SineWave: Hear the music, not the lights!

'Sound' and 'noise' are used somewhat interchangeably when we discuss acoustic energy. Sound is acoustic energy. Noise is our evaluation of a sound (anything that interferes with what we want to hear). In theatres, studios, conference rooms, places of worship, concert halls, etc. we want to hear performers and speakers and nothing else. Lamps and dimmers produce various levels of acoustic energy - sounds that we don't want to need to hear (noise!). Power line harmonics are also noise. These are a series of frequencies generated by electrical and electronic devices that modulate AC power. Harmonics with the most energy occur in the audio spectrum where hearing is most acute. These frequencies create acoustic lamp noise by vibrating filaments and also interfere with sound equipment. Higher frequencies may affect electronics. Forward or reverse phase dimmers add harmonic noise to the power. SineWave dimmers are "unity power factor" devices and add none.

SineWave silence: