Are people listening to music too loudly?

[ChrisIRL]

There have been a number of threads on here recently about what's a good amp, how many watts per channel etc. It's striking me reading the threads that many may be listening to their home systems too loudly, they may not even realise it.

I've conditioned myself to listen to music at moderate volumes, i.e. in and around 60 to 65db at my listening position. This equates to about 8 o'clock position on my Elex r into my SCM11s. My enjoyment of music has gone through the roof as a result. Many songs increase in intensity and volume towards the end of a track or even during a track. I'm not talking about the big obvious dynamic shifts but all the subtle little shifts in intensity and volume. Forcing myself to put down the remote has opened all of this subtlety up to me giving me far more musical enjoyment, subtlety that would have been lost or less obvious to me if listening too loudly to begin with. It's not because my system can't do louder and retain these things, but at louder volumes they're just less obvious to my hearing.

It is very easy to get used to listening at lower volumes and if your system if suitably detailed and distortion free all the information you could require is present, enhanced even, and the reduction in scale becomes forgotten quickly. Many would think the volume too low but I get so drawn into listening I could be right in front of the stage hearing every little dynamic detail and impact the band intended.

Try it out for a week, it changes listening enjoyment drastically when you get used to it. It's like with television, while not my thing I've read several guides that suggest most have their tvs set too bright. Initially it looks all bright, vivid and exciting, but conditioning for about a week at lower brightness/ colour etc makes many realise how bad their first settings were.

 

[ID.]

Sorry, what did you say? Having trouble hearing you over my tinnitus.

 

[ChrisIRL]

a

Sorry, what did you say? Having trouble hearing you over my tinnitus.

I SAID ARE YOU LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC TOO LOUD?

Actually with all those headphones I'm not surprised. Perhaps you're wearing a forgotten 6th pair right now?

 

[NS496]

From the aforementioned threads, I would say this is the case. If you have a several hundred watt amplifier, obviously you need to recreate concert levels to justify your investment 😉

i just don't want to be a neighbour to any forum members 😉

i'm honestly just too happy that my 30 watt amp has automatic hearing protection built in. For free!

 

[chebby]

As a result of these threads I decided to use my Decibel meter app to answer this question. It turns out it doesnt work under IOS 9. 🙂

So I downloaded another app this morning and fired up some music at the loudest I normally play. It was about 78 - 84dB most of the time (from about 2.5 - 3 metres) with peaks of 88 - 90dB. There were 'maximums' of 94dB and 95dB but that was me putting down the iPhone to answer the door and another occasion when I coughed.

 

[Freddy58]

Quiet wouldn't work with ACDC I'm afraid *clapping*

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

My naim xs doesn't much ever go past 10 o'clock into the pmc twenty 21's at 2 mtrs away,but mostly resides in the 8-9 position . I'll need to download one of those db apps.I'm not a fan of very loud music,oh god I'm becoming an old fart.lol.

 

[ID.]

a

Sorry, what did you say? Having trouble hearing you over my tinnitus.

I SAID ARE YOU LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC TOO LOUD?

Actually with all those headphones I'm not surprised. Perhaps you're wearing a forgotten 6th pair right now?

Actually, it is the headphones that I think pose the most risk. Easy to turn them up loud without distortion, but there is no physical sensation of bass, etc.

I agree that if I make an effort to turn the volume down my ears adjust to pick up as much detail at a lower volume, but louder sounds better. It can also creep up louder when I'm trying to drown out external noise, even with headphones that do a good job blocking out noise.

 

[davedotco]

There have been a number of threads on here recently about what's a good amp, how many watts per channel etc. It's striking me reading the threads that many may be listening to their home systems too loudly, they may not even realise it.

I've conditioned myself to listen to music at moderate volumes, i.e. in and around 60 to 65db at my listening position. This equates to about 8 o'clock position on my Elex r into my SCM11s. My enjoyment of music has gone through the roof as a result. Many songs increase in intensity and volume towards the end of a track or even during a track. I'm not talking about the big obvious dynamic shifts but all the subtle little shifts in intensity and volume. Forcing myself to put down the remote has opened all of this subtlety up to me giving me far more musical enjoyment, subtlety that would have been lost or less obvious to me if listening too loudly to begin with. It's not because my system can't do louder and retain these things, but at louder volumes they're just less obvious to my hearing.

It is very easy to get used to listening at lower volumes and if your system if suitably detailed and distortion free all the information you could require is present, enhanced even, and the reduction in scale becomes forgotten quickly. Many would think the volume too low but I get so drawn into listening I could be right in front of the stage hearing every little dynamic detail and impact the band intended.

Try it out for a week, it changes listening enjoyment drastically when you get used to it. It's like with television, while not my thing I've read several guides that suggest most have their tvs set too bright. Initially it looks all bright, vivid and exciting, but conditioning for about a week at lower brightness/ colour etc makes many realise how bad their first settings were.

I was tempted to be very dismissive of this post, but on reflection it does have some purpose.

In fact, I think it points to a fundamental issue that people have when listening to recorded music.

In short, it depends how you listen and what you are listening for. Obviously I can only speak for myself in this respect, for example, I have no interest in soundstage (other than in serious hi-end systems) and find high levels of detail resolution unnatural. For me I want to hear the way the band plays, a lot of the music I listen to relies on the interplay between the musicians and for that clarity and rhythmic consistency is important. I also, as far as possible, like the recorded music to sound as 'live' as possible and this is all about dynamics and therefore power.

