How loud do you listen?

[keithpeter]

Hello All

Bought a cheap sound level meter (mainly to frighten music performance students into turning their amplifiers down when they practice) today.

Our sitting room has background around 42-43 dB (all at C weighting, and pretty wide error margin on the meter of +- 3db) with the windows and door closed.

'Normal background' is 70 dB, 'loud, proper listening' is coming out at 82 dB ish. All the way up, amplifier complaining, is 96 dB ish with max 102 dB, all at my usual listening position of around 7 feet away from the speakers in a 15 ft by 11ft room.

I used a Philip Glass record of minimalist organ music (Two Pages / Contrary Motion) for this very unscientific test.

To put this into perspective, doing some heavyish chords on the upright piano in this room with the sustain pedal on gets to 103 dB at 7 ft away, and I wasn't hammering it.

Anyone else got any figures? Judging by all these super woofer designs with 100s of watts, you should all have bleeding ears.

cheers

[Nisbeth]

Around 65-70 dB is my usual, 80-85 dB when I really crank it. To be honest I was surprised when I measured this because I thought I played louder.

/U.

[keithpeter]

Originally Posted by Nisbeth

Around 65-70 dB is my usual, 80-85 dB when I really crank it. To be honest I was surprised when I measured this because I thought I played louder.

Hi Nisbeth

I thought I was playing louder as well. Any more SPL estimates from listening position?

[Hearinspace]

I turned mine just a little this morning to get over the loud voices drifting in the window from the apartment below. I just measured it now from the middle of the room and it floats around 70dBA. Usually it's a bit lower.

[SY]

I can't hear you.

[jackinnj]

+10dB when my wife is talking

[keithpeter]

Originally Posted by jackinnj

+10dB when my wife is talking

jackinnj: Headphones?

Everyone: Looks like 'casual' listening is coming around 70 to 75 dB.

Any more estimates? I'm hoping to be able to give the teenagers involved some typical levels and then look at the safety regulations and compare the difference.

Cheers

[ratza]

I play the music depending on the type. If I listen to jazz, the level is like in the concert room or at speech level. If I listen to 60's rock, then I must feel it. For blues, below speach level. Do not ask for dB values, 'cause I don't know them.

There are cases though when the volume isn't enough, no matter how loud the music is. Those cases are called AC-DC.

[chrisb]

yup, while demoing for effect, 100dB+ peaks are not be unusual, but for actual relaxed enjoyment, I've measured my own average levels at less than 80dB (approx 3 meters distance)

with higher sensitivity full range speakers (i.e, 90dB plus) it kinda makes you rethink "how much power do I really need?"

here we go again....

[tubelab.com]

How loud do you listen?

How loud does it go?

This used to be the answer to that question from the time that I started making amplifiers (late 60's) until I got the big Carver in the 80's that went beyond loud.

Now I need to listen at a level that is high enough that the details in the music are louder than the tinitus in my head! Seriously, 40 years of loud rock music has taken its toll. Now I need an 8 to 10 watt amp just touching clipping into 87db speakers to really hear the details in the music. That translates to 95 db peaks.