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What is the proper loudness for listening?

Paul McGowan via YouTube claims that each room, system and recording has a specific sound level at which music sounds most "real"

I've noticed this myself listening to my 3 different systems set up in differing rooms. Thought I was crazy to think so but I guess maybe I'm not?

Also, have notice in smaller listening rooms that lower maximum volume levels sound more real.  Going too high on volume in a small room just overloads it and results in distortion

Any comments?

bobbydd
mattw73
60 posts
 

Huh...what??...speak up

bimmerman2's avatar
bimmerman2
81 posts
 

75 avg/dB 85 dB peaks, treated room with a 24 dB noise floor A weighted 

andycc72
1 posts
 

I mostly listen to jazz on vinyl, average 80db with peaks of 96db-sh

lanx0003
688 posts
 

60-75 dBA during the days and 40-65 during the nights. Anything beyond 75dBA in my listening position in room becomes too noisy. And, yes, my best half will come to give me a friendly reminder. Also, when I listen with foobar2000 / laptop at 60-75 dBA, I will turn on the EQ with 2-6 dB up in the bass bandwidths (below 110 Hz) and 2-3 dB up in the treble bandwidths (above 7kHz) to possibly reach the equal loudness contour levels. At night, these SPLs are raised to 4-9 dB in the bass bands and 3-4 dB in the treble bands.

larsman's avatar
larsman
1,797 posts
 

Whatever volume I happen to enjoy listening at at the time is the proper volume. 

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