Listening Levels

What? Couldn't hear you!! I find that as my high end system evolved, my listening levels have gone DOWN. I'm listening in a smaller room, so a point is reached where the room's acoustic interaction limits the absolute volume level. This maximum level is more than adequate for my needs. I do love to crank the volume up in my car (780 watts RMS tri-amped). I read an interesting article years ago which stated that the volume level was not actually responsible for hearing loss. It was loud noise COMBINED WITH STRESS that produces hearing loss!

75-85 dB is generally quite comfortable, but it all depends on the mood, the music, and whether I'm listening critically or simply letting it flow.

I think that many times there is the urge to play your favorite music at higher volume than normal. It seems that when you hear a song that really hits you, you want "more" of it, so you make it louder. I think that this is a fairly widespread and predictable behavior. As the volume levels increase, the potential for hearing damage, in shorter exposure times, increases. At very high volumes, only a short time of exposure can cause damage. But long term exposure of even 85db can also cause damage. I don't think that a couple of loud songs is going to deafen anybody. But people who continuously pummel their eardrums are playing with fire.