how loud is too loud?

meanuc
meanuc Posts: 7
edited July 2009 in Speakers
I have a newbie question. How loud is too loud? I don't want to damage my system. I have an Emo DMC-1 and a MPS-1 hooked to a set of LSi 15's, CSi-1, LSifx's, a DSW Pro 600. My hearing sucks so i turn it up and like to listen in the 100 db level and have pushed it to -18 on the EMO with 110 db's on my SPL meter. -18 is as far as I have pushed the EMO and it seems it could go louder but I am afraid of breaking the speakers. Am I at the Max now? What levels are max for these speakers?
Post edited by meanuc on
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited July 2009
    Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - this is hearing loss due to exposure to either a sudden, loud noise or exposure to loud noises for a period of time. A dangerous sound is anything that is 85 dB (sound pressure level - SPL) or higher.

    http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/hearingloss.cfm
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    My son speaks at about 104db.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited July 2009
    What? Speak up a little. Stop whispering.
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  • meanuc
    meanuc Posts: 7
    edited July 2009
    Ya, i wish i had earplugs 25 years ago when that .308 assult rifle was going off next to my ears and I lost my hearing for 10 days. Now I have 3 levels of hearing on the hearing test I can't hear below 90db. I can actually feel the eardrum moving before I hear the noise. What I am trying to do is not break the speakers . Not to worried about my hearing I have enough info on that. Havn't clipped this amp that I know of and it has never gone in protect mode.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited July 2009
    I always play my music over 90db.
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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited July 2009
    You won't clip that amplifier. You'll fry a fuse before you go into protect mode.
    I killed a fuse at 118 db on my mps-2 (Center channel with a scene from War of the World).
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited July 2009
    This content has been removed.
  • greymatter
    greymatter Posts: 35
    edited July 2009
    Kex wrote: »
    This was discussed at some length about six months ago. When measuring for this purpose, you should set your meter on the A setting IMO, not C (which should be used for setup).

    I have noticed that 85dB(C) is just under 80dB(A). This is where I frequently listen, or slightly lower, since everything seems more dynamic, with better separation of details. I might go up as high as 90dB(A) sometimes, but not often and not for extended periods.
    clear.gif
    My hearing has been tested recently and I have not suffered any loss. My brain is a whole other matter, however, and there is no cure for what ails it!

    good to know. thx
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited July 2009
    This content has been removed.
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2009
    meanuc wrote: »
    I have a newbie question. How loud is too loud? I don't want to damage my system. I have an Emo DMC-1 and a MPS-1 hooked to a set of LSi 15's, CSi-1, LSifx's, a DSW Pro 600. My hearing sucks so i turn it up and like to listen in the 100 db level and have pushed it to -18 on the EMO with 110 db's on my SPL meter. -18 is as far as I have pushed the EMO and it seems it could go louder but I am afraid of breaking the speakers. Am I at the Max now? What levels are max for these speakers?

    Too loud for me is when the soundstage collapses and more volume just makes a louder wall of sound devoid of details.

    For me, regardless of volume, the soundstage and imaging should still retain their respective qualities.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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