db Poll Anyone??

[Chopper231]

Just wondering if you guys ever take a db poll. I just got a sound level meter to help in adjusting the volume trim on my reciever. The Onkyo manual said to set the meter to the C weighting to set the trim. What is the A weighting used for? What would be a good db rating for a HTS?
Thanks.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

The A Weighting is a less flat frequency response curve as compared to the C Weighting setting of the meter. It has to do with how your ears are more sensitive to certain frequencies over others, in a small nutshell.

Typically, people tend to balance their channels at an output of 75 dB, however this number is not carved in stone and people do play with it to their taste.

If you like, find a good loudness level for your mains, a volume that you would normally listen to your system at and then calibrate the rest of the speakers to match that. Note that some people run the LFE channel a little hot.

Generally, as long as all the speakers output the same, the number can be whatever you want within reason... 70 dB, 75, 80, 85... you get the picture.

Good luck.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I listen at the level that sounds right to me. I have no idea what that might be in dB, nor do I especially care.

 

[bandphan]

I listen at the level that sounds right to me. I have no idea what that might be in dB, nor do I especially care.

so level matching doesnt concern you?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My understanding is that dBA looks only at frequencies 1 kHz - 20 kHz, which could potentially be more dangerous to our hearing.

The dBC looks at 20 Hz - 20 kHz.

On my system, I will not go above 85 dBA. Most of the time, it is around 80 dBA in my room. The 85 dBA in my room, however, translates to about 90 dBC, which is usually the standard sound level.

I think levels above 85 dBA and especially 90 dBA can cause hearing loss.

 

[Adam]

I think levels above 85 dBA and especially 90 dBA can cause hearing loss.

Spot on! Link (one of many).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Spot on! Link (one of many).

You know even at 80 dBA in my room, my wife and kids still complain that it is too loud, which I can see their point.

So I can't imagine people listening to above 85 dBA!

 

[allargon]

I calibrate/level match at 85, but I listen at much lower levels (like 40-65).

 

[croseiv]

My system is calibrated such that -15 on my MV =70 db (73 dB for the sub). So if I'm at zero on the receiver, that would be at Dolby Reference Level. I can tell you that I never listen that loud. Usually I'm at -15 to -13 on the MV and that will shake the house with good LFE.

 

[cbraver]

I'll crank it now and again, but for the most part I think I'm in the 70dB range.

I think one of the under-promoted benefits of playing with room treatments is that if you can lower the ambient noise level in your room, you can listen at a lower level and it will seem louder. Any difference in the noise floor you can gain is probably worthwhile.

That's one of the reasons I've been reading a bit about acoustics and want to try some treatments in my new place if I can make it look okay.

 

[Alex2507]

I think levels above 85 dBA and especially 90 dBA can cause hearing loss.

WHAT?

 

[j_garcia]

It actually doesn't matter if you calibrate a 75dB, 80dB or 85dB, since I don't think most listen at reference calibrated level. What matters is that the levels of each individual speaker matches so that your system is able to most adequately recreate the intended soundfield regardless of the level the system is played back at.

 

[croseiv]

For me it's merely a useful reference more than anything. I found that setting the sub by ear caused me to run my sub way hot. Using a SPL meter helped tremendously to balance the sound.

 

[no. 5]

The Onkyo manual said to set the meter to the C weighting to set the trim. What is the A weighting used for?

The "A" weighting was designed to approximate human hearing response for low level sound (the A weighting curve resembles the 40 phon equal loudness contour) and is significantly less sensitive to low frequency than "C" weighting, which has little low frequency roll off.

 

[Adam]

WHAT?

Hearing loss, not blindness...

 

[speakerman39]

WHAT?

Just wished I knew this back in my car audio days. Huh.......what'd you say there sonny? I do wake myself up sometimes when I am snoring. So, either my hearing is pretty good-OR-I snore very loud! I prefer the former, rather than the latter.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[croseiv]

Hearing loss, not blindness...

LOL!!! Very funny indeed.

 

[Adam]

[Waits for Alex's impending response.]

 

[Alex2507]

My system is calibrated such that -15 on my MV =70 db (73 dB for the sub). So if I'm at zero on the receiver, that would be at Dolby Reference Level. I can tell you that I never listen that loud. Usually I'm at -15 to -13 on the MV and that will shake the house with good LFE.

I use 70dB for level matching because it's not as obnoxiously irritating as 80dB and the level falls in the middle of the RS SPL meter. My rec' manual says to have the main volume set at -15 so that's where I do have it. Thanks for pointing out that that combination produces Dolby Reference Level with the main volume turned up to 0. I like the way that all comes together in the end.

Hearing loss, not blindness...

LOL! (I racked my brain but nothing measured up to the beauty of the quote above.)