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How Loud in db is LOUD?

How loud is loud is both subjective and difficult to quantify.

In terms of perceived loudness, 100 dBA (the level is meaning less unless the weighting is specified) may not be perceived as loud because one is used to listening to to a system that has appreciable audible distortion.

One tends to associate loud with a certain level of distortion.

But 100 dBA is quite loud in terms of the affect on one's ears.

This is measurable and quantifiable.

I was fortunate to have studied audiology along with engineering.

BTW, perceived loudness versus distortion was an issue I dealt with during my stereo sales guy days. One of my stores was in a university town and when students used to the quality level of LLoyds, and Soundesign would listen to the systems in my store, they would quite often ask, "Why does that music not sound very loud?" They had learned to associate and compare from their sonic memory, distortion and perceived loudness.

Our perception of loudness is also relative. We compare what we are hearing with what we have heard in the past.

If we become used to listening a levels of 95 dBA to 100 dBA, hearing loss not withstanding, it will become the norm along with the self protection of the ear, by reducing the energy that is transferred to the cochlea, and then to the hair cells in the inner ear.
 
OSHA permissible levels over the course of an 8 hr work day:

8 hrs at 90 dbs
6 hrs at 92 dbs
4 hrs at 95 dbs
2 hrs at 100 dbs
1 hr at 105 dbs
1/4 hr or less at 115 dbs
 
I´ve given up trying to measure how loud the music is when I listen. The two apps that I have show a difference of 10 db and more.

The last time I measured when listening the app showed peaks of 95-100 db. I was probably only pushing 3 to 5 watts/ch. I then used hearing protection and cranked it to just over 500 watts/ch. The app still showed only 100db, even though it was painfully loud even with hearing protection.

I guess I´ll never know how loud I listen; too loud probably.
 
I realized care should be taken when I added Klipsch RF-7II"s (101 ef 1000 w peak) to my Mcintosh Mc-252 (250 to 300 watts per side).A good concert dvd with beer does not help.
 
Judas Priest said:
I´ve given up trying to measure how loud the music is when I listen. The two apps that I have show a difference of 10 db and more.

The last time I measured when listening the app showed peaks of 95-100 db. I was probably only pushing 3 to 5 watts/ch. I then used hearing protection and cranked it to just over 500 watts/ch. The app still showed only 100db, even though it was painfully loud even with hearing protection.

I guess I´ll never know how loud I listen; too loud probably.
Click to expand...

Most SPL Apps wont measure past 100db, I have noticed that. Even the pro apps which you pay for....
 
Judas Priest said:
I´ve given up trying to measure how loud the music is when I listen. The two apps that I have show a difference of 10 db and more.

The last time I measured when listening the app showed peaks of 95-100 db. I was probably only pushing 3 to 5 watts/ch. I then used hearing protection and cranked it to just over 500 watts/ch. The app still showed only 100db, even though it was painfully loud even with hearing protection.

I guess I´ll never know how loud I listen; too loud probably.
Click to expand...

If you really want to know listening levels with any degree of accuracy for higher levels (+90dB) you'll have to buy a real SPL meter. The Parts Express EMM-6 or Behringer ECM8000 will do the job. They both have greater range and are more accurate than an app for your cell phone.

Apps for your cell phone are fine for casual use. It's like anything else. You want to do it right, get the proper tools.:smoke:

Levels over 100dBA are bad for your hearing anyway.:D
 
JoeESP9 said:
If you really want to know listening levels with any degree of accuracy for higher levels (+90dB) you'll have to buy a real SPL meter. The Parts Express EMM-6 or Behringer ECM8000 will do the job. They both have greater range and are more accurate than an app for your cell phone.

Apps for your cell phone are fine for casual use. It's like anything else. You want to do it right, get the proper tools.:smoke:

Levels over 100dBA are bad for your hearing anyway.:D
Click to expand...

The SPL apps you pay for (only cost a few $$) are every bit as accurate as any reasonable SPL meter.
 
Yeah, but you yourself said they don't go over 100dB. JP is obviously a head banger. No slur intended. He needs something that reads excessive (IMO) levels.

I have all the bases covered. I have a paid for app for my tablet/cellphone, an original Radio Shack analog SPL meter and a Parts Express EMM-6 w/REW.

The ranges on the Rat Shack meter read to 106dB. I haven't tried using the Dayton and REW much beyond ~95dB. I used them for adjusting my parametric EQ to equalize my sub woofers.

The readings below 100dB on the cellphone app on my table/phone are very close to identical to the two SPL microphones I have.
 
JoeESP9 said:
Yeah, but you yourself said they don't go over 100dB. JP is obviously a head banger. No slur intended. He needs something that reads excessive (IMO) levels.

