> > 2x voltage would actually be 6dB (this is one of those little confusing > > things they kinda slip past you. 3dB is double POWER, which would only be > > sqrt(2) times the voltage. 6dB is double voltage. > Wait... now I'm confusered. I thought 3dB was double, regardless of units. > +3dB voltage -> +6dB power because you also got +3dB current, P=IE and all > that. But OTOH I'm just a hacker, what do I know? :) When calculating power ratios the formula is 10*log(x1/x2) where x1 and x2 are power measurements in e.g. watts. For voltage (or current) ratios you use 20*log(x1/x2) where x1 and x2 are voltages (or currents). If you double the voltage across a given load you will quadruple the power dissipated since power is proportional to the square of the voltage (p=v2/r). Thus 6dB is a doubling of voltage but 3dB is doubling of power. Thus is the mighty Ohm's Law preserved. .