I'm curious. What is your "normal" listening volume?


I suppose this is an open question to any of you fine people, but I'm exclusively analog myself and particularly curious to hear from those of you who listen to records.

What would you say is your normal listening volume? Perhaps measure it and post the db's?

Thanks!

thebrokenrecord

Most common listening volume level for me is around 80 - 85db at my seated position, which is the center of a triangle with both speakers about 10 feet in front of me, and 6 feet to either side of me (angled slightly towards my position, of course). My ears at the seated position are also probably about six inches higher off the floor than the top of the speakers.

I find that this volume level equates to about 1 watt of output (based on the reading from my in-line analog Power Meter)... doing the traditional "1 kHz tone at 1 meter from the speaker face" on my Sansui SP-5500 speakers I get a reading of about 92 db on the db meter (official sensitivity rating of the SP-5500 is 98db; I have done some modifications to the speakers however, which may have affected that number)... I'm assuming the "at seated position" db level is lower due to the distance from the speakers and the fact that my listening room is fairly large (18 ft X 32 ft) and perhaps some sound absorbtion by the furniture in the room..?

Day time - 65-70 dBA

Night time - 45-55 dBA

My ambience noise is around 25 dBA w/o AC

Max volume is 70-72 db   That’s typical on orchestral climaxes. Sound level probably mostly between 55-65db for most part. Total range is about 35db to 72db. Speakers are 8.5’ from me and almost 7’ apart and at least 5’ from any side walls The room is carpeted. 

Depends on the kind of music & my mood. Acoustic, bluegrass, folk about 80 - upper 80’s db at 10’ from speakers. Rolling Stones “Can’t You Hear Knocking” on their Sticky Fingers album, 100+ db as it was meant to be heard! I have a pretty powerful tube amp & high efficiency horns so the system is loafing along at any listenable volume in a pretty big room and sounds great. 

@jonwolfpell

"Rolling Stones “Can’t You Hear Knocking” on their Sticky Fingers album, 100+ db as it was meant to be heard!"

Word!