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Do you use loudness?

Do you use loudness modifier?

  • Definetly yes!

  • Hell no!

  • It depends...

Results are only viewable after voting.
There isn't much difference between a hotter (2V CD signal) input signal and a speaker with 10dB higher sensitivity. The results are the same. That's why a variable loudness control is better. It's based on the actual listening level used.

FWIW: The external DAC I use for music has never been higher than -10dB on the display. The volume control on my preamp is at ~11 O'clock when playing music files.
 
The bigger question, is do you use your muting button, and crank the volume?

I often do that with my ND 3020. It is recommended in the manual, for better lower volume detail retrieval.

I just got a Vector Research receiver, which is supposed to have been made in the same Taiwanese factory that made NAD and Rotel units in the 80s. It is LOUD. I wish it had a mute switch so I could get the volume knob past 9 o'clock.
 
Gnesen said:
I just came across Bellari products and see that they sell a ‘Sonic Exciter’. As best as I can tell, it seems to be an external variable loudness control, just with different terminology. Or is it doing something else that I’m missing?

http://www.bellariaudio.com/index.php/products/se560-audio-sonic-exciter/

View attachment 2129310
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Nothing in that link gives much of a clue as to what the unit actually does, except "make things sound better". I can't see anything there that suggests it's a variable loudness control.
 
rothwellaudio said:
Nothing in that link gives much of a clue as to what the unit actually does, except "make things sound better". I can't see anything there that suggests it's a variable loudness control.
Click to expand...

It`s not !
BBE manufactured, at least in the nineties, similar "sound enhancing" equipment (AKA Sonic Maximizer)..
 
Bill Ferris said:
It`s not !
BBE manufactured, at least in the nineties, similar "sound enhancing" equipment (AKA Sonic Maximizer)..
Click to expand...

Interesting. I guess the the two adjustments for ‘bottom’ and 'definition' (lows and highs, according to the manual) threw me off. Of course, I'm aware of the Fletcher-Munson Curve and what's supposed to happen in a loudness control, so I probably should have been able to tell. Still, then what the heck is this thing doing? Introducing harmonics?

For what it's worth, I happen to think 'sonic exciter' is a good description for what happens when the 'loudness' button is engaged in my amps and receivers. Though, I rarely use loudness anymore. Different priorities than I once had.
 
Gnesen said:
Interesting. I guess the the two adjustments for ‘bottom’ and 'definition' (lows and highs, according to the manual) threw me off. Of course, I'm aware of the Fletcher-Munson Curve and what's supposed to happen in a loudness control, so I probably should have been able to tell. Still, then what the heck is this thing doing? Introducing harmonics?
Click to expand...

No, I believe it has the ability to adjust phase between the audio bandwidth low frequencies & high frequencies separated blocks divided from each other by the manufacturers selection..
I have 2 rack mount BBE Sonic Maximizers in use inserted in my HT L/R sides and rear surround channels that I installed around 1998 or so, so without digging out the manual this principle(s of operation info is from my 66 yr. old hazy memory..
I remember hearing from local rock bands in the nineties that I repaired for using these devices (both brands) in their PAs/SS bass guitar rigs with good/desirable results in the improvement of the SQ.
I`m sure if you searched around the web you could find out more information about what it is they do & how they do it..
 
After considerable and extended thought:idea:...I have reduced the application of "Loudness" to two, and only to two occasions.

As already mentioned for garage application

For the Sheltie who tends to ignore me at normal level amplitude,


But, not taking into account "Loudness" application from said SO in these mitigating trouble times!:D

FWIW

Q
 
Bill Ferris said:
It`s not !
BBE manufactured, at least in the nineties, similar "sound enhancing" equipment (AKA Sonic Maximizer)..
Click to expand...
The BBE sonic maximizer was just the thing to breathe some life back into some pre-recorded music. I still have one around here somewhere, it has controls for variable contour (loudness), noise reduction, and BBE process. IIRC.
 
Sorry to take so long to get back to this.

