In lots of places in this forum, there are references to how loud people's subs can play. The latest I've seen is in the WOTW thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=813514) :

So now that I'm starting to measure sound in my own setup, I'm finding that 95db is plenty loud enough for me, and yet I see figures of 110db or 120db+ in some threads.

For perspective, here's some loudness references (http://www.rd.com/content/how-loud-is-too-loud/)

Do people really listen to movies or music at 120db? Just curious what levels people listen at.

For me - 70-85 is enough.

Others?

I don't listen at 110 or 120. 95 to 102 is my range. But I do get peaks from big booms and other shock-you type sounds in the 110 to 120 range. So people aren't talking about their normal levels, just some of the peaks they hit. 110db throughout a movie would just get monotonous and any loud peaks from that level would either destroy your sub or cause it to go into compression. It would just take away the grin factor in certain scenes.

Of course, when we are watching one of the wife's movies, I run my system at about -80db :)

In lots of places in this forum, there are references to how loud people's subs can play. The latest I've seen is in the WOTW thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=813514) :

So now that I'm starting to measure sound in my own setup, I'm finding that 95db is plenty loud enough for me, and yet I see figures of 110db or 120db+ in some threads.

For perspective, here's some loudness references (http://www.rd.com/content/how-loud-is-too-loud/)

Do people really listen to movies or music at 120db? Just curious what levels people listen at.

For me - 90-95 is enough.

Others?

Bass is very different, you can listen to much louder levels of bass and not go deaf. 120dB with subs is LOUD. 130db in the 30-40hz range can make your ears hurt the next day.

120dB is extremely painful in the midrange.

90-95dB is fine but I like my transients to reach in the 110db+ range.

i have a friend who's into home theater also who got tinnitus from too much loud listening

you can also get it from listening to too much yanni

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/feb05/yanni0210_big.jpg

Mine goes into the 100s, but casual listening is in the 60-70 dB range, with watching a movie loudly being typically 75 dB for speech (transients higher in the 80-90 range).

i have a friend who's into home theater also who got tinnitus from too much loud listening

you can also get it from listening to too much yanni

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/feb05/yanni0210_big.jpg
LOL! :D

I think he's about to get struck by lightning. Right? Please say yes. :eek:

That pic is definitely going on my hard drive.

Portnuff and Fligor estimate that a typical person could safely listen to the iPod for 4.6 hours at 70 percent of full volume using the supplied earphones without greatly increasing the risk of hearing loss. However, listening to music at full volume through the iPod for more than 5 minutes per day through its stock earphones, they say, could increase the risk of hearing loss in a typical person. These guidelines apply in general to other music players, such as the Sandisk Sansa and the Creative Zen Micro, which they found to produce similar volume levels

Hearing damage can occur in two ways. Brief exposures to extremely loud sounds can cause permanent damage. Consistent exposure to moderate-level loud sounds wears out the hair cells in the inner ear and weakens their ability to recover. Over time as these cells die permanent hearing loss occurs.

Decibels: what are safe levels?

Decibels measure the loudness of sound. Both the amount of noise and the length of time of exposure determine the amount of damage. Damage can be caused to hair cells of the inner ear and the hearing nerve by one-time exposure to loud sounds like an explosion or by continuous or repeated exposure to noise. Sounds that are less than 80 decibels are unlikely to cause hearing loss. Noise levels greater than 80 decibels can be hazardous and can damage your hearing. Many experts agree that continual exposure to more than 85 decibels is hazardous to your hearing.

The noise chart below can act as a guide to the average decibel levels of everyday sounds and can help you judge which sounds are potentially dangerous to your hearing. It is important to note that as decibel intensity increases by units of 10, each increase is 10 times the lower figure. In addition, noise exposure is cumulative so be aware of your exposure to noise throughout the day - at work, home, traveling and in recreational settings. As a general rule, if you have to shout to be heard, then you should avoid the situation or use ear protection.

Dangerous levels:

150 dB = rock music peak
140 dB = firearms, jet engine
130 dB = jackhammer
120 dB = jet plane take-off, amplified rock music at 4-6 ft., car stereo, band practice
120 dB = ambulance siren
120 -140 dB = Motorcycles, firecrackers
Extremely loud:

105 dB = helicopter
100 – 115 dB = iPods used at maximum levels
100 dB = snowmobile, chain saw, pneumatic drill, night clubs
95 dB = motorcycle
90 dB = lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic, subway
90 dB = noisy toys
80-96 dB = restaurants
Very loud:

80 dB = alarm clock, city street traffic
70 dB = vacuum cleaner
Normal levels:

60 dB = normal conversation
35 dB = whispered voice
Unsafe Levels of Exposure:

110 decibels or louder : regular exposure of more than one minute risks permanent hearing loss.
100 decibels: No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure is recommended.
85 decibels: Prolonged exposure to any noise above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss.

In general, it is best if toys do not exceed 80 to 85 decibels (the measure of the intensity of a sound). A normal conversation is about 60 decibels, lawnmowers and shop tools run at 90 decibels or so, a chainsaw at 100, a rock concert at 115, and a jet engine at 120 or higher. In testing the decibel output of toy musical instruments, dolls, MP3 and CD players, and more, Kileny found that many exceeded the 80-85 level at which it is safe for children to be exposed to the sound for extended periods of time.

