Cutoff Frequency Is Taken For 3dB and Not Other Values Like 1 or 2 DB

Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for 3dB and not other values like
1 or 2 db?
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Cyril Robinson Azariah
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Karunya University
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Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for

3dB and not other values like 1 or 2 db?
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Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for 3dB and not other values like
1 or 2 db?
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Feb 7, 2012
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POPULAR ANSWERS
Hussein ALameri
University of Baghdad
The -3dB, come from 20 Log (0.707) or 10 Log (0.5).
to determine the bandwidth of signal, when decrease the voltage from

maximum to 0.707Max or decreasing the power from max to half power.
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Jul 23, 2012
http://www.researchgate.net/post/Please_tell_me_Why_the_cutoff_frequency_is_taken_for_3dB_and_not_other_values_like_1_or_2_db[13/04/2015 17:13:06]
Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for 3dB and not other values like 1 or 2 db?
A. W. Krieger
University of Alberta
Generally speaking, a filter's cutoff frequency is not necessarily defined at

-3dB. Such is the case for Butterworth filters, as a direct result of
Butterworth's initial formulation, which ends up with a gain value of 0.707
at the cutoff frequency, regardless of order; ex. see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterworth_filter. In contrast, a Chebyshev
filter is defined differently, allowing the designer to specify the desired
amount of ripple within a given passband or stop-band. In contrast to the
Butterworth and Chebyshev filters, a Bessel filter is defined with respect
to phase response, with the design objective of approximating a delay
line, with a maximally flat phase response in a given passband, i.e. near
constant delay time for all frequencies within that passband. Whereas a
Butterworth filter's order can be increased for greater stop-band
attenuation while keeping a constant -3dB cutoff frequency, a Bessel
filter's order can be increased, also for greater stop-band attenuation, but
while maintaining a constant group delay within some passband (ex. see
www.mathworks.com/help/toolbox/signal/ref/besself.html), but resulting in
a varying -3dB cutoff frequency. Since different filter designs aim at
different objectives, it can be mis-leading to compare them on the basis
of just a -3dB point. It is also worth noting, for example, that for a first
order low-pass filter, there is a useful symmetry in the Bode phase
response relative to the -3dB frequency, which is clearer to see in the
Nyquist plot, and even clearer when compared to a first order high-pass
filter with the same -3dB frequency.
Jul 17, 2012
ALL ANSWERS (40)
Raghavendra CHANDRA Ganiga
General Industrial Controls Pvt Ltd
3db is the power level, its the frequency at which the power is at 3db
below the maximum value and 3db means in normal unit its half the
maximum power so 3db frequency means the frequency at which the

power is half the maximum value so its decided the cuttoff frequency.
Feb 7, 2012
Brian Conley
Circuitsville Engineering LLC
3dB is equivalent to 0.707 times the peak Voltage/Current value, also

known as the half power point.
Usually dB is a measure of power, in electrical work power is the square

of current times load impedance or the square of voltage divided by load
impedance.
So half the power would be half of the squared voltage or the voltage
divided by the square root of 2 (1/sqrt(2)) or 0.707.
Feb 9, 2012
Suresh Susurla
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
As answered by other friends, actually the frequency corresponding to

3dB magnitude is considered as bandwidth of the signal or of the system.
Its at this frequency that the power of the signal is reduced to half its max
power/ or the attenuation caused by the system to the signal is such that
the magnitude reduces to 1/sqrt(2) of the max magnitude of the
signal.This is taken as a standard reference frequency beyond which the
response is not very important from the system analysis point of view.
Feb 9, 2012
Samir Ben Abid
-3dB means that only half of the signal's power is attenuated by the filter.
Feb 21, 2012
Brian Conley
Circuitsville Engineering LLC
The -3dB point is at the start of the attenuation.
Frequencies beyond that are attenuated at a 20 dB per decade of

frequency (per pole) beyond the -3dB frequency.
(Assuming a Low Pass Filter)
Actually -3dB means that half of _that_frequency_ of the signal has

power attenuated.
Frequencies below -3dB are not attenuated (by much) , frequencies

above are more strongly attenuated.
Mar 9, 2012
Stephen Hall
University of Liverpool
This seems a very inefficient way of finding out very basic knowledge.
Why not simply look in a textbook?
Mar 14, 2012
Shailesh Kumar
Dr. D.Y. Patil University
3dB corresponds to the half of the maximum power.
Mar 24, 2012
Arivu Che
Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore
In communication we want to get the frequency gain 100%.but it is not

