Do you use loudness?

[rothwellaudio]

Well, since the zombie has been resurrected...
A proper loudness control should be linked to the volume control so that it has most effect when the volume is turned down low and has less and less effect as the volume is turned up. It should also be adjustable so you can set it for the sensitivity of your amp and speakers.
On many amps that have a loudness switch it just kicks in a bass boost regardless of the volume - not really right at all.
Btw, some people say that loudness should boost bass and treble, others say it should just boost bass. A look at the Fletcher-Munson curves should show you that only the bass needs to be boosted at low volumes because it's only at the bass end of the spectrum that the curves bunch together at low volumes.

 

[djwhy60]

Simple answer..Yes...cause I like the way it sounds.

 

[billyz]

My main rig does not have a loudness control and does not need one. The second system, all sansui does and I do engage it at low volume.

 

[bkatbamna]

Only when the kids misbehave.

 

[Quadman2]

I use it only in the one area...the garage.

The "loudness" application allows me to cut back on the volume, yet still get the "feel" of the tunes better.

The garage door faces towards the street, so the sound funnels out in that direction.

There's just the one neighbour cross the way who's mentioned a couple of times, that "not all appreciate my genres of music". To date, she's the only one who's mentioned this to me. Others have complimented me on the music and my choices.

I do try to keep the sound down...but there are just some tunes....and "loudness" seems a capitulation on my part.

Q

 

[Bill Ferris]

I use it only in the one area...the garage.

, .
That`s the only house`s system I engage loudness on as well, but it`s never cranked up either and kept closed up too because it`s usually AC`d during warm weather from the adjoining & attached sunrooms HVAC vents.

 

[Zygmo]

Sorry if this was already polled before but... do you guys use the loudness switch on your amps?

On my 2238 the sound gets instantly fuller, more dynamic and "in your face", more aggressive but also kind of warmer. It may be a bit tiring after a while but fun at the same time.

How does it work, I mean, internally, what takes place in order to change the sound signature this much?

My problem is......if I have the loudness switch 'on' when I start up, and then decide to try to do without it....the change after 'off' is disappointing. If I have it 'off' when I start up, I can't resist turning it 'on' to see if I would like it better, which I almost invariably do!! So I guess my answer is: Yes.

 

[El Rubio]

I get the feeling using the loudness feature is sort of contentious to some. Almost as bad as using tone controls and equalizers. Oh, the horror.

 

[JoeESP9]

I wonder how many loudness switch users know how they work.

They are usually connected to a 50% (of full rotation) tap on a volume control. They produce progressively less boost as the volume control is advanced to 50% rotation. Above that 50% position little to no compensation is applied.

The real problem with switch operated loudness controls is, the listening level is almost always not properly compensated for. A Klipsch speaker may be call the cops loud at 9 O'clock while an OLA may be just waking up. Does anyone think they should have the same amount of compensation at that volume control level?

This is why I prefer variable loudness controls. With them the amount of boost is related to the actual listening level used.

FWIW: I don't care if people use tone controls and/or a loudness control. It's your gear and ears. Please yourself.

I haven't used either since 1984. That's when I switched to an ARC SP-9. It has neither.

 

[Quadman2]

, .
That`s the only house`s system I engage loudness on as well, but it`s never cranked up either and kept closed up too because it`s usually AC`d during warm weather from the adjoining & attached sunrooms HVAC vents.

Q

 

[El Rubio]

I wonder how many loudness switch users know how they work.

I wonder how many like the way it sounds? It’s a personal preference. To me it is no different than you saying you like Show Tune music and I don’t. I don’t care what you listen to or how you listen to it. Why do tone controls and loudness switches elicit a judgement from some people?

 

[Bodyblue]

Why do tone controls and loudness switches elicit a judgement from some people?

Because some cannot fathom ever believing that their way of doing something is not the way others like to do it. This is a strange hobby in that it is a mix of subjective AND objective items.

That being said, since I rarely use more than even moderate volumes I run my tone control flat with Loudness On. I stopped using my EQs since it is just easier to do so but I do miss the light displays.

