2. amps-preamps
  3. 1253341271

Is this clipping or just high SPL?

Hey everyone,

A question arose today during a listening session. I have a Yamaha M40 120wpc amp driving GMA C1's with a passive pre-amp. I usually run both my pre-amp and amp at about 12... but on rare occasions I will turn my pre-amp up all the way and boost my amp to about 2 or 3 o'clock. I do this on recordings that seem to be mastered lower than usual...

Anyways, today I was listening at the higher play levels and a particularly abrupt loud passage came... specifically, it was 'Dark Side of the Moon' when the bells come in on the beginning of the third track (that everyone has heard at least 40 times).

I didn't hear any clipping, and never have on this system... but things just sounded more congested with less separation and clarity than I'm used to. Given, it only lasted about 10 seconds during that one sequence... but it sparked the question of whether it was likely that the amp was clipping or that it was just loud beyond my comfortable listening level. I am in a small room about 8 feet from the speakers, btw...

Thanks.
djembeplay
hifitime
715 posts
 
A lot of us like to get the "live" sound in our homes.Might
not be to late to turn it down and save your ears.You don't
want to be walking around in public and saying to your wife,
girlfriend,I can't here you,wait till I turn up my hearing aid!
rodman99999
5,976 posts
 
Perhaps it was a stretch when I assumed most understood; a single classical guitar, a small chamber group, an acoustic jazz or blues set, through Heavy Metal bands or philharmonic orchestras playing fortissimo(ffff) all produce, "live" SPL levels, and those levels vary greatly. So do the levels at which various rooms will overload.
djembeplay OP
178 posts
 
Ya... its all too relative to put definites on.

I do think that I have been listening to my speakers very politely though... the other day I gave them a bit more power than usual and things weren't really loud or harsh, but just had more impact and definition.

I'm not sure if I was at the 'live' level... it certainly is a nice sound as long as I keep it below the room overload level. I hope it's not detrimental to my hearing... I thought that only happened if you listened at painful levels for hours straight.
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