Volume levels

[Bass13]

Just wanted to see if many people are experiencing the same regarding their volume control levels...

 

Last night I had a friend over, we were playing some music, streaming at the time, we seemed to keep tuning the volume up as it just seemed so clear & smooth, and we seem to want more. Are we going deaf, or just getting that false sense of perception that its not loud because its so clear...?

 

Dare say this can be an easy way to cook your speakers, if you don't keep an eye on that volume.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Bass13

[aussievintage]

2 hours ago, Bass13 said:

Dare say this can be an easy way to cook your speakers, if you don't keep an eye on that volume.

 

 

That's one of the reasons I don't quite agree with playing super powerful amplifiers into speakers that are rated for much less than the amps can produce.   A lot of people will argue that it is only distortion that will blow up speakers, but, coming from the world of stage amplification, I can guarantee you, speakers need to be able to handle the power that a large amp is rated at (if it's a truthful rating)

 

 

[muon*]

Not unusual in a good system, with very low objectionable distortions loud is not offensive to the ears, the down side is that high levels can still damage hearing.

 

I can go loud to the point that the room interactions overwhelm things well before any sort of issue with the sound.

 

Annoying for neighbours in a block of flats

[GregWormald]

I can always listen louder on a good system than a poor one—but do need to keep in mind my hearing loudness capacity. 

 

As @aussievintage says, going way over the level of power needed (which can be more than expected) is less likely to have beneficial effects than going higher quality.

[audiofeline]

If the music has wide dynamic range, the average level of the music will sound low, so volume will be turned up to the average perceived level.  But the transients will be loud.  

Compressed music has an average loud level, so the volume control will tend to be lower,  And over time there will be a tendency to lower the volume because the compressed music will sound fatiguing and horrible.

 

[Yamaha_man]

I find I’m gong the opposite in volume these days, maybe I’m getting old. 
As for frying speakers, that only use to happen when I had average amplification. 
These days my ears would bleed before a woofer would hit me in the chest. 

[Jakeyb77_Redux]

Yeah gotta say after the Tool concert in 2020 I got hearing damage in my left ear which has resulted in a small amount of tinnitus. Or maybe that was from @joz place when the speakers blew.

I don’t play much over 100db like I used to 

[Bass13]

Many valid points above, I do listen to the system at moderate levels but sometimes it just creeps up.

 

@Yamaha_man dare say a lot of amps would be average compared to your behemoth monos, and with them your low volume would probably still be a 1000 watts, if not more.

[stereo coffee]

7 hours ago, Bass13 said:

Just wanted to see if many people are experiencing the same regarding their volume control levels...

 

Last night I had a friend over, we were playing some music, streaming at the time, we seemed to keep tuning the volume up as it just seemed so clear & smooth, and we seem to want more. Are we going deaf, or just getting that false sense of perception that its not loud because its so clear...?

 

Dare say this can be an easy way to cook your speakers, if you don't keep an eye on that volume.

 

 

 

 

Streaming services abide by standards of level, which is why it works so well

[aussievintage]

49 minutes ago, Bass13 said:

@Yamaha_man dare say a lot of amps would be average compared to your behemoth monos, and with them your low volume would probably still be a 1000 watts, if not more.

 

I can't imagine ANY speaker so inefficient as to render 1000 watts as a low volume  

[Yamaha_man]

55 minutes ago, Bass13 said:

Many valid points above, I do listen to the system at moderate levels but sometimes it just creeps up.

 

@Yamaha_man dare say a lot of amps would be average compared to your behemoth monos, and with them your low volume would probably still be a 1000 watts, if not more.

When I first joined stereonet over 15 years ago  it was known as planet audio. 
I then had a Hafler power amp/pre combo and a pair of Yamaha NS-1000’s . 
Negotiating the rabbit hole which has resulted to my current system I’ve had an absolute ton of gear. 
I’ve had both good and bad although I’ve been very lucky and to my ears there’s only been a few products that were disappointing. 
I know what average is, trust me. 
As for the Karan amps I’m currently using, you’d be very surprised how little power they draw compared to what I’ve had in the past. It’s suggested when not in use they remain on as they draw next to no power. When needed and some gain is applied they are nothing short of an iron in a velvet glove.

Edited July 8, 2023 by Yamaha_man

[joz]

2 hours ago, Jakeyb77_Redux said:

Yeah gotta say after the Tool concert in 2020 I got hearing damage in my left ear which has resulted in a small amount of tinnitus. Or maybe that was from @joz place when the speakers blew.

I don’t play much over 100db like I used to 

PARDON??

 

HANG ON LET ME TURN IT DOWN!!

 

actually that day wasn’t very loud, it just happened to be the day one drivers foam surround decided to let go.

Edited July 8, 2023 by joz

[tubularbells]

I find my system is dull and boring when I turn it down so my listening is done at realistic volume levels, probably much higher than average than most would do here but I enjoy the visceral impact aspect also (possibly a bit too much!)

 

Maybe this is due to the fact that my setup is mainly vintage gear that needs a kick in the pants to wake it up or maybe im just deaf with both being equally valid points 

 

On a more serious note I do wish I could enjoy at less than concert levels at the rest of the household also has to endure my indulgence  hence the reason I barely turn it on anymore.

