frequency just noticeable difference

sound

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June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The "just noticeable difference" (JND) in sound refers to the smallest change in intensity or frequency that a person can detect. The human ear has a vast dynamic range, meaning it can perceive sounds across a wide spectrum of intensities and frequencies.12

For sound intensity, the JND is approximately one decibel (dB). This means that a sound's intensity must change by about 1 dB for a person to notice a difference.2

In terms of frequency, the JND is about 0.5 percent of the tone's frequency. This means that for most audible frequencies, the ear can detect a change of about half a percent. The ear's sensitivity to frequency changes is slightly less at the extreme high and low ends of the audible spectrum.2

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Dynamic range of the ear
…by the ear, called the frequency just noticeable difference, is about 0.5 percent of the frequency of the tone, or about one-tenth of a musical half-step. The ear is less sensitive near the upper and lower ends of the audible spectrum, so that the just noticeable difference becomes somewhat larger.
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…by the ear, called the frequency just noticeable difference, is about 0.5 percent of the frequency of the tone, or about one-tenth of a musical half-step. The ear is less sensitive near the upper and lower ends of the audible spectrum, so that the just noticeable difference becomes somewhat larger.
Read More