RECOMMENDED LEVELS: The more often and the louder you player your player, the more likely you'll experience some hearing loss. To come up with recommended listening times and sound levels, the researchers compared the players’ volume levels to the minimum sound level for the risk of hearing damage: 85 dBA. Typically, a person can tolerate about two hours of 91 dBA per day before risking hearing loss. The researchers recommend listening to iPods for ½ hours a day with earphones if the volume is at 80% of maximum levels. Listening at full volume is not recommended for more than 5 minutes per day using the earphones that come with the player.

copy and pasted these

- Steven

My bass is set just below the point in which my wife starts complaining to me. :rolleyes:

Ian :D

I doubt I've ever gone over 89db. My wifes pictures start vibrating off the shelves, my pets uncomfortable and leaves the room plus the uneven and totally artificial quality of amplified bass irritates me slightly being so out of phase with normal sound.

:)

I like 85db.Showing off, probably 105db

Bass is very different, you can listen to much louder levels of bass and not go deaf. 120dB with subs is LOUD. 130db in the 30-40hz range can make your ears hurt the next day.

120dB is extremely painful in the midrange.





Considering the fact that Dolby Digital standards (AKA loud) are 105 dB PEAK for each of the main speakers and 115 dB PEAK for the LFE channel, how can you listen to the midrange at 120 dB PEAK?

Do you know how large the speaker output capabilities are and how much amplifier power is required to do that?

Don't any of you calibrate your systems????

Part of the calibration procedure is to find out where "reference level" is on your volume control. For WOTW, you have top look at how loud they were playing, and what version was being used (DD or DTS).

PEAK volume levels are based on how far below "reference level" the volume control is set. 120 dB PEAK is the maximum SPL that you can get for loud PEAKS in the bass if the volume control is left at the "reference level" setting.


http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_2/feature-article-misunderstood-lfe-channel-april-2000.html

Considering the fact that Dolby Digital standards (AKA loud) are 105 dB PEAK for each of the main speakers and 115 dB PEAK for the LFE channel, how can you listen to the midrange at 120 dB PEAK?

Do you know how large the speaker output capabilities are and how much amplifier power is required to do that?

It's called a siren... I was just talking about sound in general.

Calibration is comfortable for me at 85dB calibrated. And master volume from -5 to -10 depending on what I'm watching.

Don't any of you calibrate your systems????

Yep. I calibrated mine at 85 dB, and pink noise at that level is loud!

While we are on the topic....

If you are using an SPL meter to see if it is "Too loud" should you set it as A-weighted or C-weighted?

While we are on the topic....

If you are using an SPL meter to see if it is "Too loud" should you set it as A-weighted or C-weighted?


C-weighting. A- weighting filters out the bass.

I use a RS Digital meter to measure PEAKS. Set the scale to MAX, and PEAKS will read out.


http://www.sfu.ca/sonic-studio/handbook/Sound_Level_Meter.html


Note that no weighting is "flat".

It's called a siren... I was just talking about sound in general.

Calibration is comfortable for me at 85dB calibrated. And master volume from -5 to -10 depending on what I'm watching.

That's pretty high. How big is your room?


Ian

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart (http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html)

In lots of places in this forum, there are references to how loud people's subs can play. The latest I've seen is in the WOTW thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=813514) :

So now that I'm starting to measure sound in my own setup, I'm finding that 95db is plenty loud enough for me, and yet I see figures of 110db or 120db+ in some threads.

For perspective, here's some loudness references (http://www.rd.com/content/how-loud-is-too-loud/)

Do people really listen to movies or music at 120db? Just curious what levels people listen at.

For me - 80-95 is enough.

Others?

I prefer a well designed sound system that is balanced. 100dB of sub
can be annoying when the rest of the system stinks. 120dB of sub
can be nice if the rest of the system is sweet. :p :)

That's pretty high. How big is your room?


Ian

For now, nearfield listening with sub/mains about a meter away from my ears. (Computer room :p )

The giant sub is in the future theater.


EDIT: Having the speakers set up at the few feet away from my ears it really sounds very good since the room plays a very small part in sound.

it can NEVER be too loud!! :D

it can NEVER be too loud!! :D

What you say?

http://health.yahoo.com/media/healthwise/nr55552038.jpg

Blood for the ears is definitely a bad sign. :D

Chris.

I tend to listen to my movies between 70db and 80db. The 85db reference level is pretty loud, even when my wife is not home. :D

For HT, the quality of your system will effect how loud you can play a movie without it feeling uncomfortable. Many people's systems are underpowered (or can't handle the power) so when they turn it up their ears hurt from distortion.

The FR of your system can effect how loud you can play movies, too. "Too bright" hurts my ears when played at high levels.

The soundtrack plays in here as well. For example, in U-571 when the pipes start bursting (intentionally recorded loud) I can barely tolerate it. There's lots of high-frequency shrillness in there. On the other hand, the infrasonics of being underwater plus the depth-charges going off have never been too loud :D :D

I tend to listen to my movies between 70db and 80db. The 85db reference level is pretty loud, even when my wife is not home. :D

For HT, the quality of your system will effect how loud you can play a movie without it feeling uncomfortable. Many people's systems are underpowered (or can't handle the power) so when they turn it up their ears hurt from distortion.

The FR of your system can effect how loud you can play movies, too. "Too bright" hurts my ears when played at high levels.

The soundtrack plays in here as well. For example, in U-571 when the pipes start bursting (intentionally recorded loud) I can barely tolerate it. There's lots of high-frequency shrillness in there. On the other hand, the infrasonics of being underwater plus the depth-charges going off have never been too loud :D :D

too bad I only have U571 0n a VHS I must get the DVD after hearing that. I Have to say Das Boot Sounded pretty good for being a 25 year old movie. :D

Is it normal to have a lot of bass from dolby 2.0 My system is analouge with No receiver. just the Lenoxx sound. speakers and the Cheap 44 dollar GPX DVD player

I'm surprised that no one mentioned Deep Blue Sea in the Thread about which Movie/scene to demo thread.