The need for LOUD!

[jaybirdmusic74]

Ok

Heres what i have
integra dtr 6.4
definitive bp7002 towers
definitive clr2500 centre
definitive satellite rears
defintive sub
aragon 8008x3 amp

i recently connected everything and blasted metallica's concert DVD "cunning stunts" killer dvd if you like metallica. before i got the aragon amp my receiver would shut down during the dvd, now it plays on, but with my receiver volume set at 85(100 being the max) I still find that its just now loud enough. I want my system to be so loud and clear that i just cant stand it, how do i achieve this affect? I love my sytem but im looking to have my friends scream in my ear "holy **** man thats fu$%in loud"!

 

[MDS]

Turn it up to 100?

Have you ever measured the SPL at that volume? I would be leery of very high SPLs as prolonged exposure will damage your ears. However...

- You can buy a bigger amp. But remember every doubling of power only results in a +3 dB increase in loudness and that is noticeable but just a tad louder. By the sound of it you want it so loud that it reaches concert SPL levels and to get anywhere near that would likely require doubling the perceived loudness - that takes 10 times the power you currently have.

- Get more efficient speakers. Something over 93 dB / 1w / 1m is considered very efficient. Maybe Klipsch horn speakers with a sensitivity in the 100 db range?

- Make sure you have an appropriate xover frequency set so that the sub can take over the very low frequencies and free up amp power for the other channels.

All of the above in combination?

 

[majorloser]

More speakers and more amps.

To get more dB's you need to move more air. Which means more drivers. Which requires more power. Think of a concert with stacks of speakers.

I mean, REALLY, how many dB's does you present configuration put out? 110, 120?

 

[jaxvon]

I agree with MDS. It takes a lot of power to make a concert in your room. Personally, I don't like to think, "HOLY SH*T, THAT'S LOUD!". The mark of a true hi-fi system is when you crank it, it doesn't sound loud, it just sounds full. You realize how loud it is when you try to talk to someone and all you see are lips moving, but no sound. To do this, you need a lot of power on tap so that your amplifier will not be driven into clipping. In addition, you need to be careful to not overdrive your speakers and bottom out the woofers.

 

[RLA]

Hello

I started my career in Pro Audio setting up huge JBL and Electrovoice speaker systems. I can tell you that loud is a detrimental addiction just like a drug, and you will find yourself wanting more and more. The smart installers wear ear plugs and use SPL meters when setting up systems like this. Listening to sustained high SPL levels will damage your hearing. If you find yourself wanting more SPL the problem may be that your hearing capability is diminishing and to compensate you need to increase the SPL level to achieve the desired effect. Look I don’t want to sound like a lecturing grandpa; lord knows I have system that will tear down the house if I want it to. But just knowing I have that power at my finger tips is enough for me. Please be careful hearing cannot be restored once lost, can you image listening to your system through a hearing aid?

 

[MDS]

Bravo, RLA. Sane advice from a professional and we should all heed it.

I like to say that I want to be able to continue to enjoy music for a lifetime so I no longer care for extreme SPL. I want to be able to listen to Dio - Holy Diver when I am 80 years old.

 

[jaybirdmusic74]

Bravo, RLA. Sane advice from a professional and we should all heed it.

I like to say that I want to be able to continue to enjoy music for a lifetime so I no longer care for extreme SPL. I want to be able to listen to Dio - Holy Diver when I am 80 years old.

Ok ok I get it, the ringing in my ears afterwards is not good, I need to change the way I think about my home audio. Now I need something to power my rear channels, any suggestions?