80dB in a 737-800 at cruise versus 70 dB in an Airbus A320, and let's not forget that dB is a logarithmic measurement not a linear measurement.
I work for a company providing digital sound and communications systems for use in Level D flight sims... the sound level varies depending on the aircraft operating state (yeah, that's obvious... ), so you name it!
The Boeing simulation data package includes octave band SPL levels for many operating conditions, with the 63Hz band generally being the loudest... for example the peak level at 63Hz for an on-ground engine acceleration from idle to take-off power is about 90dB SPL, during take-off the peak (again 63Hz band) is around 98dB, while in cruise (FL350, 0.78M) the level drops to about 80dB SPL, while application of full thrust reverse gets you to just about 100dB SPL in the 63Hz band.
The 63Hz band is a good guide for the overall SPL, since the overall sound level is the integral of all energy in the audible range (and recognizing the energy at low frequency is much great than at higher frequencies).
Cheers, GY
Indeed I do have Airbus cockpit levels - those are easier since the dBA overall SPLs are included in the Airbus data package for sound.
For now all have access to is for the A320 w/ CFM engines:
Ground idle = 67.8dBA
Engines max pwr on-ground w/brakes (71.5%N1) = 73.4dBA
Typical climb profile = 73.4dBA
Cruise FL330 M0.78 = 70.5dBA
Cheers, GY
80dB . . . if this is true I might delay my Captain bid and take a 777 FO for a longer period of time instead.