how loud is too loud?

[meanuc]

I have a newbie question. How loud is too loud? I don't want to damage my system. I have an Emo DMC-1 and a MPS-1 hooked to a set of LSi 15's, CSi-1, LSifx's, a DSW Pro 600. My hearing sucks so i turn it up and like to listen in the 100 db level and have pushed it to -18 on the EMO with 110 db's on my SPL meter. -18 is as far as I have pushed the EMO and it seems it could go louder but I am afraid of breaking the speakers. Am I at the Max now? What levels are max for these speakers?

[Keiko]

Three ways of knowing.

1. When your amp goes into clipping.

2. When you fry your speakers.

3. When your ears start to bleed.

[AudioGenics]

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - this is hearing loss due to exposure to either a sudden, loud noise or exposure to loud noises for a period of time. A dangerous sound is anything that is 85 dB (sound pressure level - SPL) or higher.

http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/hearingloss.cfm

[187CAM]

My son speaks at about 104db.

[lightman1]

What? Speak up a little. Stop whispering.

[meanuc]

Ya, i wish i had earplugs 25 years ago when that .308 assult rifle was going off next to my ears and I lost my hearing for 10 days. Now I have 3 levels of hearing on the hearing test I can't hear below 90db. I can actually feel the eardrum moving before I hear the noise. What I am trying to do is not break the speakers . Not to worried about my hearing I have enough info on that. Havn't clipped this amp that I know of and it has never gone in protect mode.

[hearingimpared]

I always play my music over 90db.

[ESavinon]

You won't clip that amplifier. You'll fry a fuse before you go into protect mode.
I killed a fuse at 118 db on my mps-2 (Center channel with a scene from War of the World).

[Kex]

This was discussed at some length about six months ago. When measuring for this purpose, you should set your meter on the A setting IMO, not C (which should be used for setup).

I have noticed that 85dB(C) is just under 80dB(A). This is where I frequently listen, or slightly lower, since everything seems more dynamic, with better separation of details. I might go up as high as 90dB(A) sometimes, but not often and not for extended periods.

My hearing has been tested recently and I have not suffered any loss. My brain is a whole other matter, however, and there is no cure for what ails it!

[greymatter]

This was discussed at some length about six months ago. When measuring for this purpose, you should set your meter on the A setting IMO, not C (which should be used for setup).

I have noticed that 85dB(C) is just under 80dB(A). This is where I frequently listen, or slightly lower, since everything seems more dynamic, with better separation of details. I might go up as high as 90dB(A) sometimes, but not often and not for extended periods.
http://www.photosnag.com/img/4210/n09x0302vnsn/clear.gif
My hearing has been tested recently and I have not suffered any loss. My brain is a whole other matter, however, and there is no cure for what ails it!

good to know. thx

[Kex]

Some extra guidlelines, from that other thread:


C-weighting has C-curve (flat) frequency characteristics. This setting casues the meter to respond mainly to frequencies in the 32 to 10,000Hz range. Select C-weighting to measure sound levels of musical material.

A-weighting has A-curve frequency characteristics. This setting causes the meter to respond mainly to frequencies in the the 500 to 10,000Hz range, which is the human ear's most sensitive range. Select A-weighting to determine an area's noise level.

Safe listening level [measured in dB(A), not dB(C)], according to http://www.sightandhearing.org/soundcenter/nihl.asp. Some extracts:

The maximum exposure time for unprotected ears per day at 90 dB is 8 hours. For every 5 dB increase in volume, the maximum exposure time is cut in half.

- 95 dB = 4 hours
- 100 dB = 2 hours
- 110 dB = 30 minutes
- 120 dB = 7.5 minutes

Some common sources of loud sounds:

- Lawn mower: 90 dB
- Snowmobile: 100 dB
- Car horn: 110 dB
- Baby's cry: 115 dB
- Rock concert: 115-120 dB
- Farm implements: 90-110 dB
- Firearms: 125-140 dB
- stereo headphones: 105-110 dB

And another fun fact:

Hearing damaged by noise is permanently lost and cannot be repaired. Hearing aids amplify sound for remaining hearing, but they do not fix hearing like eye glasses fix vision.

It doesn't matter whether you like the sounds you are exposed to. An orchestra playing Mozart at 120 dB will damage your hearing as quickly as Metallica playing at 120 dB.

[Erik Tracy]

I have a newbie question. How loud is too loud? I don't want to damage my system. I have an Emo DMC-1 and a MPS-1 hooked to a set of LSi 15's, CSi-1, LSifx's, a DSW Pro 600. My hearing sucks so i turn it up and like to listen in the 100 db level and have pushed it to -18 on the EMO with 110 db's on my SPL meter. -18 is as far as I have pushed the EMO and it seems it could go louder but I am afraid of breaking the speakers. Am I at the Max now? What levels are max for these speakers?

Too loud for me is when the soundstage collapses and more volume just makes a louder wall of sound devoid of details.

For me, regardless of volume, the soundstage and imaging should still retain their respective qualities.