I have all the bases covered. I have a paid for app for my tablet/cellphone, an original Radio Shack analog SPL meter and a Parts Express EMM-6 w/REW.

The ranges on the Rat Shack meter read to 106dB. I haven't tried using the Dayton and REW much beyond ~95dB. I used them for adjusting my parametric EQ to equalize my sub woofers.

The readings below 100dB on the cellphone app on my table/phone are very close to identical to the two SPL microphones I have.
Click to expand...

Yes, I see your point, if you want to measure up around those levels your phone app is not going to do it....

Rat Shack it is.....:thmbsp:
 
Yeah, I've measured levels in my room, A weighted, where the needle on the Rat Shack meter is bouncing hard of the +106dB point. At the time I was just seeing how loud things would get. That's to loud for any real listening by me.

On second thought 106dB may not be enough for JP or other head bangers. I say that because I've seen pictures here on AK of SPL meters reading SPLs approaching 130dB. Once again I use the "head banger" term only in a descriptive sense.
 
JoeESP9 said:
On second thought 106dB may not be enough for JP or other head bangers. I say that because I've seen pictures here on AK of SPL meters reading SPLs approaching 130dB. Once again I use the "head banger" term only in a descriptive sense.
Click to expand...

Most of those situations where I have seen needles bouncing around 130db have been C weighted measurements with a fast average...
So those readings are misleading...

JP never specified a weighting or averaging to deduce any meaningful reference from either.

I would like to see the domestic speaker which is capable of even producing 130dbA, especially at a distance of 10ft.....
 
Just for the heck of it, I metered my listening today. Set everything to my usual comfortable level. Quieter bits of music were in the upper 70s/low 80s, with most stuff in the upper 80s and well into the 90s with regular peaks generally right at 100 (with a few up to 104), from my listening position about 10 feet from the nearest speakers and all amps set between 10 & 11 o'clock. That level to me is pretty much a comfortable, clean "club level", not "loud". Anything above that seems excessive to my ears.
 
The Cerwin Vega AT15s are rated at 127db at full power. I think my D15EEs can do that too ;)

My speakers are rated at 400W/peak, but I´ve put 500-700 watts into them for one song or so. They sound great doing so IMHO, but only from outside and far away :)

BTW, I´m not offended being called a Head Banger :rockon:
 
jaguar06 said:
Just for the heck of it, I metered my listening today. Set everything to my usual comfortable level. Quieter bits of music were in the upper 70s/low 80s, with most stuff in the upper 80s and well into the 90s with regular peaks generally right at 100 (with a few up to 104), from my listening position about 10 feet from the nearest speakers and all amps set between 10 & 11 o'clock. That level to me is pretty much a comfortable, clean "club level", not "loud". Anything above that seems excessive to my ears.
Click to expand...

What weighting and averaging were you using for these measurements?
We need to know for them to have any meaningful reference......
100dbA is very very loud, but 100dbC is not overly loud......If you use fast averaging the reading will be higher than slow.


Judas Priest said:
The Cerwin Vega AT15s are rated at 127db at full power. I think my D15EEs can do that too ;)

My speakers are rated at 400W/peak, but I´ve put 500-700 watts into them for one song or so. They sound great doing so IMHO, but only from outside and far away :)

BTW, I´m not offended being called a Head Banger :rockon:
Click to expand...

Yes 127db (No weighting), at 3ft (1m). This is a speaker performance measurement, not a human hearing measurement. I was saying 130dbA would be impressive......

The interesting thing about those speakers is they are 4Ω which many Cerwin Vegas are, but they are 102db @ 1watt @ 1m. Which means they are a very efficient speaker.
So yeah they go pretty loud, but for the purpose of a listening level reference you need to take the db reading in dbA (A weighting) since this curve is what all noise levels with regards to human hearing are taken in.
Then when we are comparing notes we all have a consistent reference.
 
kevzep said:
What weighting and averaging were you using for these measurements?
We need to know for them to have any meaningful reference......
100dbA is very very loud, but 100dbC is not overly loud......If you use fast averaging the reading will be higher than slow...
Click to expand...

C weighting, measuring 10X per second.

Edit: Next time I do some listening, I'll compare A versus C versus no weighting and various rates of measurement, just for the heck of it.
 
Last edited:
jaguar06 said:
C weighting, measuring 10X per second.
Click to expand...

I thought that may have been the case, I don't know if you have the time or are interested, but some may find it interesting to run your measurements again on A weighting, same averaging...
 
kevzep said:
I thought that may have been the case, I don't know if you have the time or are interested, but some may find it interesting to run your measurements again on A weighting, same averaging...
Click to expand...

What frequency of measurement/averaging would you suggest as most useful or accurate?
 
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