Anybody listen at reference level?

John K.

Kex, the sound level exposure limits which were quoted in your post #14 really shouldn't be considered acceptable when the context is home audio. They appear to be based on exposure limits considered to be acceptable in the workplace when some hearing loss is tolerated(at least by some). A more appropriate set of "community" limits (not in a working environment) which should be applied to listening at home can be found in the table linked here . The limits in the third set of numbers are those suggested by the EPA and World Health Organization for general community exposure which should impose no significant risk of hearing loss, and are far lower than the two preceding sets which contain suggestions for the workplace.

No, along with most others who've replied, I certainly don't listen at "reference level", but rather typically about 10dB lower. This level is safe even over extended periods of home listening. Unfortunately some appear to like to "crank it", and I recall one past thread here involving amplifier power requirements where I'd described levels over 100dB as being "unbearably loud" other than on very brief peaks. This drew a reply that apparently my equipment was inadequate, since 100dB was just the starting point for him. The point that was being made there was that with speakers of typical efficiencies(including the Polks), the speaker used about 1 watt at a comfortably loud level in the mid 80s of dBs. For more quiet moments in the music perhaps a thousandth of a watt would be used and for brief peaks on highly dynamic material such as some classical recordings perhaps a hundred watts would be required, but again nothing beyond the capabilities of the typical HT receiver. Reality should be applied to listening levels in the home and the power requirements to satisfy them.

brody05

I think a lot of it comes down to room size too though, as stated before I am in the -15 to -20 range a lot of the time.

My room though is 6 meters by 6 meters with 3 meter high ceilings, a lot of volume to power up and can handle loud bursts on the occasion when I want it, but in a smaller room as in the past I have noticed it took less to fill the room so to speak.

Even with that volume, I am still careful to protect the ears of myself, family and friends, having spent a few years in the 'like it loud club' I can honestly say I dont miss the ringing in my ears after a big night at reference level.

It is more the quality, tightness of bass and getting the impact when required for me, my system is well capable of exceeding 120db without issue as is a lot of others on this site so the above is not secondary to limitations within the system.

organ

The "0.0db" setting is obviously too loud. This is recommended by Dolby and they claim that the listener shouldn't suffer hearing loss from this volume level. But of course, the comfort level does change at such high spl. In fact, I came across a site that talked about "reference level" and they mentioned that many theatres actually had to lower their levels due to customer complaints. Now I understand why it seemed so much louder at home than when I go to the movies. But there were times when at the theaters when I think they kept the movie at reference. One example was when I went to see Batman Begins.


Here's something I just noticed as well. It seems like DTS movies usually have much higher peaks than DD (even for the newer HD formats).
I watch Dolby stuff at -5db and DTS at -10db.

It seems some receivers are equipped with very useful features to lessen the bite at high volumes. The movie theatre environment is quite different than our home. THX being is of them. Another setting to play around with would be Re-EQ and the X-Curve.

So if your receiver/processor have some sort of feature like that, you should give them a try. I'm using the X-Curve using the recommended drop of 0.5db/oct starting at 2kHz for my room size. That's how I was able to get down to -5db on the volume without it being painful.

tonyb

Movies I like at ref. level,the wife,not so much.Music I like it at a more moderate level,the wife,not so much,she blasts that sucker so you can hear it down the street.Impossible for her to play a Springsteen CD at anything less than a space shuttle blast off.

Lowell_M

tonyb wrote: »

Movies I like at ref. level,the wife,not so much.Music I like it at a more moderate level,the wife,not so much,she blasts that sucker so you can hear it down the street.Impossible for her to play a Springsteen CD at anything less than a space shuttle blast off.

That's 'cause Springsteen rocks! :rolleyes::cool:

doggie750

HOLD ON LET ME TURNED IT DOWN....


NO bro, too freaking LOUD for me. About -10 below the ref. Honestly, I tried to do it sometimes when I am home alone but usually last for few minutes only. The experience is the best but my ear just couldn't hold on.:cool: