Basics on Hertz and Low-Frequency Sirens

For emergency responders in a variety of fields, sirens and siren speakers are a vital part of being able to make a presence known. Noise is a big part of alerting other drivers on the road to the presence of these vehicles to keep things safe and orderly.

At LedEquipped, we have a variety of siren and speaker options available. One such option is the low-frequency siren – let’s go over what this does, how it’s different from a standard siren, and when it might be best for you.

Hertz and Wats

The biggest difference between low-frequency sirens and normal ones is a difference in hertz, which are part of how humans hear. Humans can hear sounds from 20 hertz right on up to about 20,000 hertz, with our optimal range of hearing located right around 1,000 to 5,000 Hertz.

For comparison’s sake, a dog can hear up to about 50,000 hertz – roughly two-and-a-half times the range for humans. Many animals have wider ranges here.

Standard Siren

In a standard 100 watt siren, the amount of noise generally put out will be about 1,000 hertz – basically, right at the beginning of our hearing range. This is why police and firefighter sirens tend to be audible and loud from a variety of areas.

Low-Frequency Sirens

Low-frequency sirens, on the other hand, average about half a hertz or less from a standard model. Because 500 hertz is just below our best hearing range, this causes low-frequency sirens to usually be “felt” more than heard. These sirens will shake vehicles around you as an additional notification – for this reason, they’re often used in coordination with a more traditional siren that provides normal noise levels, to provide a good combination.

For more on hertz and low-frequency sirens, or to learn about our emergency vehicle lights or any of our other products, speak to the pros at LedEquipped today.