Listening volume

ZD,

Perhaps, but I think it is also true that realistic volume
levels suits music best. It is not so hard to get a system
to play well at low volume for less cost. Playing loud
well does not come as easy,especially in larger rooms, and
will usually involve some additional cost.

Myself, I want it to sound as best it can at all levels.
Only my main personal reference setup can do that in a
larger room of all the stuff I run in my house (I'm a little
nuts this way). The rest is limited in comparison but does
just fine for what I need there, usually at much lower
volumes.

Mapman, e-mail me please: b_limozaine@yahoo.com. I have some ohm questions, and you seem to always be talking about how much you love them!

Back to the o.p. I've been listening at very low levels lately and I'm not exactly sure why. It may be that my set-up now has more resolution so I get all the micro details and nuances at a low level...??

I used to shake the whole dang room. No joke, I was reinforcing the windows and doors in my room so they wouldn't rattle, lol. Larely though, I listen at very quiet levels; I'm guessing in the 70db-80db range. Kinda strange. Went from 100db techno to 80db jazz and classical...

B_,

You should be able to pop any member with a login an email via inbox (use "mypage" link at top of this page for example to get there. Its kind of a buried feature here on teh gon that I did not even realize existed until recently. It let's you send emails to other members privately as needed but also logs and provides access via agon site.

I'm always happy to chat about all things audio, OHM or otherwise. Just send your questions my way.

THanks.

Classical music has so much more dynamic range than rock you listen at a lower overall volume as a rule.

Some speakers sound better at higher volume. However, it depends on the music listened to. I play it loud, but not head banging so, and I restrict these session usually to the mid afternoon when older people and babies are in REM sleep to the power of 10

I could not imagine listening to WHO'S NEXT, YES GRATEFUL DEAD,ETC, ETC at moderate volume. Classic rock was written to play loud, its dynamics are part of its power, emotion, and craft

The 18th and 19th "symphony" format evolved out of engaging more of the audience's attention with acoustic power and dynamics. I can't imagine Beethoven's Ninth being played at lower volume.

Amplification in this venue was accomplished by hall acoustics, increasing the number of players, and segmenting players in divisions of their musical expertise. The words symphonic and orchestral convey a sense of organic unity larger than its individual parts

Obviously for rock, this is done by electrical and digital means, so a 6 member band can sound like the roaring power of Niagara Falls, even in a large venue.