How Many Use SPL Meter to Check Listening Volumes

[Boris75]

This thread has prompted me to buy a SPL: many thanks. Before this purchase, I thought I was cranking up the volume to unsafely high levels, but in fact my brand-new SPL tells me I almost never go above 75dBa so I am pleased and reassured.

[wgscott]

80dB is too loud for me. I had loud sound.

 

This morning, the neighbor's chainsaw symphony got fully underway at 8:00 am. I put on some Beethoven piano thingie, and the saws are louder than what for me is loud music.

 

So much for country living. At least the damn puppies outgrew whining.

[wgscott]

This thread has prompted me to buy a SPL: many thanks. Before this purchase, I thought I was cranking up the volume to unsafely high levels, but in fact my brand-new SPL tells me I almost never go above 75dBa so I am pleased and reassured.

 

Calibrate it somehow to make sure it is right.

[wgscott]

I use this on my iPad: AudioTools | Studio Six Digital

 

in conjunction with a USB mic attached via USB camera adaptor.

 

[Julf]

MIne is an Iso-Tech SLM 52N.

[jerry_rig]

People obviously have different sensitivity to sound. I'm in my late 50's and I am very worried about losing my hearing. Consequently, I do most of my extended "trance" listening at 65db or lower (according to my Radio Shack meter). Any louder, and I am uncomfortable -- as I am at most live rock performances. Of course, when showing off for guests (or for very short bursts by myself) I can and do play it a bit higher.

[Boris75]

Calibrate it somehow to make sure it is right.

 

The device I bought cannot be calibrated, so I have to trust that its makers got it right. I tested my brand-new SPL yesterday when my youngest son screamed that he did not want any vegetables as part of his evening meal: at a one-meter distance, the meter told me 84dBa. I agree that this was not a very scientific way of checking the calibration, but it sounded reasonable to me (the calibration, not the toddler).

[mav52]

I use the meter when I get some new speakers ( which is rare) or change room acoustics and it's been 6 month since I've used. If it sounds good to my ears, I'm pretty happy...

[sshd]

I got an Android app, but it is rather useless as it never goes above 90 dB.

[Audio_ELF]

Yes... I want to pretend I'm at an AC/DC concert :-)

[DavidL]

I use an iPhone SPL app but for a slightly different purpose: I sometimes check the dynamic range of a piece of music. I've found most recordings apart from classical and acoustic jazz are very poor. Some of the best are old classical recordings. On these I listen at peaks levels lower than 80dB but can then get a dynamic range of more than 50dB (background noise at night goes down to 25dB). As an example Bruckner symphonies sound superb this way.

David

[Boris75]

As an example Bruckner symphonies sound superb this way.

David

 

I couldn't agree more. Some recent recordings are very fine foo. I listened to Rattle's Bruckner's 9th symphony Sunday afternoon with my SPL in hand (yes, this is a bit odd, I know, but it was a pleasurable way of playing with my just purchased SPL), and the sound level could go from 80dBa in fortissimis to near 40dBa in pianissimis. The result was that the music was not fatiguing at all. This was when listening to the Japanese SACD version of the recording; I can't vouch for the standard CD version, which I haven't got.

[Jsmith]

Yes... I want to pretend I'm at an AC/DC concert :-)

OK, a bit of a follow up, do you wear ear protection at concerts?

[ipeverywhere]

I work from home and play music in my office off of some PC speakers all day. Never thought to grab the SPL. When I'm actually involved with work I have a tendency to turn up the music to drown out everything else, including the cell phone. It can sit at this level all day and all week depending on what I'm working on, sometimes greater than 8 hours. SPL is hovering around 80db. Very informative.. I'm going to go turn it down now. Thank you

[1audio]

One of my clients tunes speakers at an average level of 105 dB (checked with a calibrated SLM). The rest of us wear hearing protection when he is working. Somehow he can still hear pretty well and his tuning is very successful given the sales. At the other extreme I need to listen at levels closer to 70 dB to ensure domestic tranquility when required.

[freddie40]

I use AudioTools on my iPad. Since my pain in the A$$ Ex-Finance lives next door (we have townhomes that share a wall), I try to keep my sound level at 90db I cll that reasonable since I could listen much much louder.

 

The most interesting use of a SPL was at the "Wish You Were Here" demo at last years Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. They were playing at about 105db which was much too loud for me.

[ted_b]

Freudian slip, Freddie? Did she used to be the bread winner?

[freddie40]

Freudian slip, Freddie? Did she used to be the bread winner?

 

No, it has more to do with how much she drained me

 

Dave

[old_bassist]

I recently bought a Galaxy Audio CM-140. I attend the Harris Institute in Toronto where I am studying audio production. We're told that 85dB SPL is a good level for mixing and mastering -- helps to get Fletcher and Munson in your corner. One of my instructors is famed studio designer Martin Pilchner. I'm going to ask him if we can use his B&K meter to calibrate my little Taiwanese import.

[Sam Lord]

I don't currently. I do have a good idea of the peaks from my gain levels and room gain. But the crest factor is critical, and who bothers to test it? As the system improves (I switched in the subs finally) I'll need to pay more attention.