Hello all,
This is more like a friendly survey among forum members, the purpose of which is to know what things make people turn their volume/level controls the other way while listening to music, radio / watching movies, TV / playing games etc. I have managed to make a basic list of possible reasons from my limited experience in this field, to which you may add more points if necessary:
(a) Your ears hurt due to pain / fatigue.
(b) Your ears don't hurt but still you're unable to enjoy content.
(c) Your room is too boomy / reflective to raise levels.
(d) Your sub / woofer / mid / HF doesn't sound good at high SPL.
(e) Your amplifier / crossover does not do well at higher power levels.
(f) You fear your spouse / neighbours / locals would complain, but you're otherwise satisfied with the sound quality at your regular listening levels.
(g) Bad recordings / source material (poor quality, dynamically compressed, poorly mastered etc.).
Please feel free to share your personal experiences on the topic, also (preferably) with a brief description of your equipment (processor, amplifier, speakers) and the conditions (locality, room, room treatment, content, distance etc.) that are applicable to you. Although there is a possibility that such discussions could become very technical in nature, members with low / limited experience in the area are also encouraged to make their comments in their own ways.
Kindly refrain from citing reasons such as calls from people/doorbells/telephones/ nature etc. Thank you.
This is more like a friendly survey among forum members, the purpose of which is to know what things make people turn their volume/level controls the other way while listening to music, radio / watching movies, TV / playing games etc. I have managed to make a basic list of possible reasons from my limited experience in this field, to which you may add more points if necessary:
(a) Your ears hurt due to pain / fatigue.
(b) Your ears don't hurt but still you're unable to enjoy content.
(c) Your room is too boomy / reflective to raise levels.
(d) Your sub / woofer / mid / HF doesn't sound good at high SPL.
(e) Your amplifier / crossover does not do well at higher power levels.
(f) You fear your spouse / neighbours / locals would complain, but you're otherwise satisfied with the sound quality at your regular listening levels.
(g) Bad recordings / source material (poor quality, dynamically compressed, poorly mastered etc.).
Please feel free to share your personal experiences on the topic, also (preferably) with a brief description of your equipment (processor, amplifier, speakers) and the conditions (locality, room, room treatment, content, distance etc.) that are applicable to you. Although there is a possibility that such discussions could become very technical in nature, members with low / limited experience in the area are also encouraged to make their comments in their own ways.
Kindly refrain from citing reasons such as calls from people/doorbells/telephones/ nature etc. Thank you.
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And the survey says (f).. although I could use some more headphones.
PS newvirus, you can include a poll with a thread.
PS newvirus, you can include a poll with a thread.
Volume down when...
Hi
I got a mostly diy active set-up, use diy analog active 3 way stereo crossover, with TL bass, same chassis as bass for midrange, 4 for bass, 2 for midrange and one big ribbon front and one rear facing, an old Yamaha RX-V3800 as 6 ch pre and 6 ch poweramp, use 1 Kenwood Basic M2, DRM audio modded, for the bass. Speakers are also complete DIY.
Have a very broad taste for music, I turn volume down, when quality of music is poor, up when good quality recordings are playing, I think my set up is good enough to hear the differences...
Cheers, Tojoko.
Hi
I got a mostly diy active set-up, use diy analog active 3 way stereo crossover, with TL bass, same chassis as bass for midrange, 4 for bass, 2 for midrange and one big ribbon front and one rear facing, an old Yamaha RX-V3800 as 6 ch pre and 6 ch poweramp, use 1 Kenwood Basic M2, DRM audio modded, for the bass. Speakers are also complete DIY.
Have a very broad taste for music, I turn volume down, when quality of music is poor, up when good quality recordings are playing, I think my set up is good enough to hear the differences...
Cheers, Tojoko.
I'll add one.
h) bad recordings! In some ways it may not 100% be the recordings fault either, Some recordings may highlight problems in the system.
Tony.
h) bad recordings! In some ways it may not 100% be the recordings fault either, Some recordings may highlight problems in the system.
Tony.
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Yes Sir, but isn't a bad recording included in (b)? Or do you really want to add it as a separate item?
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Yes Sir, I understand that. But if I do that, isn't it just going to be all (f)s, like you've already "judged"?
If you ask proud DIYers about the shortcomings of their own creations, most of them would either decline to reply or jokingly say that it's (f) that's their answer. However, the moment when most people reduce levels (other than for attending the telephone etc.) is when they realise they don't like something about what they're hearing. It would be nice to know what things usually cause such a reaction and in which areas most people make their mistakes.
OK to expand on what I said before. It is harshness that causes me to want to turn down the volume. Often that is caused by overly compressed recordings, but it may also be caused by the equipment's inability to cope with what I would call "dense" content.
Whether that be the DAC, the Amps or the speakers, or a combination of all of them (I don't have any analogue sources these days).
Tony.
Whether that be the DAC, the Amps or the speakers, or a combination of all of them (I don't have any analogue sources these days).
Tony.
Volume down when...
Hi
I agree, no set up is perfect, but I think bad recordings is causing most of the problem....
Tojoko.
Hi
I agree, no set up is perfect, but I think bad recordings is causing most of the problem....
Tojoko.
I'm blessed in that none of reasons a- f apply.
I often think of my system's SPL capability as similar to an amusement park ride, like a thrilling roller coaster.
So it comes down to how long can i enjoy maximum peak intensity/joy/thrill. Kinda like sex Lol
That said, I do think there are many recordings that simply do not play well at high SPL. Or whose nature are of a softer beauty.
And many others that were made for cranking, even named for it.... James Gang "Made Loud, to be Played Loud" or Rihanna's "Loud" haha
So what stops the party besides 'can't stand the pleasure any longer' ??
Circuit breakers trip, cops, ....😛
I often think of my system's SPL capability as similar to an amusement park ride, like a thrilling roller coaster.
So it comes down to how long can i enjoy maximum peak intensity/joy/thrill. Kinda like sex Lol
That said, I do think there are many recordings that simply do not play well at high SPL. Or whose nature are of a softer beauty.
And many others that were made for cranking, even named for it.... James Gang "Made Loud, to be Played Loud" or Rihanna's "Loud" haha
So what stops the party besides 'can't stand the pleasure any longer' ??
Circuit breakers trip, cops, ....😛
Isn't that what's known as short term hearing fatigue labelled as (a)?
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Being a drummer, ear pain/fatigue...yeah right...but If I turn it down (which implies I've turned it up) its because; Knowledge of possible ear damage if continued listening level is maintained....I've learned that with high efficiency systems, especially those with flat response....a lot of people are satisfied with lower levels anyway....guess I'll find out.
So, are high efficiency systems with flat responses more likely to cause listening fatigue? Is that the point ?
I dont know...I've heard that people tend to get "ear fatigue" at volumes they considered normal with other systems, with horn systems.....Ear fatigue to me means that I can't judge EQ accurately anymore...I don't know what it means to others. I just get the picture that high efficiency systems, likely due to higher direct energy, are enjoyable at lower volumes.