possible.the o/p of the gain rate will be 70% to 100%. 70% gain is a
minimum acceptable frequency.so we have been using the 3db .
Mar 28, 2012
James Van Damme
Stiefvater Consultants
It's completely arbitrary. But a 3 dB change in audio volume is noticeable,

so it's commonly acceptable.
Apr 2, 2012
Jagadish Kadadevarmath
Karnatak University, Dharwad
Particularly in communication applications it required to have constatnt

gain over lager bandwidth. That is in band pass filter bandwidth is the
difference of frequencies between 3 dB points. Over this region, gain
reasonably remains constant. Beyond 3dB point attenuation is large so
there is a chance of loosing more information.
Apr 3, 2012
Kurt Lathrop
It's not really arbitrary. It's because decibels are logarithmic, and the log
(base 10) of 3 is about 50% power. So the 3 decibel cutoff is where
power drops off by a half.
Apr 6, 2012
Kala Batti
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
3 dB implies 1/2 the power and since the power is proportional to the
square of voltage, the voltage will be 0,707 of the pass band voltage.
Apr 7, 2012
A. W. Krieger
University of Alberta
Generally speaking, a filter's cutoff frequency is not necessarily defined at

-3dB. Such is the case for Butterworth filters, as a direct result of
Butterworth's initial formulation, which ends up with a gain value of 0.707
at the cutoff frequency, regardless of order; ex. see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterworth_filter. In contrast, a Chebyshev
filter is defined differently, allowing the designer to specify the desired
amount of ripple within a given passband or stop-band. In contrast to the
Butterworth and Chebyshev filters, a Bessel filter is defined with respect
to phase response, with the design objective of approximating a delay
line, with a maximally flat phase response in a given passband, i.e. near
constant delay time for all frequencies within that passband. Whereas a
Butterworth filter's order can be increased for greater stop-band
attenuation while keeping a constant -3dB cutoff frequency, a Bessel
filter's order can be increased, also for greater stop-band attenuation, but
while maintaining a constant group delay within some passband (ex. see
www.mathworks.com/help/toolbox/signal/ref/besself.html), but resulting in
a varying -3dB cutoff frequency. Since different filter designs aim at
different objectives, it can be mis-leading to compare them on the basis
of just a -3dB point. It is also worth noting, for example, that for a first
order low-pass filter, there is a useful symmetry in the Bode phase
response relative to the -3dB frequency, which is clearer to see in the
Nyquist plot, and even clearer when compared to a first order high-pass
filter with the same -3dB frequency.
Jul 17, 2012
Stephen Hall
University of Liverpool
Mr Kumar has already given you the answer. It is simply a convention.
Jul 17, 2012
Arivu Che
Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore
In communication we wnat 100% frequency of the output.but

unfortunately some of the noises will be added during the transmission.so

we can't able to get 100%.the minimum acceptable frequency is
70.7%.so we have been using 3db.
gain=20 log(V0/Vin)
vo/vin=0.707
and then we get the answer.
Jul 18, 2012
Hussein ALameri
University of Baghdad
The -3dB, come from 20 Log (0.707) or 10 Log (0.5).
to determine the bandwidth of signal, when decrease the voltage from

maximum to 0.707Max or decreasing the power from max to half power.
Jul 23, 2012
Daoud Berkani
National Polytechnic School of Algiers
The best response is given by Hussein Alamari
Aug 9, 2012
Peeyush Garg
Manipal University
Dear,
We can see the -3 dB point in a frequency response, frequency response

is the graph b/w Magnitude in dB {that is 20log(Vo/Vin) or 10log(Po/Pin)}
and frequency, plotted at semi-logarithmic scale.
In case of low pass filter, design using an Op-Amp and RC circuit and
relation b/w gain(Vo/Vin) and input signal frequency (f) is like that:
Vo/Vin = Af * (1 / (1+j(/2 pi *f R C) ) ) here Af is gain of Non inverting OPAMP configuration.
At f = 1/ 2 pi*RC = cut off frequency , the value of frequency dependent

