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What Volume do you listen at?

When you sit and listen actively to your stereo, what volume do you like to set it at?

I am thinking about replacing my mediocre system with a new High Dollar System ($30K). My guess is that when you have High End gear, you naturally want to play the music at a higher volume. Is that true for you?

I have a RadioShack Analog Sound Level meter. It tells me that when I have music on in the background I set it at about 50 dB. When I set it at what seems right for serious listening, it is more often 75 or 80 dB.

One implication of this is where I will put my new listening room. I had intended to put it in our living room (pictured in the link above). However, if I will be always wanting to play so loud that my wife will complain, perhaps I should set up a room in our basement.
hdomke

Showing 1 response by gregadd

gregadd
574 posts
 
Of course the perception of loudness is one of the most misunderstood and neglected areas of sound reproduction.
The presence of noise and distortion adds dramtically to the perception of loudness. A less resolving system will tempt you to turn it up.
Thus my car and mini-system appear louder than my main sytem. Moreover my main has excellent low level resolution(vital for apartment living0
If you have ever lived with an aspring musician you will find ther is almost nowhere in the house where you can't hear them practice.
Live music requires almost no amplification. Your real challenge is to purchase equipment with low noise and distortion. Your desire to "turn it up will decrease.
The next step is dynamic range. Very important. I search for a volume that allows optimium resolution but still leaves sufficient headroom so you can hear dynamaic contrast.
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