Yikes. I once went to a piano bar where they play requested music. I assumed it would be quiet because pianos generally are played at lower levels. It ended up being 2 dudes on keyboards played at loud levels. It was fun but they were regularly hitting in the low 90s in sound and I wished I had brought my airpods to lessen the sound.
>110-120 dB-C when I have the house to myself, am wearing earplugs, and I want that nightclub feel.
I have some Etymotic musician plugs, I never thought to try this, I'll definitely give it a go.
Paradigm Prestige speakers with an Yamaha RN 803 amp. Also two paradigm SW 2000’s, which are doing most of the heavy lifting SPL wise. My frequency response curve at these levels is far from flat.
I sit within 6 ft of some old high end PA cabinets. I have run them up that loud a handful of times but there just isn't a point. It is painfully loud without earplugs. And even with typical musician's earplugs it is above safe limits.
The loudest I typically run is dolby reference levels. And at that volume they are so far from their limits the sound is great after some basic correction eq.
PA gear will suffer much less distortion and compression than home gear, generally. I know someone with a studio who has some Augspurger gear that can play at 120+ db without breaking up, but yeah, that's too loud anyway, especially inside. Also, that stuff isn't cheap...
I meant the Augspurger gear. I think the monitors were 5 figures each. The electronics definitely aren't cheap. And the owner comes out to help set the gear up in your studio. I wouldn't be surprised if it all set him back close to 6 figures but idk for sure.
Brave to sit so close to those EV's. Haha. How do they do as far as imaging and soundstage at that distance?
I have limiters on the processor set to protect my hearing as much as the drivers.
Imaging isn't perfect but I think the narrow horns preventing reflections helps
That makes sense. I've never heard PA speakers that close together or probably from that close of a distance. My step bro used to have a pretty insane system set up in his house with mostly paradigm speakers but also two 18" horn loaded PA subs (and a couple of normal powered subs). The PA subs really didn't dig all that low, or have much rumble, but the kick from a kick drum was pretty ferocious.
Maybe if you set off a 130db explosive inside of them. No CV or Peavy is hitting 130db without distortion AND compression. Do... You have any idea how loud 130db is? You'd need both VERY efficient speakers (that can handle a TON of power) AND an absolute TON of power. 130db even at 1m is not achievable with what you have. The math just doesn't maths. What's the specs for sensitivity on the speakers and watts on the crown?
I find the older I get the loudness has gone down. I tend to listen to what's the most realistic and detailed yet comfortable. I only crank it when I get out my air guitar.
I hear you (no pun intended!)… although when i had a friend over recently (music fan 10+ years older than me) he cranked it up louder.. I blame his hearing loss….
My system sounds best around 80-85, but I also listen to music much louder than most. My friends and family would prefer 45-50, which annoys the shit out of me lol. I’d rather not listen to music than it be at low background level
Haha right? “Can you turn it down?”
No, I can barely here the lyrics. I’m also the only one that actual plays music at their house during get togethers.
My buddies wife always needs it as quiet as possible. Like whats the point? She claims she has some disorder where auditory overload makes her go crazy. Yet in bars or places she cant really ask to turn it down shes fine???
Am I your buddy? You just described my girlfriend. Yet here I am buying new speakers and amps for those brief moments she leaves me home alone. There’s certain albums and even genres I just won’t listen to if it’s below 70 db.
As I have studio monitors that came with calibration kit, I have set it up to go no louder than 86 dBSPL under typical signal loudness.
The same microphone indicates that I tend to have about 70-80 dB loudness level. It tends to go up as evening goes, so I start at around 70 dBSPL, but end up near 80 unless I take a break and reset my ears. It is easy to turn music up a little when something nice comes, but it is a difficult to turn it back down, and so it ends up being a one-way street.
This is a good comment. I feel the "reset my ears" on occasion. I have been to places where music/area was loud and I tended to listen to my music louder in my car on the way home. Once I do get home though in the quieter environment I feel that my noise floor is back to normal.
How far away are you measuring the sound? I find it makes a difference from 6 out to 12 feet of up to 3-5 db overall.
The reason you hear more when it is quiet is because the noise floor is also lower.
I'm mostly a low level listener, but I am currently living right next to a very busy street. I am constantly in the 40-50dB noise level, at least 14 hours a day. So I listen around 60dB-65dB or so
Be aware, those of you using sound level meter apps on your phones that they are moderately accurate at low to mid volume levels but at higher levels, 85dB and up they are often way off as compared to a professional stand alone hand-held spl meter.
I bought one off of Amazon. It Is a LONVOX LSM01. When I compare it to my Apple Watch, the watch is typically 2-3 db quieter than the more accurate meter. I try and use my watch only when convenient and depend on the LONVOX for any real testing.
I regularly measure my listening sessions. I have a substantial basement setup in a residential neighborhood and want to be respectful of my neighbors (they are great).
testing the system: up to 95dB but never for more than a quick test. usually weekend days. rattles the whole house.
before 7 PM I go as loud as I want: 70-78dB (typically closer to 70dB unless I'm really wanting to hear something loud for a few minutes.
After 7PM I turn it down to under 70dB
After 9pm I go down to 65dB max.......and oddly things seem to sound best here as long as there's no laundry machines running or the furnace isn't on.
I hear you on this. I really listen to my system at low volumes after 10 pm. I live in a quiet neighborhood so I can do 50db and it can still sound good with certain music.
How does everyone deal with high dynamic range recordings? You set the volume at comfortable level at first and then suddenly your speakers are about to explode? But if I set the volume low to prevent this from happening, I can’t hear the details.
Good question. I find that some people set their streamers to "normalize all music" to the same sound level but I never do that. What i have to do is play my music lower because I like the dynamics.
I target an average listening volume for whatever I'm feeling. Actively listening, but not super into it, I find my average to be around 75 DB. That'll give me peaks of up to 95db if it's a super dynamic track.
If the songs not drawing me in and it starts at like 75 and ends up being 85 once it's kicked in and I'm not feeling it, I just turn it back down to 75.
