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paranoid listener, bad recordings

I tend to listen apprehensively for some reason not understanding how durable speakers are at my listening level. So, I hear distortion from time to time coming out of my speakers and freak out thinking i have damaged them. But, I am beginning to think it is on the recordings.

Right now i have a pair of gallo 3.1's in my den that i am wrestling with room position (see other post) because of limited options. I put on some joni mitchell or typically pop recordings, sometimes older jazz, and will hear the distortion. I listen around 75-85db levels.

Am I paranoid, is the distortion in the recordings and should it sound like this on occasion? Is that too loud?
djwilbourn

Showing 2 responses by mlsstl

mlsstl
1,379 posts
 
Are you playing CD or LP as source material?

If LP, the record may be damaged from either prior use, dirt or it may even be a defective pressing. Tone arm and cartridge setup can be an issue and so on. There are a lot of things to check.

CDs can also be poorly recorded or mastered.

Assuming there is not something wrong or broken in your system, your listening volume should not be a cause of concern for damage to the speakers.
mlsstl
1,379 posts
 
Listening at the volume (75-80 dB) you originally indicated it would be almost impossible for a speaker to suffer damage.

The distortion would have to be so high (i.e, equivalent to square waves with a lot of high frequency content) that the recording would be completely unlistenable.

My recommendation is to stop worrying about it.
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