How loud do you like to play your music?

FWIW - the Ushers show signs of compression at a mere 90 db SPL - so you can forget about clean 110 peaks that Ralph mentioned.

And the as for the Focals, well ouch the distortion from what might be the tweeter resonance is scary. I have always considered that tweeter to sound splashy or in your face - and perhaps that plot says it all...who knows.

I must add that the othee plots of BOTH the focals and Ushers are HIGHLY impressive - so I am not saying either one is not an awesome speaker - they both are!! However, I would not expect to be able to drive them hard playing a big jazz band or rock in a large room (as they aren't designed for this....horses for courses - don't get a bookshelf or a small monitor if you want realistic loud)

To all my above friends... everything said above is spot on correct. It's possible the difference I hear has something to do with my amp. In most every review of the Usher's there is a comment that the Usher's need a "big amp" to really sing. My amp is a 5 channel Theta Intrepid (100 watts) which I don't think puts it in the league of a "big amp". Both the Usher's and the Focal's are great speakers.

does any one know what osha safety levels are to prevent hearing damage ? im 38 and want to keep my ears for a while. thanks chris

Knowing no better, I bought a digi SPL meter from Rat Shak... noy yhr snsloh (fisl) yypr drbrtsl yrstd sho. I don't use it as often as I should.

I played some big band jazz from Gordon Goodwin and Illinois Jacquette and I believe some rock from Def Lep... as I like Pour Some sugar on me... and wondered just where am I with the fun knob.

Apparently I could not take prolonged listening past an avg of 94db. Peaks were higher for sure. But 94-95db is p[retty dong gone high IMO. I'm in the mid to upper 80's or less, ususally.

Truth be told, I'm such a woose with high volume settings. I keep envisioning drivers being propelled out of the cabinents, or burning up, or some other crazy scenarios resulting in equipment failure.... so the vol knob around here gets some pretty judicious attention.

having had to encroach onto the sound stage by migrating into the nearfield due to one ear now being about 4db less than the other, my listening levels have diminished a bit more I suspect.

But with live recordings and the prioper musical recordings, elevating the fun knob seems almsot mandatory. thjough not with all... I don't want to hear Johnny Hartman or Ella Fitzgerald out in the yard. Also intimately or closely miced pressings don't dictate higher levels either.

ZZ Top and Def Lepp... well thay do need some decibels... though not through the whole aolbum... just now and then.