• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Playing It Loud

Back in the 60's with noisey turntables you could even larger excursions from turntable rumble and noise from imperfect records. Speakers were more efficient back then so you could get the same result from a lot less power.
 
I mostly listen to music at low to mid levels, though here and there I really like to crank it up. Even though the loud listening thing is really the exception, I still value it, which is the reason why I would like to eventually get more powerful amplification going as I think that it's this part of the equation that needs to be dealt with it in order to get to the truly loud. I haven't measured so I can't really say what db it is that I consider loud...

All this being said though, I find that more often than not, live music is too loud. I'd much rather have clarity than extreme volume but it seems that all too often that high volume is the goal.
 
Last edited:
motorstereo said:
What's the sense in having a kick-ass system if you don't turn it up once in a while?
Click to expand...

Perhaps so you can continue to hear/enjoy it?

(says he with biamped all horn system powered with overkill Crown K2's all the way around)

My first watt of power is something like 104 db's so I have plenty of headroom.
 
Do I like loud? Ask the guys in my avatar. Mosin, the big guy, hangs with me until the very end. Floor vibrates, tickles that punkinbelly of his, I think. If I've had a few:beerchug:, like an extra or 2, it can get LOUD in my living room, which is I think how an upper window pane closest to the sub in the corner got cracked. It sometimes gets worse, like if I rotate in the Pioneer A-7 integrated amp in place of the yamahaha CR-820. C-V VS-120's, Acoustic Research S112PS sub. Low-fi to some, Good-fi to me, gets it done well. Some (but not all) music was made to be heard forcefully, ya know...:rockon:
 
Funny that you mention excessive amplitude, as I did as well on the "classic forum".

Therein I shared that I got the chance yesterday to yank on the volume knob until the whole rack was vibrating to the tune of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture", the one with the real cannons being used in the score of the "Finale"!

We're getting close to blood outta the nose/ears as I got to the end of this famous classic. Poor old Wharfedales had all the "carbon" taken out on this venture.

My share for the day.

Q
 
Last edited:
Great responses: funny, eye-opening, informative, and surprising . Thanks so much for your enthusiastic replies. I was hoping to learn about other systems, preferences, and whatever else came along for the ride. The power a few of you are using with efficient speakers is mind bending.

Guess my system is fairly wimpy with only 100wpc. The sub's 1600 watts helps to push the bass to 110 and the speaker's 89dB/W must be efficient enough to for the rest of the sound spectrum to keep pace. It is fun watching the sub energetically pumping and, in the kitchen, hearing the glasses tinkling away in the cupboard. It's usually only a tune or two that I'll max crank it, similar to usually driving within the speed limit but, once-in-awhile, letting a Heavy Chevy's Muncie Rock Crusher wind through its gears and blow that carbon out, as Quadman2 alluded to. (Quad Double Pumpers or 4-channel audio system, Quadman?) Varoooom!
 
David_NC said:
I played mine at 113dB to see if it would do it. It did and, the clip indicators flickered on an amp rated at 440WPC at 4 ohms. Flickering means 'getting close to clipping', from what I read in the manual. They didn't stay on solid. Still, 113dB at listening position is way too loud to actually listen for any amount of time, but it was fun to see if it'd go really loud. I do think it's pretty cool to watch the subwoofer's driver when playing music with pipe organs having lots of deep bass at higher levels. The funny part was seeing all the dust removed from the driver while doing this!
Click to expand...

You must be running some very semsitive speakers?

113dB SPL at what distance? Peaks, or average level?
 
spark1 said:
You must be running some very semsitive speakers?

113dB SPL at what distance? Peaks, or average level?
Click to expand...

If that impressed you didn't you notice my SPL meter hitting 115db peaks with 111db average at a distance of maybe 10' lol. And here's the good part, it still had more to go heh heh heh.
 
toddalin said:
I use the volume control as a "focus knob." When you reach the right level, everything just snaps into place and there is really no need to go louder, except perhaps to add a bit of thump or slam. For some music, the "focus" is at a higher level than other music.
Click to expand...

I have noticed the same thing with different recordings. IME every selection I play has a specific volume at which it sounds best. That level can vary as much as 5dB or more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom