What sound level do you listen to your movies at?

[mpompey]

I currently watch movies at 65db or 70dB reference level in my system.

I'm curious at what sound level do you listen to your movies at? I realize that some DVDs are recorded at higher levels than others, and you'd have to adjust to compensate, but on average where do you find yourself setting your receiver/amp?

One of the reasons I ask is that as I'm completing phase I of my media/theater room, I've noticed that I have to turn my receiver up a bit louder in the new environment than in my old one. I've calibrated my theater to 70dB for a couple of reasons. One with my RadioShack SPL Meter it's easier to read 70 dB than it is to read 75 dB, because the needle is dead center at 70 dB. The second reason is that 85 dB seems too loud in my room.

However, in this room I have to turn my receiver to -15.5 to get to 70 dB, where as in my old room I could get this level at -22.5. My current room is almost 450 sq ft, about 150 sq ft larger than the old room. But I wouldn't expect SPL to drop that much because of the additional space.

I'm currently using the Yamaha RX-V1500, which should be powerful enough for a 450 sq ft room. I guess i'm worried because -15.5 is so close to -- OdB, and I don't want to burn out my receiver.

 

[MDS]

-15.5 dB is a LONG way from 0 dB. A level change of 10 dB is a doubling of peceived loudness. You should have no worries about burning up the receiver at any volume setting at or below 0 dB.

My receiver uses the absolute volume scale and I have it calibrated so that 60 on the volume scale is reference level (scale goes from 0 - 80). I used the internal test tones so 60 would be an average level of 75 dB but I rarely if ever turn the volume past 40.

 

[j_garcia]

Typical movie for me is -25 to -20 from ref. When I want it loud, usually with music, I listen around -15 to -10

YES, that much space difference can easily make a difference in SPL.

 

[Nestor]

At what level do I listen to my home theater?

One notch below what the gf tolerates

 

[Rob Babcock]

Well under Dolby Ref level. I like a bit of volume but not nearly that loud.

 

[MACCA350]

Most of the time I listen at 5db under reference which is -7 on my receiver(sometimes I'll bump the sub up 10db above reference which gives me peaks of 125db(as recorded with SPL meter) at my seat and pi$$es the neighbors off ) . Later at night I'll turn the compression up full, turn the sub off and turn the receiver down to about -15 to -20.

cheers

 

[Glenn Kuras]

At what level do I listen to my home theater?

One notch below what the gf tolerates

So that would be known as a GFT meter?

 

[Nestor]

So that would be known as a GFT meter?

Never thought of it, but yes! Interchangeable with (W)ife, (P)artner, (R)oommate, (N)eighbor.

 

[Geno]

Never thought of it, but yes! Interchangeable with (W)ife, (P)artner, (R)oommate, (N)eighbor.

I prefer the term SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed)

 

[farscaper]

Most movies -18.
The LOTR Trilogy at -12.

 

[Jack Hammer]

It depends on the movie. Some I listen to at -12db, others are around -26 db. It really depends on the quality of the mix. For reference, I'm using a Denon 2805. Generally, I start at -22db and increase/decrease the volume until I find the proper level for that dvd.

FWIW, I listen at a much louder (clearer and much more pleasant volume) now since I added acoustic panels (highly recommended to all).

Jack

 

[no. 5]

usually between -40dB and and -30dB, not shure about actual room volume, never watched a moive with my SPL meater in hand.

 

[nwarren]

my rotel pre-amp does not have a db rating. i usually just look at the volume knob and if it is a quarter the way up, it's about right for me. i turn it louder sometimes, but not very often.

 

[jonnythan]

Depends on what's playing. When we sit down to watch a movie, it's generally around reference level or a little bit lower.

 

[Rik]

-10 to reference

 

[Jeff HDDVD]

dB METER

I usually watch movies at around 110 db using a db meter. Thats cranking. But my 2 systems get louder if needed.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I usually listen to movies at reference levels if the wife is out of the house, and between -10 & -20 if she is home or watching the movie with me depending on the type of movie.

 

[avliner]

Better yet, why not mentioning a common reference, such as a DVD show, for instance. My previous benchmark in terms of live shows were the Eagles HFO, which has been surpassed by a tight margin - IMO -by the same soaring Eagles, with their new show in Melbourne, Ozzy land.

To my taste, I watch it at -10 / -5db on DTS mode and it's absolutely fantastic. Extremely clear , punchy and bloody loud, though.

Sure there are so many other excellent references to be mentioned in here, so fire away folks!

Cheers.