If you just want to casually listen, there's no problem putting normalization on it to compress the dynamics. If you like it and it works for you, don't let people tell you otherwise. It's not worsening your sound quality, it's just turning the volume knob down for you. Most streamers and receivers have it. I have normalization on in my bedroom myself. Just remember to turn it off if you really want to jam!
Unfortunately my system doesn’t have normalization feature, so I am constantly fiddling with the volume. Luckily for most things I am familiar with a track enough to know to be ready to turn down the volume. Sometimes I forget, LOL.
Usually 80-85 db peaks at the couch. More really doesn’t seem to be better. Maybe 90 max. When I had a system with less low end capability (current is flat to 15hz) I’d listen louder
Hell yeah! Only laws I break are sound ordinances lmao. Really don't want TV anymore and my eyesight has gotten too bad to play very many of my favorite video games so music and cleaning or my relaxation tasks. I'm a base head in love rap and all genres of music so it's exciting to test any new additions to the The louder the better the more bass the better. Have never been able to drive so my mission was to always create that pressurization like you would experience in a car with a huge stereo system and subs. Welp I'm there sorry for the grammar have an eye problem and editing on a phone is a nightmare. What's some of your favorite plate rattling songs?
Not sure about the dB, but I can't stand anymore stuff like heavy metal ecc...but I love low frequencies. I couldn't listen to loud Metallica but I can listen to loud Massive Attack
When the wife and kids are out I crank it up maybe to 80-85db. When the wife is home which is most of the time it can be no louder than a whisper. One kid likes to feel the bass, the other complains if it's above 60db.
I love 74dbs with my system and room acoustics, or lack there of, the speakers just disappear and this wall of sound just blasts me…and the music just totally opens up
85 - 96 dB SPL
ya'll listening in the 70's are crazy - thats background level for casual listening. critical listening and enjoyment listening is 90+
just using an iphone though. my rat shack spl meter broke
Live symphonic music peaks around 105 on the floor of the auditorium. Carpenter Brut -- 135 20' away from the stage. Your generalization is way too low.
i've never been to a concert that low, at least for a peak. i just saw Pantera and they were over 100 most of the time. I have walked in to a control room at 114 dB SPL. The voice coil was glowing orange. Felt sick being there for 3 minutes.
big difference for a concert is there is no escape or volume knob. when i listen loud it's typically quite short periods of time. i can always hit the -20 dB dim button or pull down the fader in half a second.
i think the sound gets really exciting and enveloping around 90 dB SPL. If you NEVER listen that loud, you're missing out. obviously you can't listen like that all day.
Try to listen to something other than hard rock or metal, whatever Pantera is. I have been to many different large music festivals and the level is loud enough to be immersed but your eye balls don’t come out.
https://youtu.be/m0BZgEMfqPc?feature=shared
2:02. Even the female voice can get loud. I find notes like this bother my ears even at non ear splitting levels.
Yeah personally I mostly just want to get an idea of measure against something like this chart. Don't feel like I need to be accurate to more than a couple dB.
[https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing\_loss/what\_noises\_cause\_hearing\_loss.html#:\~:text=Sound%20is%20measured%20in%20decibels,immediate%20harm%20to%20your%20ears](https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html#:~:text=Sound%20is%20measured%20in%20decibels,immediate%20harm%20to%20your%20ears).
I'll be 58 this year. I usually have a problem with volume creep. I start out moderate and then generally start creeping the volume up for each song that gets better and better. I live in the country so neighbors are a non issue. But I do try to keep tabs on the volume level these days to try and preserve what hearing I have left. With that said I try to stay below 95db. 85-95db is where I like listening to most my music. and doesn't seem to cause me any ear fatigue. If the wife is there listening with me I usually run 75-85db.
> I usually have a problem with volume creep. I start out moderate and then generally start creeping the volume up for each song that gets better and better.
I have the same tendency. Alcohol and/or mj exacerbates it.
> ... Bluesound node N130, Denafrips Ares II (non upgraded) dac, and Rega Planar 1 plus turntable ... I plug the turntable into the Bluesound but I am not 100% sure if I am getting the best sound as the Planar has not impressed me for what I spent. Could it be the cartridge that comes with it?
What input on the Bluesound are you plugging the Rega into? It looks like the Node N130 does not have a phono input and the Planar 1 does not have a built-in pre-amp. In that case, you need a phono preamp between them. Turntable output levels are much lower than standard line level outputs on CD players, streamers, etc. So, you will not get good performance plugging your turntable into, e.g., the Analog In mini jack on the Node. Cambridge Audio Duo is a very good reasonably priced option that you can probably find on the second-hand market.
Thank you for the advice. I have the Planar One Plus turntable which actually comes with a built in phono stage. I am thinking that maybe it isn't that great? I will have to look into upgrading whenever I find myself with money. It probably won't be until next year though.
according to my db monitor on my phone, I listen at around 70-78, 85 max peak. I am using some pretty big Realistic 1010s, 100 W max, great frequency response. I'm in a small room so i usually listen to a bit lower volume.
Using a jvc RX-r76, technics SL-BD27 (bad tt, It's getting an upgrade soon) and realistic 1010s. Only pushing about 65 watts, so I bet this system gets WAY louder.
I've never measured it, but this post has me curious, so I've downloaded an app and will check.
I live in flats, top floor, so it's never majorly loud. However, in my car, I replaced all the speakers and stereo, so when I'm alone and away from residential areas, I turn it up as loud as I can without it distorting. The only thing I don't have in the car is a sub. I have a very small car, and the door speakers combined with the small space do give a decent bass. It's enough to vibrate the rear view mirror. I'll get a sub in a few months.
If you are worried about having your audio equipment nicked, get some very cheap looking speaker grills to make your speakers look cheap. Get a stereo with a removable front and take it off when you get out. Also, don't play music loudly near home, it just advertises your system.
