How Loud?

thesurfer
thesurfer Posts: 574
edited October 2011 in The Clubhouse
What volume do you guys normally listen to your music, Im usually between 9,oclock and 10,
Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
Post edited by thesurfer on
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited October 2011
    I usually play it at about 1/3 up to 1/2 on the dial between the hours of 7-11pm most nights.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited October 2011
    My volume knob just keeps turning!!:eek:

    But I usually settle for anywhere between -20 to -5. -2 to 0 are for showing off... and even THAT'S too loud.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited October 2011
    Position of the dial or db displayed will be different on every system for any given volume.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited October 2011
    using SPL meter I prefer 85-87db
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited October 2011
    I think 85-90db is good for someone with good (normal) hearing.
    I tend to run at 95-100 due to spending much of 10 years at the soundboard of a band and also going to about a thousand live shows without ear protection.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited October 2011
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Position of the dial or db displayed will be different on every system for any given volume.
    Well, not if you calibrate to reference level with an SPL meter so 0 = 105dB/115dB LFE.

    My normal listening level is about -15dB, which means peaks of 90dB from the main channels and 100dB from the LFE channel. But sometimes, that gets bumped up a bit if I'm showing off a good action flick. :wink:
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2011
    thesurfer wrote: »
    What volume do you guys normally listen to your music, Im usually between 9,oclock and 10,

    That level means absolutely nothing to anyone else. Generally, for dedicated listening at a distance of approximately 8 feet from speakers I keep it in the 70+db range, with dips into the 60s and peaks into the 80s. Once you consistently get into the 80s and higher you have lost the ability to have a conversation without shouting.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited October 2011
    Hay surfer,in one of my threads you said you enjoy insulting people from your front porch.You should keep the volume down so they can hear you.:razz:Dan
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  • thesurfer
    thesurfer Posts: 574
    edited October 2011
    Oldfatdogs wrote: »
    Hay surfer,in one of my threads you said you enjoy insulting people from your front porch.You should keep the volume down so they can hear you.:razz:Dan
    Yes Dan, im always sure to have it low when im out front talking smack, wouldnt want anyone to miss any of my clever comebacks,
    Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
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  • evhudsons
    evhudsons Posts: 1,175
    edited October 2011
    I just got a hd tv calibration disk today to calibrate my projector. I've read here and everywhere about these numbers spl an such. Where do you recommend I start researching this stuff as I want to calibrate my audio setup if it is in my budget.
    Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited October 2011
    BlueFox wrote: »
    That level means absolutely nothing to anyone else. Generally, for dedicated listening at a distance of approximately 8 feet from speakers I keep it in the 70+db range, with dips into the 60s and peaks into the 80s. Once you consistently get into the 80s and higher you have lost the ability to have a conversation without shouting.

    Conversation? I'm anti-social when i am "listening" to music.If i'm having a conversation then the music is just background fluff.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited October 2011
    kuntasensei wrote: »
    Well, not if you calibrate to reference level with an SPL meter so 0 = 105dB/115dB LFE.

    My normal listening level is about -15dB, which means peaks of 90dB from the main channels and 100dB from the LFE channel. But sometimes, that gets bumped up a bit if I'm showing off a good action flick. :wink:


    While that would make them the same level at 0 db, they would still differ at any other setting including -15 db. Different rooms, speaker efficiencies, amp gain, etc.
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited October 2011
    normally, i listen at 9 o clock on the dial...sometimes 930 is fun...just got done listening for an hour @ 10! sounds so fkn good, you gotta remind yourself it's pretty loud! my ears feel almost like getting out of a concert..it really is a 'right there' experience...good to know the only thing holding me back, is me;)
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,504
    edited October 2011
    kuntasensei wrote: »
    Well, not if you calibrate to reference level with an SPL meter so 0 = 105dB/115dB LFE.