gain (Vo/Vin) is
|V0/Vin|=| Af/(1 / (1 + j ) ) | = Af /sqrt(2) = 0.707 Af and
20log |V0/Vin| =20 log ( 0.707 Af) = 20 log(0.707) + 20log(Af) = -3 + 20

log(Af) {in dB}
Thats why we can easily say that when difference b/w the 20log |V0/Vin|
and 20log(Af) is -3, the frequency is known as cut off frequency, that can
be easily varied using R and C (Resistance and capacitance ). In another
word, to find out cut off frequency you can directly use 3db gain point at
frequency response.
I think it help you to understand the -3 dB point. And Why the cutoff
frequency is taken for 3dB and not other values like 1 or 2 db.
Nov 6, 2012
Peeyush Garg
Manipal University
Well, one more interested thing about it when you linearised the
frequency response, then you can see that the extreme point for line is
also find at - 3 db, that is clear in attached file. After linearization the plot
become piece wise linear. Please see in attached file that is frequency
response of low pass filter.
Nov 6, 2012
Jose-Ignacio Izpura
Universidad Politcnica de Madrid
Besides previous answers, quite useful from an Engineering viewpoint,

you might want to know a more Physical reason for your question. If this
is the case, think about a simple capacitor (a Resistance-Capacitance
parallel circuit, capacitors without a shunting resistance R do not exist at
temperatures over T=0 K) and put some electrical energy on it, thus a
voltage V at time t=0. If you measure the time evolution of this voltage
you will find that it decays exponentially with time. This means that the
voltage reduction at each instant of time is proportional to the voltage
existing at such instant. To say it bluntly: the voltage V has a lifetime that
is the time constant Tau=RC (in seconds) of this parallel circuit whose
stored energy is defined by its voltage.
The inverse of this lifetime gives an angular frequency (in rad/s) that is
w=1/(RC), which in turn defines a frequency fc=w/(2Pi). The meaning of
this fc is that the synthesis of a sinusoidal voltage of this frequency in the
capacitor requires the same amplitude A of current through C (thus in
quadrature with the synthesized voltage) than the amplitude of current
through R (thus in-phase with the synthesized voltage). This means that
the aforesaid synthesis of sinusoidal voltage in this Two-Terminal Device
(2TD) takes an amount of reactive power linked with C that is equal to the
active power linked with R.
Therefore, the total power entering the above 2TD (no matter if it is a
capacitor or a resistor, both share the same R-C circuit) is 50% reactive
power responsible for Fluctuation of energy in the 2TD and 50% active
power responsible for Dissipation (actually Conversion into heat in this
example) in the 2TD. Scientists speaking about electrical noise should
handle in this way the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem derived from
Callen & Welton pioneering work (1951).. Anyway, this gives you the
physical reason why you observe 50% power at fc if you measure voltage
on the C of the low-pass, first order R-C filter or if you measure voltage
on the R of the high-pass, first order R-C filter both driven by an input
voltage generator Vg.
To say it bluntly: when you are measuring any of the above two filters
driven by the input generator Vg, you actually are measuring the voltage
on BOTH (R and C) or in our Engineering language: you are measuring

the voltage on the Complex Admittance formed by R and C in parallel,
driven by a current generator of value (Vg/R) Amps. The latter sentence
simply requires a Thevenin-Norton transform, very familiar to us, the
Electrical Engineers (EE), but not well known as most EE use to
believe. Perhaps, this is enough for you, but if you feel curiousity about
electrical noise and electrical conduction, you may find interesting this
open access paper:
A Fluctuation-Dissipation Model for Electrical Noise.
Jos-Ignacio Izpura, Javier Malo
Circuits and Systems. 01/2011; 2:112-120.
Nov 21, 2012
B Jerry Glen Gregoire
Neuralynx
Please see Hussein ALameri's answer. While all these posts are good
and interesting, I think your question was more basic. Its simply the 1/2
power bandwidth.
Dec 19, 2012
Arun Govindan Kutty
Cochin University of Science and Technology
Mr. Hussein ALameri and Arivu Che has put the things more simply and
in an abstract way... As an example, suppose we are hearing a sound (a
musical show), the changes in the sound can be detected by our ear
when its loudness has reduced by .707 times the peak value... that is
when it is below .707 the peak value, its difference is felt more and is
more obvious.
Dec 26, 2012
T.J. Moir
Auckland University of Technology
It is the intersection of two asymptotes to the magnitude response - the

