Listening Levels

[kevindef]

Just curious to see what levels people generally listen to their movies or TV. I totally realize the room and equipment can have a big impact on levels, but I just want to get an idea. For Blu Ray I usually have my receiver set at -14 db and for typical TV viewing I set it at -16 db. I crank it up a bit for the BD just to get more from the effects etc. Music is totally different, I sometimes will listen to music as low as -40 db because it is usually early morning when everyone else is still sleeping. Does -14 bd for Blu ray and -16 db for TV sound like what everyone else does???? Just curious. Thanks!

[Erik Tracy]

I'd say I'm in that general ball park - for typical listening I'd say -18db or so for me.

Depends on a lot of things - some channels are 'softer' than others and f#$%*$ commercial are always loud.

Movies I go up a bit, and depending on my mood Music could be closer to -4db (or 0db!!).

I would also say that it would also depend on your speaker efficiency, room size and listening position - so I'm sure folks will be all over the map on this one.

[domflane]

It all depends on your receiver, your amplification and your speakers. The actual volume will vary depending on what combination of all these that you have. Just to answer your question, with my setup, I watch blu-rays and listen to music at about -20 db most of the time.

[Willow]

With my gear, it's -50 for SDTV, -40 for HDTV, -30 for SDDVD and -50 to -35 for PS3 gaming or movies.

[Lowell_M]

In my HT -> -35 to -40 for 2-channel, -25 to -35 for TV and PS3 games and -24 to -17 for movies depending on DVD vs. Bluray. I tend to have movies that have uncompressed audio around -17.

[kevindef]

I have Polk RTi A7's for the Front, CSi A6 for the center, DSW Pro 600 sub and just 4 RM 8's for the surrounds. I am planning on replacing the RM 8's fairly soon. My receiver is a Sony STR-DA3400ES. I am quite happy with this setup, even the RM 8's do a fairly decent job. But I do want to at least replace the L & R surrounds and leave the 2 Back L & R surrounds for now, not much comes from there anyway. Music I can really crank up if I am home by myself. My wife isn't really interested in having me blow the roof off unless we are watching a Blu ray.

[lynx]

-25 for me is plenty on my gear. Want to keep my hearing and enjoy my hobby for a long time.

[curvefan]

I'm not sure I understand this thread.
My Onkyo HT-R520 wants settings set for each speaker and subwoofer.
Is this what this thread is referring to?
Also, I have the Monitor 70's up front and the settings set to "large".
I've read where some people set them to small. Does it matter?
I am having problems with setting each speaker to the correct setting as far as db's go.
Any idea what I should be setting them at?
70's up front with a CS2 and 30's in the rear. Onkyo HTIB sub.
Thanks, and I hope this relates to the OP's question.

[McLoki]

It all depends on your receiver, your amplification and your speakers. The actual volume will vary depending on what combination of all these that you have. Just to answer your question, with my setup, I watch blu-rays and listen to music at about -20 db most of the time.

If your system is calibrated to reference level -20db should be the same volume at your house as it is at mine. (regardless of stuff listed above)

That being said - I listen between -15 and -20 most of the time.

Michael

[bevo]

For games I go -25 to -30
Movies any where from -10 to -20 some movies are much louder then others. I have to watcu the HULK at -25 because any louder and it pops my sub
For music I like it as loud as I can get it without distoring, so it's usually -5 for some and a few recordings I go to 0

I like things loud.

[gtu2004]

for games -35 to -30
for music -25
for movies -25 to -22

[concealer404]

I set mine at:

82 Degrees Farenheit for music
73 Degrees Kelvin for Games
26.2 Miles for movies.


That's about as relevant as all these numbers are to each other, considering that these numbers mean different things to different manufacturers, then let's throw in amps, different efficiency levels on speakers, effects a room may have, and so on and so forth.

[McLoki]

I set mine at:

82 Degrees Farenheit for music
73 Degrees Kelvin for Games
26.2 Miles for movies.


That's about as relevant as all these numbers are to each other, considering that these numbers mean different things to different manufacturers, then let's throw in amps, different efficiency levels on speakers, effects a room may have, and so on and so forth.

Read my comment above....

If you have a calibrated system - and I have calibrated to the same level, -20db from reference will be the exact same volume with my system in my listening position as it will be with your system at your listening position.

Or is your argument that 85db measured (with an spl meter) with your system at your house is a completely different volume than 85db measured (with an spl meter) on my system at my house??

[wayne3burk]

i just make sure my ears don't bleed.....

[concealer404]

Read my comment above....

If you have a calibrated system - and I have calibrated to the same level, -20db from reference will be the exact same volume with my system in my listening position as it will be with your system at your listening position.

Or is your argument that 85db measured (with an spl meter) with your system at your house is a completely different volume than 85db measured (with an spl meter) on my system at my house??

I missed your post, but i do understand what you're saying...


But how many of us have systems calibrated to reference levels?

I'm still getting used to have a display telling me that i'm at -24db. I hate it. I'd rather just have a knob telling me that i'm at somewhere around 9 o'clock.