What is your listening level?

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?

Another great point by Al.

01-05-12: Cyclonicman
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?"

I have a db meter for other reasons (hi fi related, of course), so a few times I just popped it up and measured out of curiosity. I assume everyone just turns it up to the level they enjoy same as you do.

my preference is peak spl's of about 85-90 db's. as Al points out....this would be an average and could vary based on the music itself.