If a specific project specification says "…amplifier must be linear such that the harmonic distortions are maintained below -40dB…", does that mean that a THD of -30dB would meet the requirements or would something like -50dB be correct?
I ask this because I know with gain, \$ A_v \$, we usually take absolute values so it's a little hard to understand which one is correct. Any ideas?
Best Answer
A temperature of -50C is below -40C. Likewise for dB; -50dB is below, or less than, -40dB.
For power, -40dB is a ratio of \$\frac{1}{10,000}\$ while -50dB is a ratio of \$\frac{1}{100,000}\$.