Turn down the Volume!
One topic that seems rarely discussed is volume. If you listen to mixing engineers, it’s their most feared aspect of how their work is measured, since it’s out of their control. This leads to things like loudness wars (assume the worst). As my system has improved, my main takeaway is I can be engaged with 60db peaks, where when I hear other systems you often have to turn it up to 90db peaks for it to sound decent. I’m pretty sure it all has to do with bass and room energy, but wonder if others have a similar experience. Side note that reviews or any subjective ‘better’ statements about gear rarely indicate how loud they are listening. since all we can perceive if volume it is puzzling. I will say if it sounds good with 110 db peaks then that is impressive.
@ozzy62 , I agree in part but the largest variable in effect is impossible to qualify by description and that is the room. Even if you are totally familiar with the equipment used if you have not heard it in that installation you can have no idea what it sounds like. But yes, if the person is using a Bose table radio things do not sound so hot. |
@mijostyn Agree about the room. But pics of the system AND room could be helpful. I am having a hard time grasping the concept of listening to "girl with guitar" music at the same level as I would The Screaming Females. |
@ozzy62 , Me also. |
One of my "pet peeves" is when we go to a venue and the sound reinforcement engineers have the volume so high, that the room won't accommodate it. You see someone singing into a mike, but can't hear them, you see someone playing a horn into a mike, but you can't hear that either, etc. I must admit, when some of my music buddies come over to audition my audio system, they DO play the music at a volume level a bit higher than I find "comfortable", but not at the level you find at many live performances. |
