Boom cars are also called
ground pounders, street pounders, or (rarely)
trunk thumpers, and no wonder considering the brain-liquefying power of some of these car stereo systems. A decent home stereo might pump out 200 watts, but boom car units often boast 1,000 watts of power, and systems with 2,000 or even 3,000 watts have been recorded. As a point of reference, the human pain threshold for noise is 120 decibels (dB), but these rolling sonic factories can hit 140 or even 150 dB. Because decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, the sound level
doubles every 10 dB, so (it turns out) 150 dB would be the equivalent of standing next to a 747 with its jet engines at full roar.
(For the record, I should note that the "winner" in this contest may be the 48,000-watt absurdity installed in a Ford Bronco a couple of years ago. According to Wired magazine, it could reach 175 decibels (two and a half times louder than the 747) and the vehicle's occupant would actually die (and most unpleasantly, too) if he was insane enough to crank up the system to its top volume.)