0dB one and one at -20dB/decade. Look at any book on control
engineering under Bode Plots and see the maths.
Jan 15, 2013
Daoud Berkani
National Polytechnic School of Algiers
Too many time is spent for this simple question. Very interesting has
been given. I suggest to to close our discussion.
Jan 26, 2013
Devkinandan Chaurasiya
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
human ear can not distinguish maximum and 3dB frequency level. 3 dB is
maximum permitted level.
another reason :
importance of 3 dB is , at this point the power level of a device is reduce

to half value within a pass band.
Jan 28, 2013
Rafel Estelrich Moreno
ResearchGate
Just summarizing a bit from former messages:
The -3dB comes from the logarithmic value of sqrt(0,5) (0,707), as

pointed by Hussein. This is done, because when talking about signals
and filters, you are usually interested on the value of the power.
As you may know, P=V^2/R or I^2R (where P stands for power, V for
voltage, I for current and R for resistance)
Hence, when the value for the voltage (or current) reaches 0,707Vmax
(0,707Imax), the power will be 0,5Pmax [since sqrt(0,5)^2 = 0,5].
The points where a filter attenuates the power of a signal to the half of its
maximum are considered the frequency limits. Any signal with a
frequency smaller than the lower limit and bigger than the upper limit will
be attenuated, at least, by 2.
And since those frequency limits are taken as the borders for the
bandwidth of a filter, the cutoff frequencies result to be those where the
power is 3dB lower than on the maximum. (Remember that P(dB) = 10
log(P))
And why 0,5? Well I think that 0,5Pmax is a reasonable cutoff value, isn't
it? ;)
Feb 8, 2013
Sanath kumar B.P. Hebbar
Lam Research Corporation
-3db fall corresponds to the magnitude of root(2)*maximum value. And

the reason we take root(2) factor is, for a sinusoidal wave, root(2) is
R.M.S value. By which it means that the power consumed by load for the
sinusoidal source will be equivalent to the DC constant power source
when the DC source's magnitude should be R.M.S value of sine wave.
Feb 9, 2013
Colin McAndrew
Freescale Semiconductors, Inc
I often find there is a simpler way to think about it. The input impedance
of a parallel RC circuit is (w=omega, the angular frequency)
Z=R/(1+j*w*R*C)
and it is true, as Moir notes, that the cutoff frequency fc is where the two
asymptotes |R| (w->0) and |1/(j*w*C)| (1->inf) meet on a Bode plot.
However, also at that point the real and imaginary parts of the
denominator are equal. The magnitude of the denominator is then sqrt(2)
of its value at low frequency, so it is clear where that factor comes from
(or the factor 2 when squared for power).
The advantage of thinking about it this way is that you can determine fc
from low frequency simulation and do not have to have any a priori
knowledge of fc to know what range of frequencies to simulate over to
properly bracket it. If you run a small-signal ac simulation with voltage
stimulus V=1+j*0 at a frequency f=1, so w=2*Pi, then the real part of the
current I is 1/R and the imaginary part is 2*Pi*C, then
fc=Re(I)/Im(I).
You cannot easily measure at this low frequency, and if there is any
nonlinearity then a 1V signal will introduce distortion, but in a simulator an
ac analysis is done on the circuit linearized at its dc operating point and
you can easily simulate at any frequency, so it works like a charm.
Feb 21, 2013
Lutz von Wangenheim
Hochschule Bremen
I think, all of the given justifications are appropriate - however, we should

not forget that this -3dB limit is an arbitrary one. There may be good
reasons for choosing this value - on the other hand, some filter
approximations with passband ripple (Chebyshev, elliptical) do NOT use
this 3dB limit.
In some particular cases it can be necessary - even for Butterworth filters

- to specify the band edge at the 1dB or 2dB frequency.
Thus, the 3dB limit is not a "natural" threshold - it just makes sense for
many applications.
Feb 21, 2013
Pisupati Sadasiva Subramanyam
Vignana Bharathi Institute of