    Can't do that on my 2 channel rigs.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    F1nut wrote: »
    Can't do that on my 2 channel rigs.

    yep.

    mid 80's to low 90db's for me, when I'm really listening.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited October 2011
    Loud, effin' loud, or a level that makes me yell "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" at everyone for 3 days after a session.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited October 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I usually play it at about 1/3 up to 1/2 on the dial between the hours of 7-11pm most nights.
    Same here, when I'm in the mood however, the rule is never above 1/2 otherwise its time to replace the amp! :wink:
    BlueFox wrote: »
    That level means absolutely nothing to anyone else. Generally, for dedicated listening at a distance of approximately 8 feet from speakers I keep it in the 70+db range, with dips into the 60s and peaks into the 80s. Once you consistently get into the 80s and higher you have lost the ability to have a conversation without shouting.
    During serious music listening I don't care for conversation. Back ground music is ok during social gathering but I tend to avoid as it often gets me in trouble (tend to focus on the music ratter than conversation). Sure, go db rating, very fancy and cool tecky talk but means d***k unless we are all using same amp, same room environment and we all have equal hearing. I still wonder how accurate the db rating is on the dial (of most gear) anyway...
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    ...Sure, go db rating, very fancy and cool tecky talk but means d***k unless we are all using same amp, same room environment and we all have equal hearing. I still wonder how accurate the db rating is on the dial (of most gear) anyway...

    Huh? I think most of us who cited db levels were referring to measured levels with an SPL meter.:wink:

    Oh, and you put too many letters in "dick". :razz:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Huh? I think most of us who cited db levels were referring to measured levels with an SPL meter.:wink:

    Exactly. 70db is 70db irrespective of the room, the amp, whatever. Also, unless you are a hermit, at some point you will be asked a question and need to answer. If you are in to 80, 90, 100+ db range you will either have to turn the music down, or shout. WHAT DID YOU SAY DEAR? TURN THE MUSIC DOWN A$$HOLE. :wink:

    The db number on a dial means nothing. Some even go to 11.

    Apparently some people know d!(k about sound.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • ptrooper
    ptrooper Posts: 501
    edited October 2011
    spl level around 65 to 70 db peaks are comfortable for me and my partner toenjoy and relax in!
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited October 2011
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    While that would make them the same level at 0 db, they would still differ at any other setting including -15 db. Different rooms, speaker efficiencies, amp gain, etc.
    No... that's the whole point of calibrating relative volume so that 0 = 105dB. You're calibrating around the room, speaker efficiencies, amp gain, etc. so that when you turn the volume down -15dB from that reference, it's a linear control.

    Regardless, I just realized we were talking about music here, which makes this question kinda' hard to answer... considering all you can really say is "loud" unless you're actually pulling a SPL meter out and taking an average.
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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  • IRLRaceFan
    IRLRaceFan Posts: 172
    edited October 2011
    Most of the time I listen at slightly higher than moderate levels.
    But when drinking and ping pong is involved, the volume level is proportionate to the number of beers consumed :cheesygrin:

    Some music is just meant to be played LOUD
    HT
    Onkyo TX-NR1008 | Magnepan 1.7 | Polk LSiC | Polk VM20 | Polk DSW microPro 2000 | Parasound HCA-2205A | Oppo BDP-93

    2-Ch
    Cary SLP 30 Tube Preamp | Polk LSi7 | Carver M1.5t | Audio-gd Digital Interface | W4S DAC-2 | MAC Mini | Denon DP300f & Pro-Ject Debut III TT's
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  • kn505
    kn505 Posts: 380
    edited October 2011
    1/4 to 1/3 most of the time. I tend to turn it louder when I am exercising.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2011
    As a personal example of how the volume setting really means nothing in regard to the sound level, when I first bought my current two channel system I only had one amp. In stereo mode it makes 350w/channel @ 4 ohm. With this I used to keep the pre-amp around -25db to produce the sound level (70db range) I use for classical music. Later, I bought another amp, and put both into bridged mono mode. In this configuration, each one is rated at 800w/ch at 4 ohm. Now, the pre-amp is set at -45db to produce the same SPL levels as before.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited October 2011
    thsmith wrote: »
    using SPL meter I prefer 85-87db

    Perfect!
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,114
    edited October 2011
    It depends on the mood for laid back listening on the upstairs system -15dbs will do me fine those Polk's sound pretty sweet at that level, when it comes to the down stairs systems, that's when its time to get LOUD I usually turn the dial to around 10 or 11 o clock, and put those Acoustic Research's to work more than that, and the towns finest would show up at the door, so be it. I must restrain myself to 11 o clock.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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