What Volume level??

[captiankirk28]

I was kinda wondering at what decible (like on a reg SPL meater) do you listen to for music normaly, where your system sounds the best?
Thanks Kirk

 

[nibhaz]

My volume knob goes to eleven, so that’s where I like it!

But seriously, I do like it pretty loud, I’ve measured 85-90db at the volume I like.

 

[captiankirk28]

Yea i was just wondering, i was listening to mine today at 95db and that is about where i like it also.

 

[agarwalro]

On my AVR, 75dB tones are achieved at -17dB on the Master Volume (display) with the channel trims around +/-2dB. Note: the Ref is only by DD standards. It does not really apply to CD and MP3 tracks.

On master volume I usually find the following,

PS3 MP3: -20 to -12dB (or -3 to +5dB Ref)
CD: -20 to -7dB (or -3 to +10dB Ref)
DVD: -15 to -10dB (or +2 to +7dB Ref)
BD: -12 to -9db (or +5 to +8dB Ref)



I feel the BDs have significantly more dynamic range than standard DD tracks, but not too much more than a well made DTS one.

That said (and looking at the numbers), I clearly like to listen to music loud. I put on Metallica - Enter Sandman the other day at -2dB, it took my breath away. Since adding the room treatments the system has been consistently taking my breath away.

 

[jamie2112]

How bout turn it up till it hurts and then back down to a comfortable listening volume.......

 

[jostenmeat]

How bout turn it up till it hurts and then back down to a comfortable listening volume.......

JAMIE, DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

 

[j_garcia]

I normally listen anywhere between -25 and -20 normally and -15 or so for loud music; depending on material obviously.

 

[walter duque]

For music anywhere between -35 to 0. It depends how many Heinekens I've had. At 0 it's around 120db.

 

[croseiv]

I normally listen anywhere between -25 and -20 normally and -15 or so for loud music; depending on material obviously.

Same here pretty much (below reference that is). -10 is "cranking it". The loudest I've gone to was -5. That's way loud in my listening area.

 

[j_garcia]

Same here pretty much (below reference that is). -10 is "cranking it". The loudest I've gone to was -5. That's way loud in my listening area.

-10 is really loud with most material on my system. -5 is ridiculous for me and is probably as loud as I've turned mine as well. With the amp I can achieve those levels without audible distortion, but it is simply too loud to listen to comfortably and the windows and closet doors start to rattle.

 

[mtrycrafts]

-.... and the windows and closet doors start to rattle.

Or, you just have ghosts that don't like that pressure

 

[SopRage]

Music: -20 - -10dB (popular vs classical)
Movies: -20dB
Videogames: -25dB (usually mixed louder than movies)

 

[Vracer111]

Don't have a SPL meter for actual dB's, but the receiver volume range is normally -30 to -20 for music depending on type and recording level. For movies volume could be from -20 to -10. X-Box level normally around -30 to -25.

Just to see what it was like when I first got the NAD T-747 receiver I put on hearing protection and gradually cranked a Joe Satriani CD to +15 for a little bit....that felt like a good concert level and sounded great through the hearing protection.

 

[captiankirk28]

Don't have a SPL meter for actual dB's, but the receiver volume range is normally -30 to -20 for music depending on type and recording level. For movies volume could be from -20 to -10. X-Box level normally around -30 to -25.

Just to see what it was like when I first got the NAD T-747 receiver I put on hearing protection and gradually cranked a Joe Satriani CD to +15 for a little bit....that felt like a good concert level and sounded great through the hearing protection.

Wow that would be cranking, i have never had mine up that high before although im sure they would be different at that level because i have the XPA-3 hooked up to mine

 

[kay9]

About -30 to -20 on my H/K for SD-DVD viewing. At that range i thought i was afraid of clipping that it was very loud to me.

 

[WmAx]

Note: dB levels given are averaged slow C weighted, not accounting for short/transient passages of higher power.

I listen at about 78-80dB with most lower scaled classical music(the actual SPL most of it is played at, measured from center of the auditorium), but peaks easily peak at 105dB with some material.

I listen at about 85 dB maximum for rock/pop music.

Frankly 95dB is very very loud, and will cause hearing damage with any extended period.

Over 100dB is ridiculous for anyone that does not already have substantial hearing damage. If you don't already have this damage, don't worry, it will be quick in arriving with extended sessions at these SPL levels.

Normal sensitivity full range speaker with 100RMS watts per channel in average size rooms will start to distort audibly by 95dB-98dB as measured at the listening position in most cases - and this includes amplifier clipping(as the amplifier does not have reserve headroom for larger transients) and speaker motor non-linearity. For averaged dB power in the 100 or over range, one needs to either have very robust speakers with very high power amplification, or alternatively very high sensitivity speaker systems such as horn based speakers or professional based driver custom speaker systems.

-Chris

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am calibrated where "0" = 75db. Normal music listening is -26 and movie are about -24. When I am showing off I will right around +5 but it is crazy loud. I think it scared Andrew when I was testing the sub he built for me.

 

[Mika75]

I listen at about 85 dB maximum for rock/pop music......

Over 100dB is ridiculous for anyone that does not already have substantial hearing damage. If you don't already have this damage, don't worry, it will be quick in arriving with extended sessions at these SPL levels.....

-Chris

I find Rock & Pop needs volume though... and umm i listen at around 100db

I've also experienced Home Theater Demonstrations that averaged 104 with peaks of 112, and they seemed quite normal ? (I'm guessing most the sound pressure was bass related)

 

[WmAx]

I find Rock & Pop needs volume though... and umm i listen at around 100db

I've also experienced Home Theater Demonstrations that averaged 104 with peaks of 112, and they seemed quite normal ? (I'm guessing most the sound pressure was bass related)

Yes, it is common for people to turn the bass up pretty high. My references to dBs intended to include primarily the mid-range band. Bass at any equivalent SPL, of course, will be perceived as far lower in loudness due to the sensitivity curve of the human hearing mechanism. It would easy to turn the bass up so high as to exceed the mid-range to invalidate the dB readings in reference to safe dB levels unless one is using an appropriate high pass filter during the reading.

-Chris

 

[Mika75]

Judging by the image below, the lower end of the sound spectrum needs to be raised substantially in level to be perceived as equally loud..correct?

Does the C weighting take this into account or should we be measuring with A ?

audioholics.com/education/acoustics-principles/human-hearing-amplitude-sensitivity-part-1

equal loudness contours: pick a point on any given contour and all other frequencies along that continuum of frequency points will be subjectively perceived by the listener as being equally loud.