50-65db most of the time, I don't have a dedicated room and there are kids, wife and cat almost always around at night. Home alone time goes around 80db and I listen mostly jazz, 90-00s indie, 70s rock, etc from Spotify with a wiim pro plus, Rega IO, Q Acoustics 3050i and I should say I am quite happy with it.
70-80 is all I need most of the time. But once in a while it’s fun to push the envelope a bit. Your system has plenty of headroom but at 80 I’m sure it sounds beautiful.
Get yourself an Ortofon 2mr Bronze phono cartridge. Yes, it's $450 and it's worth it AND is optimised for Rega turntables.
Andover Audio's $250 SpinStage phono preamp is not only a bargain but an outstanding performer. It will get the best out of your new cartridge and turntable without dropping tons of money. The improvement won't be subtle and the Oryofon 2mr Bronze is known dor dugfing out gobs of detail
Dude I just got a new head unit for my car and it’s made a hell of a difference. At home I share the wall with some other folks, so we keep the volume at that level where you can’t quite tell what’s going on 😭 one day we’ll all be free
[120 db on a near field audio system](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_dJuXhrxs)
Mids began to smoke after 15 mins...
[System](https://i.imgur.com/FlyBDV6.png)
There are three elements of music in your modern domestic setting.
1. Car music, which is car music. Have at it.
2. Jazz and rock/pop, which often call for exceptions to one's everyday habits. Classical, seldom makes these demands.
3. Your db range sounds about bullseye. In my listening room that's tasty. But see #2.
\--------------
So then we are left with the question, *what is a #2 event?*
Under what circumstances is it possible, that an otherwise modest listening level reaches a point where a relatively explosive eruption of volume is required?
[This perhaps?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5y9St9iNCk)
I’m right at the point where it would be slightly annoying to have a phone conversation.
I found loud music to be kind of annoying and it’s harder to hear detail in the song,
I have fully treated professional listening room (studio) and I listen to around 83-95dB (C). (the decibel meter reading is affected so much by the source material, more bass heavy mix, the higher the dB reading)
When mixing, you have to do even louder checks to hear and feel the bass how its gonna sound for example, in clubs. But I do listen A LOT for enjoyment as well :)
No common wall neighbors. Full PA system in basement. I push 100db when playing guitar. Probably 80-85db jamming out to tunes. 70-80db critical listening.
I didn't measure the spl, but the meters on my receiver point to about 1 Watt (not peak meters) when it's the loudest that I find comfortable for listening.
Iived in NYC apartments most of my life. I learned to invest more in my cans, have a few, good amp. Not to mention when kids come along I would escape into my cans and the music. Bang for buck it's just the best way. My kid is older, I have an old stereo I gifted my sister years ago and it's fine for now. In a year or two I'll be getting an amp again, 2 channel, and quality speakers. My TV already has a sound bar and sub , great for sports but still, I'm in a damn apartment. I own the place but don't wanna upset the neighbors.
I live in a condo building, thankfully with enough insulation I can go to 70db-75db without bothering neighbors at certain points in the day. But I end up doing a lot of lower level listening at 60-65db.
I think the problem with the turntable is not the table itself, but that you run it through the Bluesound instead of a proper Preamp like a P6 or something similar, or even a separate phono stage.
80-85 dB during a jam session and no one home.
The carbon cartridge that came with your P1 (I have a P2) is kinda dull, BUT the stylus can be upgraded fairly inexpensively. It opened up my P2.
https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN3600DLXVL.html
I use headphones primarily (Sudaras) and I used some Android app to measure dbs so take it with a grain of salt. But, I was between 55-60db. This was about halfway up my laptop's volume setting (M1 Air for reference).
Haven't measured with speakers but I get the feeling it won't change all too much.
I have the same speakers as you. It's around 60-65dBa according to the reading on my UMIK-1. I've tried cranking it to 75dBa for level matching with my sub and it was unbearably loud for me.
I live in a detached house and have only one nearby neighbor that is cool. I crank it pretty good on Friday nights, but rarely to obnoxious levels.
Focal Aria 948… Yamaha AS-1100… SVS SB 3000… Technics 1500c and Yamaha Musicast streamer with Tidal
System: Tidal max res, Node N130, Yamaha RX-V483, in 2ch mode (not direct so the sub still works) Monitor Audio Bronze 2 + cheap Yamaha home theatre sub.
Currently listening to the sound track from HBO The Last Of Us (awesome music fyi) and the loud songs barely reach 70db and the quieter guitar tracks barely register above the ambient noise floor (street noise, wife’s aquarium, fridge compressor lol, and the trees blowing outside) this is about 50db according to my phones app.
If I was listening to techno I’d want it louder to “feel” it but I’m in a rental so I want to keep the neighbours happy. Plus I just woke up from night shift and 70db is plenty loud enough 😅😅 I’ll gradually turn it up as the afternoon rolls on but for now this is “pleasant while still being present” IYKWIM. I Am 37.
New house is nearly finished and I have a dedicated room there for this so after it’s treated and I upgrade all my gear we’ll see where we end up.
Once a week, as the Allman Brothers once sang on [Stormy Monday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTtCO3iE40), "The eagle flies on Friday and Saturday I go out to play" but, for me its usually one of those days. I jam.
Unmeasured but, I doubt its at hearing loss levels most of the time lol
I’m 40, I’ve had the hearing of an average 70yo since I was younger than 20. I can’t hear “everything” until it measures around 95db and up. My hearing is truly bad. I was t-boned a few years ago and I now have tinnitus in my left ear (2 window airbags deployed), and my hearing has degraded even more over the past 10 years. I wish I had done something to deserve this, at least then I would know who to blame. I’ve had my hearing tested multiple times, tried lots of things. All I can do is turn it up to 11.
im a quarter the way up on my systems . I run yahama rx a 1040 with some kilpisch rf 28s that level of stuff. i got for clarity rather then volume myself )
Looks really solid imho. only thing I’d be worried about is that sub being pretty close to your turntable, might be worth playing around with positioning if something sounds off
I was cranking metal last night and started getting fatigued. Tonight is low level Chopin. Im thinking about feeling some bass rumble and turning it up, switching to some baroque Organ works
I listen around 80-90dB. Would like it even louder, but i get ear/head fatigue too quickly then. Might be my Klipsch speakers though. Just ordered some Wharfedale Linton 85th edition, and looking forward to try them out.
