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

@ditusa 

Well, OK. When I worked as a baker in Eugene, our sole means of ventilation was  a small fan mounted in 3X3'  window. Standing over a mixer churning flour dust into the air all day, I was concerned about my respiratory health. I called OSHA  The first  thing the guy asked was "can you see across the room". With this question alone, he made it abundantly clear that the regulations (no doubt written by industry lobbyists and rubber-stamped by elected representatives on their payrolls) were a joke. As a consequence, I don't have a lot of faith in govt. guidelines. 

@bobbydd   I agree with everything you said. I was very loudness sensitive. I would turn my system down to the lowest acceptable level. I recommend everyone to try to do this. Save your hearing and enjoy your listening, don't try to impress or shake the roof off. 

There's a relationship between distance, volume, and reflected sound.  You can tell the difference between someone talking 3 feet away and someone yelling 50 feet away even if the volume is the same.  If what you're hearing sounds like someone playing an instrument 50 feet away but the volume sounds like it's 10 feet away that's an unrealistic element.  

In my house of stereo, 75 to 80 db is my range for a fully immersive experience. Less and I don't really "feel" it, and more is completely unnecessary and saves my hearing for more years of enjoyment.

I have listened at very high levels.  Hovering ~100db.  That is as loud as I care to listen, my system will do that all day,,,,I like overkill.  But, as I age I prefer music that has a large dynamic range, so it peaks at ~100db.  There is no set rule, but having said that, a good db meter will tell you (no matter what room) that its overloaded, your ears should tell you first.

To answer your question: yes I agree that every piece of music has a "proper" listening level.  I'll only add "determined by you".

Regards,

barts