I have found that listening at 80-85 dB is where I get everything from most recordings. I have a slip of paper in each of my albums that indicates what level on my amp makes the recording sound the best. Some are at 48 on my Hegel H390 and some are at 56 with many falling in between. I just listen until it sounds the best and then I measure the dB level at my listening position. The average dB is almost always between 80-85.
Fear of volume control
An audiophile friend of mine came over for a listening session yesterday and my set sounded better than I ever heard it. It turns out that I raised the volume control higher than normal, I guess to impress him.
Normally I place it around 12 to 1 o’clock. Yesterday I put it at between 2 and 3 o’clock.
Wow! What a difference. the room shook with the orchestra and organ at full tilt.
I was previously hesitant to push the volume much past 12 o’clock for fear of distorting the sound. There was no distortion whatsoever, just clean, beautiful, powerful sound.
Lesson learned!
Normally I place it around 12 to 1 o’clock. Yesterday I put it at between 2 and 3 o’clock.
Wow! What a difference. the room shook with the orchestra and organ at full tilt.
I was previously hesitant to push the volume much past 12 o’clock for fear of distorting the sound. There was no distortion whatsoever, just clean, beautiful, powerful sound.
Lesson learned!