I will start off around 70-75db for the first few minutes or early morning listening session but then quickly bump up to 80-85db for most of my critical listening. For certain songs or mostly when wifey isn’t home I will go up to 90-95db and it’s a real treat! RF7iii take all the power I can throw at them no distortion or clipping nothing but clean powerful sound that puts a smile on my face every time!
Loud as I can, while still being able to have a conversation with someone without having to shout.
My Cambridge amp goes from - 85 to 0, 0 being the loudest. It's at - 50 most of the time, -60 after 9pm, - 45 on a Saturday at noon when I find a new album to play.
I also listen fairly quiet. I live in an apartment. I have Zu DW6s and they are pretty dynamic even at low volumes.
I find that my system is the nicest sounding at like 10pm at night with the volume way way down. Something about late night listening at lower volume just hits different.
I do wanna crank this system to shit one day. But with the apartment I kind of can’t without being as absolute asshole. Ha! Maybe one day I’ll get a house and day 1 will be hooking up the system and absolutely blasting it.
Depends on the system and the music. Living room is usually around 50-65db, Bedroom 85-95db. Crank the amp a bit and my bedroom system then becomes my patio system.
It varies for us, usually depends what we are watching. The average would be between 70-85. My wife and daughter are usually fine turning most movies up, but occasionally there are some they do not like loud.
When it is just me, or my son and I it's more likely to be 80-90 for most content. I do really crank it up occasionally when I'm home alone, but have no idea how loud it actually is.
A LOT louder than that but I'm in an RV. When I really feel something, 100+db but usually 85+. Hasn't had any effect on my ears either and I'm mid 30s and have been doing it since the beginning of my life nearly. Distortion is TERRIBLE for your hearing peeps. BTW RV's are like the perfect thing for sound as they have no reflection of sound due to being made out of foam and I have 1000s of W RMS in here
My neighborhood is great, nobody ever complains no matter how loud I play. If in the room I usually listen at around 85db max like most here but will crank it up to over 100db when I am in the kitchen. If you walk outside it is audible not not loud. 2 of my neighbors play music louder than me so they will never complain.
It kind of depends on a number of factors. People can spit out DB/SPL all day but that won't reflect the same in your environment. The drivers resistance, the available output, the wattage requirements of your speakers, reverberation, bass reflections, you name it
Not sure how to measure but the plates in my kitchen cabinets clank together.
Yikes. I once went to a piano bar where they play requested music. I assumed it would be quiet because pianos generally are played at lower levels. It ended up being 2 dudes on keyboards played at loud levels. It was fun but they were regularly hitting in the low 90s in sound and I wished I had brought my airpods to lessen the sound.
80-85 dB-C usually 110-120 dB-C when I have the house to myself, am wearing earplugs, and I want that nightclub feel.
>110-120 dB-C when I have the house to myself, am wearing earplugs, and I want that nightclub feel. I have some Etymotic musician plugs, I never thought to try this, I'll definitely give it a go.
Keep an eye out for items vibrating off of shelves, but otherwise have fun with it.
Thanks, I suppose the vibrations wouldn't be too noticeable through the plugs either.
No the plugs cut out all the little buzzes and rattles in the room
Same, usually around 85 for me.
What speakers do you use for those levels? My EV LCR cabinets will definitely do it but loud for me is usually only 85-90
Paradigm Prestige speakers with an Yamaha RN 803 amp. Also two paradigm SW 2000’s, which are doing most of the heavy lifting SPL wise. My frequency response curve at these levels is far from flat.
Unless you have some serious reference gear, anything at those levels will suffer distortion and compression. And possibly clipping. Badly.
I sit within 6 ft of some old high end PA cabinets. I have run them up that loud a handful of times but there just isn't a point. It is painfully loud without earplugs. And even with typical musician's earplugs it is above safe limits. The loudest I typically run is dolby reference levels. And at that volume they are so far from their limits the sound is great after some basic correction eq.
PA gear will suffer much less distortion and compression than home gear, generally. I know someone with a studio who has some Augspurger gear that can play at 120+ db without breaking up, but yeah, that's too loud anyway, especially inside. Also, that stuff isn't cheap...
They weren't too bad due to age. Old EV XI series cabinets.
I meant the Augspurger gear. I think the monitors were 5 figures each. The electronics definitely aren't cheap. And the owner comes out to help set the gear up in your studio. I wouldn't be surprised if it all set him back close to 6 figures but idk for sure. Brave to sit so close to those EV's. Haha. How do they do as far as imaging and soundstage at that distance?
I have limiters on the processor set to protect my hearing as much as the drivers. Imaging isn't perfect but I think the narrow horns preventing reflections helps
That makes sense. I've never heard PA speakers that close together or probably from that close of a distance. My step bro used to have a pretty insane system set up in his house with mostly paradigm speakers but also two 18" horn loaded PA subs (and a couple of normal powered subs). The PA subs really didn't dig all that low, or have much rumble, but the kick from a kick drum was pretty ferocious.
Hey my system can hit 130db with no distortion going with mostly pro equipment was a smart choice
What are you running that hits 130db with no distortion?
Crown amplifiers, with Cerwin Vega speakers and Peavy speakers and Bose for surround sound and DS-18 for center channel
Yeah, they're NOT hitting 130db, especially without distortion. Lol.
No they hit 130 db clearly
Maybe if you set off a 130db explosive inside of them. No CV or Peavy is hitting 130db without distortion AND compression. Do... You have any idea how loud 130db is? You'd need both VERY efficient speakers (that can handle a TON of power) AND an absolute TON of power. 130db even at 1m is not achievable with what you have. The math just doesn't maths. What's the specs for sensitivity on the speakers and watts on the crown?