 

[rothwellaudio]

It’s a personal preference. To me it is no different than you saying you like Show Tune music and I don’t.

That depends on whether you're striving for high fidelity. Sure, taste in music is entirely a matter of personal taste and preference, but "hi-fi" - ie high fidelity - is striving for an objective goal.
Yes, if high fidelity isn't your aim you can do whatever you want.

 

[Bodyblue]

That depends on whether you're striving for high fidelity. Sure, taste in music is entirely a matter of personal taste and preference, but "hi-fi" - ie high fidelity - is striving for an objective goal.
Yes, if high fidelity isn't your aim you can do whatever you want.

And just what is that "objective" goal?

 

[sKiZo]

LOUDNESS OFF
yes

LOUDNESS ON
YES
<G>

jRiver Media Center use variable ISO2003 based on signal level. Effortless, and does an admirable job of matching the room at any db level ...

PS - Fletcher Munson is so, like ... yesterday.

 

[Will S.]

And just what is that "objective" goal?

Output waveform is identical to the input waveform, with more amplitude.

 

[El Rubio]

That depends on whether you're striving for high fidelity. Sure, taste in music is entirely a matter of personal taste and preference, but "hi-fi" - ie high fidelity - is striving for an objective goal.
Yes, if high fidelity isn't your aim you can do whatever you want.

Ok, how do you know your idea of high fidelity is correct? Fidelity means faithful. I’m going to assume your idea of high fidelity is a high degree of faithfulness to the original recorded music. What if your hearing is slightly deficient at some frequencies like most people’s are? What if your speakers are not as efficient at reproducing certain frequencies as much as others? Do you just turn it louder until you ‘think’ it sounds faithful to the original?
My questions are rhetorical and only meant to point out that someone’s idea of a faithful or high fidelity reproduction is no less subjective than one’s taste in music.
Personally, I don’t care what some recording engineer’s, or even the artist’s intent is for the sound. If Pushing the loudness button, twisting a tone knob, or adjusting an equalizer even into smiley face mode makes it sound better to me then maybe it wasn’t right to start with- at least in my opinion.

 

[432HzBob]

Sometimes, at very low volumes.. After 1-2 watts it is unnecessary.

 

[tarior]

I use the loudness control pretty much always. I like it.
Funny story. For a few years, I hosted the AK PNW audio gatherings. One of our regular attendees, who shall remain un-named, had these fabulous Hale's (IIRC) speakers setup with a pretty functional vintage receiver. He was listening to them, and his face indicated that he wasn't terribly overwhelmed. So, when he wasn't looking, and the volume was way down, I reached over and pressed the loudness button. Things come back around, and he's playing the system, and he looks over at me and says something to the effect of "wow, this sounds fantastic! I don't know what happened. It was awful earlier, but now it's incredible!"
I pointed at the loudness button, grinned, and walked off.

 

[rothwellaudio]

Ok, how do you know your idea of high fidelity is correct?

When it comes to amplifiers, a flat frequency response seems like a good start.

Fidelity means faithful. I’m going to assume your idea of high fidelity is a high degree of faithfulness to the original recorded music.

Yes.

What if your hearing is slightly deficient at some frequencies like most people’s are?

Then your ears are deficient for everything you hear, all the time, and that is natural for you. Boosting certain frequencies, but only on the hi-fi, would make the hi-fi sound different from everything else you hear, and therefore unnatural.

My questions are rhetorical and only meant to point out that someone’s idea of a faithful or high fidelity reproduction is no less subjective than one’s taste in music.

I beg to differ. Art is subjective - engineering is not.
I have no problem with you or anyone else using tone controls, or graphic equalisers or anything else. I have no problem with you not caring "what some recording engineer’s, or even the artist’s intent is for the sound" either. My objection is to the idea that everything in audio is subjective.
Amplifiers are pretty simple. Loudspeakers and rooms are more complicated and there is an argument for altering the frequency response to compensate for loudspeaker/room effects, but take for example fancy "room correction" software - in order to make a correction there has to be an objective reality make correct.
My point is that departing from objectivity is one thing. Simply denying its existence is something else.