Turn down the Volume!


One topic that seems rarely discussed is volume. If you listen to mixing engineers, it’s their most feared aspect of how their work is measured, since it’s out of their control. This leads to things like loudness wars (assume the worst). As my system has improved, my main takeaway is I can be engaged with 60db peaks, where when I hear other systems you often have to turn it up to 90db peaks for it to sound decent. I’m pretty sure it all has to do with bass and room energy, but wonder if others have a similar experience. Side note that reviews or any subjective ‘better’ statements about gear rarely indicate how loud they are listening. since all we can perceive if volume it is puzzling. I will say if it sounds good with 110 db peaks then that is impressive. 

dain

@onlyqualityhifi 

I think most of us would appreciate it if you would create a system profile and post details and pics.

I'm glad this discussion is still going on, I've learned a lot from you all participating, and after viewing this, I think it explains the entire puzzle of why some recordings don't sound right at whatever volume you choose to listen at. Happy viewing, oh for those in a hurry, everything is due to mastering. 

 

@ozzy62 I spend most of my time enjoying the music. As you will have noted I don’t post much- anywhere.  Just not enough hours in the day

Suffice to say I have produced mixed and mastered multi million selling records. I also owned multiple high end hifi-home cinema stores. 
 

I spent my life in music and my system has been lauded by many a hifi professional - manufacturers inventors journalists music professors and of course just music lovers. 

I tried explaining RRV buts it’s fallen in deaf ears so quite frankly I’m wasting my precious time trying to convince. 
 

let’s just say IM CONVINCED about RRV and boy have I tried not to believe it so. But it is. So theres. that. 
 

 

@onlyqualityhifi 

That's all well and nice. But if you make such an assertion as you did, you'll get far more people willing to entertain the idea if they know what equipment you are using for music playback. You might not accept this, but it's true. Everything needs a point of reference.

 

 

@ozzy62 , I agree in part but the largest variable in effect is impossible to qualify by description and that is the room. Even if you are totally familiar with the equipment used if you have not heard it in that installation you can have no idea what it sounds like. But yes, if the person is using a Bose table radio things do not sound so hot.