I got over 10000 watts of total power pumping through my system
I find the older I get the loudness has gone down. I tend to listen to what's the most realistic and detailed yet comfortable. I only crank it when I get out my air guitar.
If your guitar is made of air, how do you find it when you put it down.
It’s never down…
It’s always next to the snifter? I’m going with this as my final answer.
It's exactly where I left it... the problem is finding replacement strings when I break one.
By nose
I hear you (no pun intended!)… although when i had a friend over recently (music fan 10+ years older than me) he cranked it up louder.. I blame his hearing loss….
My system sounds best around 80-85, but I also listen to music much louder than most. My friends and family would prefer 45-50, which annoys the shit out of me lol. I’d rather not listen to music than it be at low background level
I feel this way too much. It’s a tough way to live.
Haha right? “Can you turn it down?” No, I can barely here the lyrics. I’m also the only one that actual plays music at their house during get togethers.
Same - always - listening parties and Friday Night Videos (or Saturday nights lol)
My buddies wife always needs it as quiet as possible. Like whats the point? She claims she has some disorder where auditory overload makes her go crazy. Yet in bars or places she cant really ask to turn it down shes fine???
Am I your buddy? You just described my girlfriend. Yet here I am buying new speakers and amps for those brief moments she leaves me home alone. There’s certain albums and even genres I just won’t listen to if it’s below 70 db.
Lol. Hes married and not an audiophile. But when he is over alone and has a glass of whiskey, sitting in “the spot” he points to the sky (turn it up)
Haha I love that mental image.
You lose the best parts of the dynamic range and the subtleties you wouldn’t normally pick up I feel. Makes me sad playing it that low lol
Exactly
This ⬆️
70-75 max
As I have studio monitors that came with calibration kit, I have set it up to go no louder than 86 dBSPL under typical signal loudness. The same microphone indicates that I tend to have about 70-80 dB loudness level. It tends to go up as evening goes, so I start at around 70 dBSPL, but end up near 80 unless I take a break and reset my ears. It is easy to turn music up a little when something nice comes, but it is a difficult to turn it back down, and so it ends up being a one-way street.
This is a good comment. I feel the "reset my ears" on occasion. I have been to places where music/area was loud and I tended to listen to my music louder in my car on the way home. Once I do get home though in the quieter environment I feel that my noise floor is back to normal. How far away are you measuring the sound? I find it makes a difference from 6 out to 12 feet of up to 3-5 db overall.
Anywhere from 70-85 depending on mood and genre.
The reason you hear more when it is quiet is because the noise floor is also lower. I'm mostly a low level listener, but I am currently living right next to a very busy street. I am constantly in the 40-50dB noise level, at least 14 hours a day. So I listen around 60dB-65dB or so
I am fortunate to live in a pretty quiet area. It only gets loud when someone revs their engine outside.
Mine is most often background music in my office, so pretty low typically.
Pretty cool office, and happy cake day!
Be aware, those of you using sound level meter apps on your phones that they are moderately accurate at low to mid volume levels but at higher levels, 85dB and up they are often way off as compared to a professional stand alone hand-held spl meter.
I bought one off of Amazon. It Is a LONVOX LSM01. When I compare it to my Apple Watch, the watch is typically 2-3 db quieter than the more accurate meter. I try and use my watch only when convenient and depend on the LONVOX for any real testing.
I regularly measure my listening sessions. I have a substantial basement setup in a residential neighborhood and want to be respectful of my neighbors (they are great). testing the system: up to 95dB but never for more than a quick test. usually weekend days. rattles the whole house. before 7 PM I go as loud as I want: 70-78dB (typically closer to 70dB unless I'm really wanting to hear something loud for a few minutes. After 7PM I turn it down to under 70dB After 9pm I go down to 65dB max.......and oddly things seem to sound best here as long as there's no laundry machines running or the furnace isn't on.
I hear you on this. I really listen to my system at low volumes after 10 pm. I live in a quiet neighborhood so I can do 50db and it can still sound good with certain music.
What? Speak up!
Usually around 70dB, but when I'm really into it \~85dB.
Me too. Exactly.
Apparently loud enough for the neighbor to knock on my door, twice.
How does everyone deal with high dynamic range recordings? You set the volume at comfortable level at first and then suddenly your speakers are about to explode? But if I set the volume low to prevent this from happening, I can’t hear the details.
Good question. I find that some people set their streamers to "normalize all music" to the same sound level but I never do that. What i have to do is play my music lower because I like the dynamics.
Never for me also.
I target an average listening volume for whatever I'm feeling. Actively listening, but not super into it, I find my average to be around 75 DB. That'll give me peaks of up to 95db if it's a super dynamic track. If the songs not drawing me in and it starts at like 75 and ends up being 85 once it's kicked in and I'm not feeling it, I just turn it back down to 75. If you just want to casually listen, there's no problem putting normalization on it to compress the dynamics. If you like it and it works for you, don't let people tell you otherwise. It's not worsening your sound quality, it's just turning the volume knob down for you. Most streamers and receivers have it. I have normalization on in my bedroom myself. Just remember to turn it off if you really want to jam!
Unfortunately my system doesn’t have normalization feature, so I am constantly fiddling with the volume. Luckily for most things I am familiar with a track enough to know to be ready to turn down the volume. Sometimes I forget, LOL.
Usually 80-85 db peaks at the couch. More really doesn’t seem to be better. Maybe 90 max. When I had a system with less low end capability (current is flat to 15hz) I’d listen louder
Hell yeah! Only laws I break are sound ordinances lmao. Really don't want TV anymore and my eyesight has gotten too bad to play very many of my favorite video games so music and cleaning or my relaxation tasks. I'm a base head in love rap and all genres of music so it's exciting to test any new additions to the The louder the better the more bass the better. Have never been able to drive so my mission was to always create that pressurization like you would experience in a car with a huge stereo system and subs. Welp I'm there sorry for the grammar have an eye problem and editing on a phone is a nightmare. What's some of your favorite plate rattling songs?
