Are you operating in the correct SPL window for high-fidelity listening?


We spend hours and hundreds of dollars properly setting up our turntables (or have the dealer do it).  Do you spend any time setting the correct db level for listening?

The Fletcher-Munson curves, also known as equal loudness contours, illustrate how human perception of sound loudness changes with frequency and volume. They show that at low volumes, the human ear is less sensitive to very low and very high frequencies, making midrange frequencies seem louder than they are. Conversely, at high volumes, the ear becomes more sensitive to low and high frequencies, making them seem louder.  See the ISO 226 standard.

I listen at the volume recording engineers use for mixing:  80 to 85 db. Anyone have any thoughts?

markalarsen

I generally listen 65 to 75 db. My wife likes it a little louder. I recently went to the Show in SoCal. I was amazed at how very loud the exhibitors played the music. Some of the rooms were just too loud to enjoy. Particularly in the smaller rooms. The Show was very good and a great learning experiance. 

Style  of music matters. An acustic guitar or violin around 70/75. A female Jazz singer or trio,,,75 to 80 db. Some rock or EDM 85 to 90.

I’ve been a pro musician since the 60s, and I’ve learned that there is no bottom line regarding level. After years of hurting people with my trusty JBL festooned Twin Reverb with a Tele or Les Paul I switched to various smaller amps pointed at my ears and miked up appropriately. Still loud for me, perhaps not so much for you. I’ve also spent plenty of time in studios and as a live concert mixer and, again, there’s no bottom line for level...live I just want things to sound good and clear. I spent an afternoon in the 70s watching Glynn Johns mix and it was so loud I think I suffered some hair loss. At home all hifi level is mood based and it seems silly to try and quantify that...only play it loud if I need to hear something from the next room.

I’m listening at 66db now which is optimal for me when I am not constrained by other people or nighttime situations.

Again, what meter, what weighting, what type of speaker (planar vs cone), how are you aiming your meter, what distance from the speaker, what angle with respect to the speakers??? All of these things dramatically affect the meter reading. Therefore, none of the above data have any meaning that others can draw from them.  But I am sure every contribution is meant to be helpful.