Each recording has one right volume level.


This started from a reply by mijostyn, but I wanted to create a new distinct topic since it is critical, but misunderstood.

I think most people here will be familiar with Fletcher-Munson equal loudness curves? In summary, how that applies to audio listening, is that the perceived tonal balance is heavily dependent on listening volume.

At a basic level, if you want to recreate the tonal balance of the original recording, then you need to recreate the volume of the live music, or the volume used in mixing and mastering. If you don’t, then you are not listening as intended.

One way that applies to audiophilia is when we are trying to compare components and any number of "tweaks". It is critical to maintain constant volume when making comparisons or the perceived tonal differences can swamp out any component differences, leaving a proper choice impossible, though you may blame it on a component.

A second way, which mijostyn raised, that applies to audiophilia is perhaps this concept of "flat frequency response" is flawed w.r.t. recreating a musical experience at any given volume. To the post title, "Each recording has one right volume level". What if we are not at that volume level? If we are not, then arguably we should be equalizing such that the perceived tonal balance matches closer to the tonal balance at the intended listening volume.

Enjoy the discussion and keep the mud to a minimum.

mijostyn1,269 posts11-01-2019 2:11pm Without loudness compensation each recording has one right volume level.

atdavid

Showing 1 response by glennewdick

what about the idea that audio systems (speakers more so then anything else) seem to have a volume that they like to be played at and sound their best.

so is it the recording or your system?

Live events are almost always louder then what we listen to at home, probably a good thing or we would all be def by now, specially if rock is your music of choice. can't imagine how good  or bad the old rockers hearing is now. 

on that too loud, it bugs me when people say they listen to music at home above 100db nominal, your just killing your hearing.  Honestly I would never take your world for anything about equipment and their sound as I would suspect your hearing ability, lets not even get into people in their late 60's and above that have lost some of their detail retrieval and high frequency's extension. 

At 54, I'm suspect of my hearing ability now on micro detail retrieval and frequency extension. I get my hearing professionally checked every year, not the push the button when you hear a tone test either that's not that accurate (so I've been told by my doctor). I've found I have lost some high frequencies in my left ear mostly  and see the degradation over time of all the rest of the freq ranges in both (almost 20 years I've done this in the military).   We are all different but all of us will have hearing loss as we age some faster then others but it happens to all of us. 

Take care of your hearing once lost its gone for ever. 

ok I side stepped there on a rant sorry for that

Glen