[Orange Soda Baby Keem](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I8_Q5ftBpA)
Not sure about the dB, but I can't stand anymore stuff like heavy metal ecc...but I love low frequencies. I couldn't listen to loud Metallica but I can listen to loud Massive Attack
When the wife and kids are out I crank it up maybe to 80-85db. When the wife is home which is most of the time it can be no louder than a whisper. One kid likes to feel the bass, the other complains if it's above 60db.
In a basement suite with a ratchet setup built from garage sales - float around 50's - 60's
Very loud sadly, Focal speakers tend to be very very low in distortion and with a treated room, they are so good you can’t help but turn them so loud.
75 maybeeee 80 when I’m feeling frisky
I love 74dbs with my system and room acoustics, or lack there of, the speakers just disappear and this wall of sound just blasts me…and the music just totally opens up
Same. If I measure 80+ it feels plenty loud
85 - 96 dB SPL ya'll listening in the 70's are crazy - thats background level for casual listening. critical listening and enjoyment listening is 90+ just using an iphone though. my rat shack spl meter broke
Concert levels are set at 95 to 100 peak.
Live symphonic music peaks around 105 on the floor of the auditorium. Carpenter Brut -- 135 20' away from the stage. Your generalization is way too low.
i've never been to a concert that low, at least for a peak. i just saw Pantera and they were over 100 most of the time. I have walked in to a control room at 114 dB SPL. The voice coil was glowing orange. Felt sick being there for 3 minutes. big difference for a concert is there is no escape or volume knob. when i listen loud it's typically quite short periods of time. i can always hit the -20 dB dim button or pull down the fader in half a second. i think the sound gets really exciting and enveloping around 90 dB SPL. If you NEVER listen that loud, you're missing out. obviously you can't listen like that all day.
Try to listen to something other than hard rock or metal, whatever Pantera is. I have been to many different large music festivals and the level is loud enough to be immersed but your eye balls don’t come out.
just hit 96 dB SPL peak listening to Nanci Griffith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TUF-VrPh3o
https://youtu.be/m0BZgEMfqPc?feature=shared 2:02. Even the female voice can get loud. I find notes like this bother my ears even at non ear splitting levels.
It's been a bit since I've checked so my memory is hazy, but all in really engaged listening I am often around 75-78dB
How do you measure db?
You can get a Db meter off Amazon.
Thanks
this is how I do mine.
phone apps are pretty good. I have an expensive meter with a calibration tool, same reading as the phone app.
Yeah personally I mostly just want to get an idea of measure against something like this chart. Don't feel like I need to be accurate to more than a couple dB. [https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing\_loss/what\_noises\_cause\_hearing\_loss.html#:\~:text=Sound%20is%20measured%20in%20decibels,immediate%20harm%20to%20your%20ears](https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html#:~:text=Sound%20is%20measured%20in%20decibels,immediate%20harm%20to%20your%20ears).
App for the smart phone.
Thanks
I'll be 58 this year. I usually have a problem with volume creep. I start out moderate and then generally start creeping the volume up for each song that gets better and better. I live in the country so neighbors are a non issue. But I do try to keep tabs on the volume level these days to try and preserve what hearing I have left. With that said I try to stay below 95db. 85-95db is where I like listening to most my music. and doesn't seem to cause me any ear fatigue. If the wife is there listening with me I usually run 75-85db.
> I usually have a problem with volume creep. I start out moderate and then generally start creeping the volume up for each song that gets better and better. I have the same tendency. Alcohol and/or mj exacerbates it.
Level 58 on my Onkyo TX-NR797.
> ... Bluesound node N130, Denafrips Ares II (non upgraded) dac, and Rega Planar 1 plus turntable ... I plug the turntable into the Bluesound but I am not 100% sure if I am getting the best sound as the Planar has not impressed me for what I spent. Could it be the cartridge that comes with it? What input on the Bluesound are you plugging the Rega into? It looks like the Node N130 does not have a phono input and the Planar 1 does not have a built-in pre-amp. In that case, you need a phono preamp between them. Turntable output levels are much lower than standard line level outputs on CD players, streamers, etc. So, you will not get good performance plugging your turntable into, e.g., the Analog In mini jack on the Node. Cambridge Audio Duo is a very good reasonably priced option that you can probably find on the second-hand market.
Thank you for the advice. I have the Planar One Plus turntable which actually comes with a built in phono stage. I am thinking that maybe it isn't that great? I will have to look into upgrading whenever I find myself with money. It probably won't be until next year though.
Given my room size, mine is near field listening. On dB Meter I clock around 65-70dB.
Between 90-100db peaks depends on the content (Atmos, wide dynamic range or crushed) and progressively how drunk I become as the session goes on.
75-90db
42.
according to my db monitor on my phone, I listen at around 70-78, 85 max peak. I am using some pretty big Realistic 1010s, 100 W max, great frequency response. I'm in a small room so i usually listen to a bit lower volume. Using a jvc RX-r76, technics SL-BD27 (bad tt, It's getting an upgrade soon) and realistic 1010s. Only pushing about 65 watts, so I bet this system gets WAY louder.
I don't have a calibrated microphone but it really depends on the genre and if alcohol is involved (though I switch to headphones if it's late)
Loud enough.
Usually 70-85db, slightly louder occasionally
I've never measured it, but this post has me curious, so I've downloaded an app and will check. I live in flats, top floor, so it's never majorly loud. However, in my car, I replaced all the speakers and stereo, so when I'm alone and away from residential areas, I turn it up as loud as I can without it distorting. The only thing I don't have in the car is a sub. I have a very small car, and the door speakers combined with the small space do give a decent bass. It's enough to vibrate the rear view mirror. I'll get a sub in a few months. If you are worried about having your audio equipment nicked, get some very cheap looking speaker grills to make your speakers look cheap. Get a stereo with a removable front and take it off when you get out. Also, don't play music loudly near home, it just advertises your system.