As long as there is no overdriving an input, hot signal, weak signal it makes no difference. The only measurement that matters at all is the maximum audible level a given source is reproducing. A variable loudness control is designed to lower the level from that volume and apply the appropriate compensation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the relative position of the volume control.

With a properly used variable loudness control speaker X may be as loud as required at 12 O'clock while speaker Y may be producing the same level at 10 O'clock. Just use the control to lower the volume for whatever level is the maximum required.
 
In my first true (low-end) stereo my amp had a loudness button (when I was young). Because I lived with my family and then in shared houses I was forced to listen to music at lower levels much of the time. I used the loudness button often, as it really did make low listening levels sound better.
But since I upgraded to better quality amps (without a loudness button)/speakers, the loudness button was not needed because the system was very listenable at lower volumes. I wouldn't buy an amp that had it now. But do see a place for the loudness circuit on very low-end equipment.
 
RickeyM said:
I have a good 90's vintage Sony receiver (call it low end if you like, I don't care) and on these Sony units they got it right by calling it simply "Bass Boost".
Click to expand...

:beerchug:, I concur, RickyM.
My car garage`s 2000 purchased Sony STR- DE135 receiver has that type Bass Boost function, and with the SPL (usually background conversational) that it`s usually played at it fills up the bottom end perfectly without any perceived boomy-ness even with the connection and use of twin passive L/R 12 " subwoofers to help out the Infinity Primus III book shelf wall mounted speakers.

And being a remote controllable receiver that desired & useful function can be easily engaged/disengaged while listening if I wish to turn up the receiver because of a interesting song to comes up that I wish to check it out and crank it up. :thumbsup:
 
Hi all,

don´t be shy to use external equalizer and loudness control.
I have very bad room accoustics. The room area is 20m2.

I listen to the music at a very low volume (something about 0,3 - 0,6 W)

I use loudness button (+6dB bass at 100Hz, +4dB treble at 10kHz),
+my tone controls: Treble +2dB, Bass +2dB

+Equalizer:
40Hz +6dB
63Hz +6dB
98Hz +4dB
160Hz 0dB
250Hz +2dB
400Hz 0dB
625Hz 0dB
1kHz 0dB
1,5kHz 0dB
2,5kHz 0dB
3,9kHz +2dB
6,3kHz 0dB
10kHz 0dB
16kHz +2dB

4-way speakers: (8 Ohm, sensitivity around 90dB/W/m)
Tweeter 50W RMS
Upper midrange 8W RMS (2x 4 Ohm,4W speakers in series)
Lower midrange (higher bass) 50W RMS
Bass (100l box, tuning freq. 34 Hz) 100W RMS

Amp:
Power output: 100 watts RMS per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Damping factor at 8 ohms: 180
S/N: 106dB


The sound is huge, detailed, and amazing.:music:
 
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I pretty much never do. My old Marantz receiver has a button for it, but at regular volumes I don't really like that kind of pumped up sound and even with lower volume listening for me isn't so low, that I feel like I want to pump up the bass to hear it. It probably helps that with two of the three sets of speakers I have hooked up to the thing, I have sub woofers attached. The third set are tiny little speakers (NHT SuperZeros) that I have in my kitchen that I neither expect much bass from or play very quietly.

I don't even tend to use the EQ on my amp very much at all, though I like the option to use it when I might feel that the music needs it (which is fairly rare). Oddly the one situation where I feel that I would like EQ controls, is with headphones as each set doesn't seem to have an ideally balanced sound with my Gustard h10 headphone amp, which is super clean with a nice full bodied sound, yet doesn't seem to have an airy enough top end with either set of phones that I use. One of those little Schiit mini-EQs may be in my future to run into that headphone amp, so that I can boost the treble just a bit to give me the sound that I'm looking for.
 
My 1958 harman/kardon "TA230 Stereo Festival" receiver uses the word "contour" instead of "loudness". If I want to listen to music in a decent volume, the "contour" mode provides a richer sound with this dinosaur on my 1958 Bang&Olufsen S 607 speakers.
 
Isn't LOUDNESS what separates normal folks from the Real Audiophiles?

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