What is your listening level?


Is 85db the ideal listening level?
50jess
Post removed 
FWIW, recording engineers usually listen at about 82dB. I usually listen slightly under that at home, maybe more like 75dB, but sometimes I will crank it up, though I would certainly agree with some here who say listening at 110dB is absurd. That would be a very quick way to significant hearing loss.
Perhaps some of you with shall we say 'sensitive' ears might get a kick out of Stereophile's John Atkinson's and others' comments on the loudness of my exhibiting room at RMAF last October.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/legacy151bmc151dynamic-contrasts

Too bad Atkinson didn't stick around as soon thereafter for another group of visitors I locked the door and played Boston, Stanley Clark live, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood in all their glory.
01-05-12: Learsfool
FWIW, recording engineers usually listen at about 82dB.
Learsfool, I'd be interested in clarification of what that means. Average level or the level of short-term peaks? And wouldn't the figure vary depending on the dynamic range of the music? A highly compressed rock recording that has perhaps a 4 db difference in volume between the loudest and softest notes would figure to be listened to at a very different setting than a well engineered classical symphony where that difference may be 30 or 40 db. The symphony tending to be listened to at a significantly lower average volume but a significantly higher peak volume.

I find the OP's question to be unanswerable without some idea of the dynamic range of the music being indicated, and without peak or average being specified. As RRog said, "It depends on the type of music."

Best regards,
-- Al
I find it amazing that many of you actually measure the db listening level. I guess I am missing something, since all of my life, I just turn up the volume to the level I enjoy. It may vary for different music, different days or even time of the day. May I ask, why some of you have the need to measure your listening level?