Volume is important to me too, I do not consider myself a 'headbanger', but I do like to play louder than average I think. Interestingly, the improved dynamics of many active speakers allows me to play a little quieter, one of the reasons I like them.

 

[drummerman]

Good point ChrisIRL.

Like you my listening is predominantly at low'ish volumes. It enables me to listen and relax into the music, enjoying the nuances ... the ebb and flow and little dynamic contrasts rather than being battered into submission by it.

The same goes for Headphone listening.

As I have mentioned in the other thread, I love live music and attend often but its a different kind of listening, not to mention a social event.

I do on occasions turn the volume up but this probably makes up less than half a percent of my listening.

 

[MajorFubar]

...I like the musical climaxes to peak at around 70-75dB at my listening postion, some 12-13' from the speakers. That's the sweet-spot for me, where it's loud enough to be dominant, but not too loud where I feel I just want to turn it down.

 

[matt49]

From the aforementioned threads, I would say this is the case. If you have a several hundred watt amplifier, obviously you need to recreate concert levels to justify your investment 😉

There's a degree of truth in that, but as far as I'm concerned it's the speakers that have affected my listening habits, not the amp. (The amp is just the servant of the speakers: if I didn't have such big and demanding speakers, I'd have a less powerful amp.) I do like to turn the volume right up now and again, and much more than I used to, mainly when listening to orchestral music and opera. I've got hooked by that overwhelming sense of being there.

 

[ChrisIRL]

I was tempted to be very dismissive of this post

[/quote]

Only tempted to be? That's unlike you, do you feel ok? *biggrin*

 

[davedotco]

I was tempted to be very dismissive of this post

Only tempted to be? That's unlike you, do you feel ok? *biggrin*

[/quote]

Errrr, sorry about that, somewhat patronising and not really meant. (In this instance anyway)

Of course the choice of the volume you play at is personal, thats obvious, but why different people listen at different levels and what they listen for is interesting.

 

[grimharry]

When I was 16 I couldn't play sabbath or the clash loud enough but now I'm 50 and my music taste is a lot wider and the volume is a lot lower. Then again loud "dad" music is great for winding up the kids, nirvana works a treat. 🙂

 

[tonky]

I have all their albums!

tonky

 

[Vladimir]

I listen to music at around 65dB myself for 90% of the time. If I was blasting 100dB all the time neither my hearing or my kit would survive for long. However, the remaining 10% I really want to hear the band, walk among the musicians, replicate the experience (within limitations) of a real gig.

Loudness is very important in this hobby and in reality. Even the stuffiest snobs who buy overpriced little amps and growl at the reasonably priced big ones, have been suckered in by loudness due to the silly volume knob and input sensitivity trick. Louder is simply better, end of story. I'm sorry if your wives and naybores™ or rooms limit you to replicate more of the real thing, but I myself wifeless and essentially in this detached house neighborless, don't care for those limitations.

 

[tonky]

Yes I think we know how to use it. Input sensitivity (yawn) Hi fi snobs? - surely not on a what hifi website forum!

tonky

 

[Blacksabbath25]

well i think heavy metal , classic rock needs some vol to it more so metal music and i normally have mine up around 9 - 10 oclock to open up the music but this just my taste . but must come down to what hi fi gear you have and music tastes and how you like to use it everyone has there own tastes but would of thought classic music would need some power in the very quit passages or you would not hear them

 

[Vladimir]

And so does classical music my friend. People think techno is taxing on electronics. Oh boy, with classical I've had more kit fail than with anything else. Tremendous dynamics especially with CDs.

Did you know that 90dB loudness is equivalent to riding the bus? I don't think much headbanging goes into busses, but I could be wrong. Haven't used one for over 2 years.

 

[Jota180]

It's one thing hearing the kick drum of a rock band it's an entirely different thing feeling it.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

And so does classical music my friend. People think techno is taxing on electronics. Oh boy, with classical I've had more kit fail than with anything else. Tremendous dynamics especially with CDs.

Did you know that 90dB loudness is equivalent to riding the bus? I don't think much headbanging goes into busses, but I could be wrong. Haven't used one for over 2 years.

I do like some classic music but very picky in what I like and 1 of my favourites is the 4 seasons and the sound track from brave heart , Air Force one and sounds good loud

 

[drummerman]

It's one thing hearing the kick drum of a rock band it's an entirely different thing feeling it.

I know just the place for that. - It ain't my living room.

Nop, that place serves draft beer, ales and has nice bar staff. There are even people there you can socialise with. Unbelievable, ain't it ... .

 

[Jota180]

It's one thing hearing the kick drum of a rock band it's an entirely different thing feeling it.

I know just the place for that. - It ain't my living room.

Nop, that place serves draft beer, ales and has nice bar staff. There are even people there you can socialise with. Unbelievable, ain't it ... .

The place for that, occasionally, is my living room. When the neighbours go out. Can't beat it. No point heading to the pub at 10am on a Tuesday.

 

[bigfish786]

Hate it loud.

I want to hear the skill of each artist, keep it between the 8-9 on the Leema. That's plenty. Maybe 10 on some quiet vinyl.