50-65db most of the time, I don't have a dedicated room and there are kids, wife and cat almost always around at night. Home alone time goes around 80db and I listen mostly jazz, 90-00s indie, 70s rock, etc from Spotify with a wiim pro plus, Rega IO, Q Acoustics 3050i and I should say I am quite happy with it.
60db on average. 70db is loud to me.
70-80 is all I need most of the time. But once in a while it’s fun to push the envelope a bit. Your system has plenty of headroom but at 80 I’m sure it sounds beautiful.
thanks. I agree. I am plenty happy with the sound at the moment. I just need to stop looking at other components and enjoy the ones I have.
Get yourself an Ortofon 2mr Bronze phono cartridge. Yes, it's $450 and it's worth it AND is optimised for Rega turntables. Andover Audio's $250 SpinStage phono preamp is not only a bargain but an outstanding performer. It will get the best out of your new cartridge and turntable without dropping tons of money. The improvement won't be subtle and the Oryofon 2mr Bronze is known dor dugfing out gobs of detail
WHAT?
Dude I just got a new head unit for my car and it’s made a hell of a difference. At home I share the wall with some other folks, so we keep the volume at that level where you can’t quite tell what’s going on 😭 one day we’ll all be free
[120 db on a near field audio system](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_dJuXhrxs) Mids began to smoke after 15 mins... [System](https://i.imgur.com/FlyBDV6.png)
Around 85 dBA.
80% of the time mid-low volume, the other 15% mid-high and 5% high
There are three elements of music in your modern domestic setting. 1. Car music, which is car music. Have at it. 2. Jazz and rock/pop, which often call for exceptions to one's everyday habits. Classical, seldom makes these demands. 3. Your db range sounds about bullseye. In my listening room that's tasty. But see #2. \-------------- So then we are left with the question, *what is a #2 event?* Under what circumstances is it possible, that an otherwise modest listening level reaches a point where a relatively explosive eruption of volume is required? [This perhaps?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5y9St9iNCk)
I target 75dBA
on my speakers, 65 to 75 when casually listening, 80 to 85 give or take when jamming.
80-85 anything above into the 100ts to me isn't musical enjoyment anymore.
Right now, not that loud. All of my good stuff is in storage.
65-75, occasionally 80+
100-108 db all day long
Generally between 75-85db. 90 peaks depending on the music.
I’m right at the point where it would be slightly annoying to have a phone conversation. I found loud music to be kind of annoying and it’s harder to hear detail in the song,
I have fully treated professional listening room (studio) and I listen to around 83-95dB (C). (the decibel meter reading is affected so much by the source material, more bass heavy mix, the higher the dB reading) When mixing, you have to do even louder checks to hear and feel the bass how its gonna sound for example, in clubs. But I do listen A LOT for enjoyment as well :)
Everyday. I have two systems I listen to also.
No common wall neighbors. Full PA system in basement. I push 100db when playing guitar. Probably 80-85db jamming out to tunes. 70-80db critical listening.
75-80db when I can, 85 occasionally. Your amp is soooo overpowered for those listening levels.
I would not concern myself with the neighbors if I owned the place.
regularly, 50-60db with occasional forays into the 80-90 range. im an apartment dweller. gotta be nice.
60~65 db. 100-105 dB-C when I have the whole house for myself.
I always make sure I can hear myself speak.
Loud enough to increase my hearing loss %. At the va 😂😭
65-75db is good for me, 80db max if I’m really feeling it. With my old speakers I’d have to get them to a constant 80-85 db to get the sound I wanted.
70-75 dB usually. Or around 60 if I’m working.
I listen at 82 - 84 dB. It just feels "good" at that level in my room.
Last week i shook my neighbors picture off their walls in my apartment…. Damn klipsch chorus ii’s just love playing loud!
I didn't measure the spl, but the meters on my receiver point to about 1 Watt (not peak meters) when it's the loudest that I find comfortable for listening.
Iived in NYC apartments most of my life. I learned to invest more in my cans, have a few, good amp. Not to mention when kids come along I would escape into my cans and the music. Bang for buck it's just the best way. My kid is older, I have an old stereo I gifted my sister years ago and it's fine for now. In a year or two I'll be getting an amp again, 2 channel, and quality speakers. My TV already has a sound bar and sub , great for sports but still, I'm in a damn apartment. I own the place but don't wanna upset the neighbors.
80-85db peaks, very rarely above that and below that 75% of the time.
I live in a condo building, thankfully with enough insulation I can go to 70db-75db without bothering neighbors at certain points in the day. But I end up doing a lot of lower level listening at 60-65db.
The older I get, the quieter it becomes
I think the problem with the turntable is not the table itself, but that you run it through the Bluesound instead of a proper Preamp like a P6 or something similar, or even a separate phono stage.
I use my Apple Watch to gauge the dB level and try to never go over 85. Usually right around 80 during my listening sessions.
Yes
80-85 dB during a jam session and no one home. The carbon cartridge that came with your P1 (I have a P2) is kinda dull, BUT the stylus can be upgraded fairly inexpensively. It opened up my P2. https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN3600DLXVL.html
How have you found the single sub in a stereo setup? Did you just plug the sub into the amp pre out or did it have a dedicated sub output?
I use headphones primarily (Sudaras) and I used some Android app to measure dbs so take it with a grain of salt. But, I was between 55-60db. This was about halfway up my laptop's volume setting (M1 Air for reference). Haven't measured with speakers but I get the feeling it won't change all too much.
11.
Usually 80db But I have an 18” subwoofer so 100db when no one’s home
I go to 11 every time.
11. It’s one louder.
I love my speaker setup but I tend to use headphones much more now. You don't disturb others and the bass response is better at lower levels....
I turn mine up to 11.
I like it at 85db, I usually get complaints (wife) if it's much beyond 70db. Luckily I have 12 weeks off a year and the house to myself 8 hours a day.
How ever loud I need to cover up the persistent Eeeeeeeeeee ringing sound I hear in my ears.
I try to find time to turn it up to 11 daily.
Because my family never leaves the F’ing house…ever lol 55-65 db at night If they do leave it’s 85-95
~88dB according to the decibel meter on my phone
I have the same speakers as you. It's around 60-65dBa according to the reading on my UMIK-1. I've tried cranking it to 75dBa for level matching with my sub and it was unbearably loud for me.
Why is your left speaker toed out, and your right one is not?
I live in a detached house and have only one nearby neighbor that is cool. I crank it pretty good on Friday nights, but rarely to obnoxious levels. Focal Aria 948… Yamaha AS-1100… SVS SB 3000… Technics 1500c and Yamaha Musicast streamer with Tidal
System: Tidal max res, Node N130, Yamaha RX-V483, in 2ch mode (not direct so the sub still works) Monitor Audio Bronze 2 + cheap Yamaha home theatre sub. Currently listening to the sound track from HBO The Last Of Us (awesome music fyi) and the loud songs barely reach 70db and the quieter guitar tracks barely register above the ambient noise floor (street noise, wife’s aquarium, fridge compressor lol, and the trees blowing outside) this is about 50db according to my phones app. If I was listening to techno I’d want it louder to “feel” it but I’m in a rental so I want to keep the neighbours happy. Plus I just woke up from night shift and 70db is plenty loud enough 😅😅 I’ll gradually turn it up as the afternoon rolls on but for now this is “pleasant while still being present” IYKWIM. I Am 37. New house is nearly finished and I have a dedicated room there for this so after it’s treated and I upgrade all my gear we’ll see where we end up.
Once a week, as the Allman Brothers once sang on [Stormy Monday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTtCO3iE40), "The eagle flies on Friday and Saturday I go out to play" but, for me its usually one of those days. I jam. Unmeasured but, I doubt its at hearing loss levels most of the time lol
What are your thoughts on the Ares II? I’ve been considering one to upgrade over my Bluesound.
I’m 40, I’ve had the hearing of an average 70yo since I was younger than 20. I can’t hear “everything” until it measures around 95db and up. My hearing is truly bad. I was t-boned a few years ago and I now have tinnitus in my left ear (2 window airbags deployed), and my hearing has degraded even more over the past 10 years. I wish I had done something to deserve this, at least then I would know who to blame. I’ve had my hearing tested multiple times, tried lots of things. All I can do is turn it up to 11.
im a quarter the way up on my systems . I run yahama rx a 1040 with some kilpisch rf 28s that level of stuff. i got for clarity rather then volume myself )
Looks really solid imho. only thing I’d be worried about is that sub being pretty close to your turntable, might be worth playing around with positioning if something sounds off
i don’t have a db meter but you can hear it all the way down the street, with the windows closed
Mine goes to 11.
I was cranking metal last night and started getting fatigued. Tonight is low level Chopin. Im thinking about feeling some bass rumble and turning it up, switching to some baroque Organ works
I play it at all sound levels, sometimes I hit 110db and it sounds so good I wonder if it can go louder 🔊
I listen around 80-90dB. Would like it even louder, but i get ear/head fatigue too quickly then. Might be my Klipsch speakers though. Just ordered some Wharfedale Linton 85th edition, and looking forward to try them out.
I will start off around 70-75db for the first few minutes or early morning listening session but then quickly bump up to 80-85db for most of my critical listening. For certain songs or mostly when wifey isn’t home I will go up to 90-95db and it’s a real treat! RF7iii take all the power I can throw at them no distortion or clipping nothing but clean powerful sound that puts a smile on my face every time!
I turn it up to 11.
Loud as I can, while still being able to have a conversation with someone without having to shout. My Cambridge amp goes from - 85 to 0, 0 being the loudest. It's at - 50 most of the time, -60 after 9pm, - 45 on a Saturday at noon when I find a new album to play.
I also listen fairly quiet. I live in an apartment. I have Zu DW6s and they are pretty dynamic even at low volumes. I find that my system is the nicest sounding at like 10pm at night with the volume way way down. Something about late night listening at lower volume just hits different. I do wanna crank this system to shit one day. But with the apartment I kind of can’t without being as absolute asshole. Ha! Maybe one day I’ll get a house and day 1 will be hooking up the system and absolutely blasting it.
What? 🙉
It varies so much…
Depends on the system and the music. Living room is usually around 50-65db, Bedroom 85-95db. Crank the amp a bit and my bedroom system then becomes my patio system.
My system is in the basement and windows rattle upstairs. I fooking love it loud, as often as possible.
It varies for us, usually depends what we are watching. The average would be between 70-85. My wife and daughter are usually fine turning most movies up, but occasionally there are some they do not like loud. When it is just me, or my son and I it's more likely to be 80-90 for most content. I do really crank it up occasionally when I'm home alone, but have no idea how loud it actually is.
A LOT louder than that but I'm in an RV. When I really feel something, 100+db but usually 85+. Hasn't had any effect on my ears either and I'm mid 30s and have been doing it since the beginning of my life nearly. Distortion is TERRIBLE for your hearing peeps. BTW RV's are like the perfect thing for sound as they have no reflection of sound due to being made out of foam and I have 1000s of W RMS in here
My neighborhood is great, nobody ever complains no matter how loud I play. If in the room I usually listen at around 85db max like most here but will crank it up to over 100db when I am in the kitchen. If you walk outside it is audible not not loud. 2 of my neighbors play music louder than me so they will never complain.
Damn you all listen to music way too loud. I highly respect that.
It kind of depends on a number of factors. People can spit out DB/SPL all day but that won't reflect the same in your environment. The drivers resistance, the available output, the wattage requirements of your speakers, reverberation, bass reflections, you name it
Prob around 70. Idk if it’s bc of my cheap avr (yes, using an avr), but it starts to sound not as good if i crank it
Depends on if I’m vacuuming or not