[Jakeyb77_Redux]

2 minutes ago, tubularbells said:

I find my system is dull and boring when I turn it down so my listening is done at realistic volume levels, probably much higher than average than most would do here but I enjoy the visceral impact aspect also (possibly a bit too much!)

 

Maybe this is due to the fact that my setup is mainly vintage gear that needs a kick in the pants to wake it up or maybe im just deaf with both being equally valid points 

 

On a more serious note I do wish I could enjoy at less than concert levels at the rest of the household also has to endure my indulgence  hence the reason I barely turn it on anymore.

 

I’ve left your house genuinely checking for blood leaking from my ears

[Yamaha_man]

5 minutes ago, Jakeyb77_Redux said:

 

I’ve left your house genuinely checking for blood leaking from my ears

Come to mine, I won’t disappoint. 
I’ll be drinking beer in the alfresco while you get your fix. 
p.S. tissues supplied for the red mess.

[GregWormald]

24 minutes ago, tubularbells said:

I find my system is dull and boring when I turn it down so my listening is done at realistic volume levels, probably much higher than average than most would do here but I enjoy the visceral impact aspect also (possibly a bit too much!)

 

Maybe this is due to the fact that my setup is mainly vintage gear that needs a kick in the pants to wake it up or maybe im just deaf with both being equally valid points 

 

On a more serious note I do wish I could enjoy at less than concert levels at the rest of the household also has to endure my indulgence  hence the reason I barely turn it on anymore.

Do you have some sort of "loudness" compensation? I find low volumes really need it to get me more of the loud volume experience (even if not all ).

[tubularbells]

10 minutes ago, GregWormald said:

Do you have some sort of "loudness" compensation? I find low volumes really need it to get me more of the loud volume experience (even if not all ).

 

Unfortunately no I don't and upon reflection could it possibly be a design flaw/limitation of the speakers themselves as each contains 7 drivers of various shapes and sizes so at lower levels perhaps the 2x 12's aren't running at the same efficiency as the smaller 6" & 3" domes skewing the sound a bit?

[crtexcnndrm99]

Aiming for concert level with classical music on the high efficiency has a tendency to creep up for me… as above, always mindful due to being in a block of flats. 
 

I am sure 15W is possibly a good thing for my ears’ sake, and agree on the quality comment for enhancing low level listening. 

[Al.M]

It’s partly your ear natural loudness mechanism kicking in and more volume is needed achieve excitement.

[blakey72]

Yeah it's just a natural thing for me.. I've tried to lower my listening levels however when you start getting into it it's hard not to turn it up just a little bit.........(at a time) 105w/ch doesn't get very loud in a 3.5mx3.5m room 

[joz]

PARDON???

[GregWormald]

5 hours ago, tubularbells said:

 

Unfortunately no I don't and upon reflection could it possibly be a design flaw/limitation of the speakers themselves as each contains 7 drivers of various shapes and sizes so at lower levels perhaps the 2x 12's aren't running at the same efficiency as the smaller 6" & 3" domes skewing the sound a bit?

The Duntechs should be fine. I suggest some way of boosting the bass and upper mids-lower highs. As @Al.M said the ears' sensitivity goes down as the volume diminishes. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by GregWormald

[Guest georgeDV]

17 hours ago, Bass13 said:

[...] we seem to want more. Are we going deaf, or just getting that false sense of perception that its not loud because its so clear...?
Dare say this can be an easy way to cook your speakers, if you don't keep an eye on that volume.

 

 

 

 

 

hello. this is what I imagine. 

the basic: if the amplifier offers 725 W RMS and the speakers are in the range 675~750 W (as example), and the famous Ω is the propper, speakers won't exploit.
it may happen if the device as speakers or ampliffier or both, aren't designed for a party loud dance or the rock boom. we know there different audio systems for parties or disco club, it depends.

 

our experience:
if we want to listen the music or the movie with more power and volume, that's the reason why we search for a more effective device and stuff to "get more sound", upgrading or buying a different device.
sometimes we want to listen with more quality, that's why we change the amplifier, or that's the reason why we buy better speakers. 

about the sound very clear: the perception very clear was real, you heard the sound clear and nice, simply you wanted to listen it more loudy.*

the system and speakers and the stuff you have: with more gain (more volume up) you reach the zone of distorion, it depends the device  /system you have, maybe yours is very good without distorition at high volume!, maybe you would hear the expected distortion as the volume inclreases, it depends the devices. 

*something:  furthermore the device audio sys, the genre of music may demand more volume depending the ambient / the moment. you can listen K-Pop in your office with a volume to don't disturb and it will be ambient nice clear and so. 
it will be different perception yes if the same K-Pop music plays in small reunion with friends sharing time weekend or, a party with more friends to get fun and "dancing". 



 

 

[TheBlackDisc]

 

[Bass13]

13 hours ago, aussievintage said:

 

I can't imagine ANY speaker so inefficient as to render 1000 watts as a low volume  

 

I was saying it in jest, as Yamaha mans mono's, would have exceptional amounts of power on tap, I would be around the 300-400watts p/c on a regular basis myself, depending what I'm listening too, especially with electronic or ambient, however I also do listen to it at lower levels.