Technology
The 3dB point corresponds to half Power Point ie. Half the Power
Supplied which is the Maximum Power that can be supplied to the Load
according to Maximum Power Transfer Theorem.
Dr.P.S.
Feb 27, 2013
Abdelhalim Zekry
Ain Shams University
COMMENT!
No answer is voted up by Cyril Robinson, the man who asked this

question. Till now there is no response from him on all the above
answers. IS he still not satisfied with these answers. Excuse me,t he
most important vote is that of the asking person!
From my point of view the voting system is not a sufficient measure for
answers evaluation. Some better answers collected less votes!
Mar 6, 2013
Lutz von Wangenheim
Hochschule Bremen
Yes - you are right.
A small "thank you" would suffice.
Mar 6, 2013
Abdelhalim Zekry
Ain Shams University
Thank you Prof. Lutz. Avery respectful man.
Mar 6, 2013
Pisupati Sadasiva Subramanyam
Vignana Bharathi Institute of

Technology
Thank you Prof. Lutz for providing info on the relevance of 3 dB cutoff
points regarding some other filters like Chebishev, Butterworth Filters etc.
Dr.P.S.
Mar 7, 2013
Hitesh Shukla
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
An international definition for bandwidth, while u can defined yours say

6dB or 10dB. Depends on the manufacturer.
Else what so ever other members say is correct. and dont forget it is for
power in a signal with respect to a known power.
Mar 22, 2013
Cyril Robinson Azariah J
Karunya University
Thank you.. very kind of you for the answer.. i didnt turn up to research
gate so long.. Sorry for replying late sir.
Mar 31, 2013
Can you help by adding an answer?
Add your answer
2008 2015 researchgate.net. All rights

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Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for 3dB and not other values like

Cyril Robinson Azariah

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Over 200 000 questions asked

Please tell me, Why the cutoff frequency is taken for

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Follow this question

The -3dB, come from 20 Log (0.707) or 10 Log (0.5).

to determine the bandwidth of signal, when decrease the voltage from

Jul 23, 2012

Generally speaking, a filter's cutoff frequency is not necessarily defined at

Jul 17, 2012

ALL ANSWERS (40)

Raghavendra CHANDRA Ganiga

General Industrial Controls Pvt Ltd

maximum power so 3db frequency means the frequency at which the

Circuitsville Engineering LLC

3dB is equivalent to 0.707 times the peak Voltage/Current value, also

Usually dB is a measure of power, in electrical work power is the square

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

As answered by other friends, actually the frequency corresponding to

Samir Ben Abid

Feb 21, 2012

Circuitsville Engineering LLC

The -3dB point is at the start of the attenuation.

Frequencies beyond that are attenuated at a 20 dB per decade of

(Assuming a Low Pass Filter)

Actually -3dB means that half of _that_frequency_ of the signal has

Frequencies below -3dB are not attenuated (by much) , frequencies

Why not simply look in a textbook?

Mar 14, 2012

Dr. D.Y. Patil University

3dB corresponds to the half of the maximum power.

Mar 24, 2012

Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore

In communication we want to get the frequency gain 100%.but it is not

Mar 28, 2012

James Van Damme

It's completely arbitrary. But a 3 dB change in audio volume is noticeable,

Karnatak University, Dharwad

Particularly in communication applications it required to have constatnt

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad

Generally speaking, a filter's cutoff frequency is not necessarily defined at

Jul 17, 2012

Mr Kumar has already given you the answer. It is simply a convention.

Jul 17, 2012

Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore

In communication we wnat 100% frequency of the output.but

unfortunately some of the noises will be added during the transmission.so

and then we get the answer.

Jul 18, 2012

The -3dB, come from 20 Log (0.707) or 10 Log (0.5).

to determine the bandwidth of signal, when decrease the voltage from

Jul 23, 2012

National Polytechnic School of Algiers

The best response is given by Hussein Alamari

We can see the -3 dB point in a frequency response, frequency response

Vo/Vin = Af * (1 / (1+j(/2 pi *f R C) ) ) here Af is gain of Non inverting OPAMP configuration.

At f = 1/ 2 pi*RC = cut off frequency , the value of frequency dependent

|V0/Vin|=| Af/(1 / (1 + j ) ) | = Af /sqrt(2) = 0.707 Af and

20log |V0/Vin| =20 log ( 0.707 Af) = 20 log(0.707) + 20log(Af) = -3 + 20

Universidad Politcnica de Madrid

Besides previous answers, quite useful from an Engineering viewpoint,