Avg Listening Level

[Maestro]

I'm just curious: I would like to know at what volume level do you listen to your HTs while watching a DVD and/or playing CDs? I've been averaging between -35 to -30db volume level with DVDs and CDs (the loudest when the family is out is -20 db). Any louder, my ears would melt (and the cat attacks the PSW12 face grill - it has no claws)! The room acoustics is very "live." My EQ is flat. The R/C/L levels are set at 0/-1/0; surrounds are at 0; rears are at 1; and the sub is -10.

I do recall recently going to see King Kong and I literally had to walk out a couple times to rest my ears. It was rediculous how loud that film was shown. But I still thought it was great.

[cfrizz]

For cd's I listen in the early morning hours -40. During regular daytime hours -35 to
-30.

For movies I listen @ -30 to -20.

[Skynut]

Movies -25 +/-5
Music -40 to -20 in the house and -10+ if outside.

[lanion]

I go down to -18 for movies rather often, but it really is never that loud at all, and that's coming from someone who hates loud things. I have a low powered reciever with LSI speakers, so that probobly explains it.

[cnjvh]

Family time: -20 w/80dB @ 0.
My time: -10

:-)

[seo]

"Mine goes up to 11"

;)

[Shizelbs]

Screw numbered readings. I listen to my Carvers with 8 clicks of the Dodd pre.

[VR3]

Depends...
-8 to -12 for movies or music...

I dont find it all that loud, while it is loud - the ones in the den go about 20 db louder... lol

[gregure]

DVD's: -20 to -15 depending on the film.
CD's: -20 to -5 depending on the music/recording. Usually around -20 to -15 for rock, -15 to -5 for classical.

[dudeinaroom]

-60 to -40 for music and -40 for dolby digital, and -42 for dts( better dialouge clarity on dts tracks (imo)

[audiobliss]

Ok, what are all these numbers from? Just what your receiver or pre-amp displays? Why are we going by that? It's different for every piece of gear, no?

Anyhoo, music comes alive for me at -4.

[Nelson57]

For music: -35 to -30
For Movies: -20 to -15

[gregure]

If only we could all answer in SPL measurements. Oh well.

[Holydoc]

-10 for HT
-5 for Music

[pjdami]

Ok, what are all these numbers from? Just what your receiver or pre-amp displays? Why are we going by that? It's different for every piece of gear, no?

Exactly. All these numbers are kind of meaningless for comparison because of different receivers volume display, room volumes, and speaker combinations with different sensitivities.

A better way would be to state how many dbs below a calibrated "reference" that you listen to movies. In my case, my system is calibrated using Avia and I watch movies -15 db below reference.

[HiPerf360]

or we could just answer in db as mentioned before...

lessens the variables

[speakergeek]

Music -30 to -20 below reference level. Movies, usually -20 below. At reference level tis too loud.

[Larry Chanin]

-15 dB below reference for movies (DVD's or satellite TV)

-5 dB below reference for symphonic music (CD's)

Larry

[Tour2ma]

Just call this "The Random Number Generating Thread"...

[audiobliss]

^^ Ha....yup...

[speakergeek]

Yeah -80 is REAL cold.

[pjdami]

Here's an old but good thread about reference levels:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...ight=reference

[cfrizz]

LOL! Well I know that for Denon's reference levels =0, which I have calibrated my speakers for which = 75dbs.

I also know that with Denon's, I can't listen to my system @ 0 because it is TOO LOUD! so when I start to turn it down it goes into the -catagory.

I find that I can comfortably listen at anywhere from -40 to -20.

[dudeinaroom]

my guess would be 80-90 dbs

[aaharvel]

too close for missles i'm switching to guns