Playing It Loud

[Gibsonian]

I'm all over the map, from mid sixties to pushing 120 dB. Exposure time at loud is reduced, so one should keep an eye on dB vs time.

The older I get the less I listen loud, and the less heavy metal I listen to as well. The aging process has it's ups and downs, similar to the amplitude of the music.

Definitely better for my ears however, the lower dB's.

 

[Gibsonian]

Heavily compressed material cannot be turned up loud and enjoyed that is for sure. It can sound ok down low, but loud, no way.

 

[AvFan]

I don't listen loud by comparison to some here. About 80db and not over 85db for more than a few minutes measured with a SPL meter (C weighted and Slow) so I'm sure there are some much higher peaks. I keep the SPL consistent so I can fairly evaluate any changes I've made to my system and moderate to keep what remains of my hearing.

 

[David_NC]

You must be running some very semsitive speakers?

113dB SPL at what distance? Peaks, or average level?

Actually, they are not particularly efficient at all - 87dB - which is why the amp driving them was approaching clipping at 440 watts per channel. This was at around 7-8' from the speakers, and the 113dB reading was what was displayed on the screen of my meter. It was likely close to continuous for the time that I turned it up that loud, which was less than 30 seconds. I'd need earplugs to do it for any longer.
I know I was really working that QSC amp, as I'd never noticed the fan running on high before. Still, at those sound levels, the fan wasn't audible; I only noticed it after I'd turned things down to a more sensible level. If these speakers weren't 4 ohm, I'd bridge two of those amps and try again, just for fun (the amp won't drive 4 ohms bridged).

 

[imral3]

Averaging 80ish db. I can't push my ears too hard, or else I aggravate the tinnitus in my right ear. Then it's no music for several days.

 

[Coytee]

Why does it seem that no matter how loud I've got my horns playing (and they will RUN you out of the room), my wife can always beat them by at least 3 db???

 

[spicer]

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.

True... even and not the least acoustic feed back into the table. I used to record my favorites on my Teac 2300S for high volume playback to avoid this.... sometime just put it in record and monitor off the tape, would greatly reduce or eliminate all that.

 

[Erik Tracy]

It's been awhile since I've gone loud - by that I mean scare the neighborhood kids and send them scurrying home crying in fear at the crushing brutal dark sounds emanating from the open doors and windows.

It's good to know that my rig has the power which could be unleashed at my bidding.

 

[spark1]

Actually, they are not particularly efficient at all - 87dB - which is why the amp driving them was approaching clipping at 440 watts per channel. This was at around 7-8' from the speakers, and the 113dB reading was what was displayed on the screen of my meter. It was likely close to continuous for the time that I turned it up that loud, which was less than 30 seconds. I'd need earplugs to do it for any longer.
I know I was really working that QSC amp, as I'd never noticed the fan running on high before. Still, at those sound levels, the fan wasn't audible; I only noticed it after I'd turned things down to a more sensible level. If these speakers weren't 4 ohm, I'd bridge two of those amps and try again, just for fun (the amp won't drive 4 ohms bridged).

I'm surprised it wasn't clipping more severely.

 

[David_NC]

I'm surprised it wasn't clipping more severely.

I guess old QSC amps are pretty good! I will add that a 35 watt Sherwood S-5000II tube integrated amp powers these speakers at at lest normal listening levels, though nowhere near 113dB!

 

[whoaru99]

I'm surprised it wasn't clipping more severely.

I guess old QSC amps are pretty good! ...

113dB with minimal clipping is plausible for a combination of sensitivity, power, and distance such as that described... although it would be pretty much "all in" at that point.

 

[David_NC]

113dB with minimal clipping is plausible for a combination of sensitivity, power, and distance such as that described... although it would be pretty much "all in" at that point.

I'd agree, and the 'flickering' vs 'fully lit' clip indicators made me think I was right on the edge!

 

[lokerola]

During work = 20-30db
After work = 50-80db

The Vega's can play quietly. Or loud! And SQ is the same no matter how far I turn the volume knob.

 

[Madeline12]

Loud. House is shaking slightly typically when I listen. I only have my receiver a little past a quarter of the way up the volume knob, but boy is it loud. Used to have the bass turned up all the way, but now that it’s restored I can only have it at the center. Don’t wanna blow my woofers. The bass is almost thunderous

 

[Grenadeslio]

True... even and not the least acoustic feed back into the table. I used to record my favorites on my Teac 2300S for high volume playback to avoid this.... sometime just put it in record and monitor off the tape, would greatly reduce or eliminate all that.

The 115db was The Doors LP, song was "Light My Fire" on my Kenwood KD500/Grace G707 with the Grado Platinum wood body. The table has a few modifications making it pretty impervious to acoustic feedback lol.

 

[Eastham]

Being a person with sensitive little B hearing I rarely go over 85db, anything over that and anything in the 2.5 / 5K region turns into loud screeching and hurts my ears. Mostly female vocals and guitars, sometimes violins and some brass instruments.

 

[spicer]

The 115db was The Doors LP, song was "Light My Fire" on my Kenwood KD500/Grace G707 with the Grado Platinum wood body. The table has a few modifications making it pretty impervious to acoustic feedback lol.

I remember those tables, heavy chassis like concrete or marble. Never had anything like that... Duals and Thorens, nice ones but not like that Kenwood/Grace combination. I remember the dust cover had to be closed and the room made a big difference, hardwood floors on a raised foundation, not slab, didn't help either. It wasn't a problem unless very high volume and no amount of plus bass was possible or things would 'take off'... and, of course, don't bounce the floor. I liked Break on Through, think it was on the LP with LIght My Fire... great opening.

 

[ng0k]

I'm a bit of a wuss. I run between 60 and 70db most of the time. My most used speakers are Monitor Audios. They have detailed mids/trebles and lean tight bass. They sound good at low volume and I can still hear myself think.

 

[Grenadeslio]

I remember those tables, heavy chassis like concrete or marble. Never had anything like that... Duals and Thorens, nice ones but not like that Kenwood/Grace combination. I remember the dust cover had to be closed and the room made a big difference, hardwood floors on a raised foundation, not slab, didn't help either. It wasn't a problem unless very high volume and no amount of plus bass was possible or things would 'take off'... and, of course, don't bounce the floor. I liked Break on Through, think it was on the LP with LIght My Fire... great opening.

Mines been tweaked a bit heh heh heh.

 

[SVI2004A]

Maor powaah is always good to have.... have a stack of it in the kitchen... good on Friday nights w/ powerful bourbon too!