumers put little faith in those.  *Designing* for that market   
   is entirely different than for a regulated market or one where   
   the customer expects metrics to apply.  There, you don't want the   
   customer to remember any negative aspects of your product that   
   will discourage him from a repeat purchase.   
      
   A "300 dB horn" just has to SOUND loud.  REALLY loud.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)