How Loud do you play your AVA electronics?

Wayner · « **on:** 18 Nov 2008, 11:01 pm »

I am curious about my fellow AVA owners, and perhaps this is more of a survey, but, on average, how loud do you listen to your music? If we could use the clock hands (at least it's a reference point) with 7 o'clock being no volume, where are you usually at? And do you think the control is at the right position for the sound level being heard?

WaYner

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Nov 2008, 11:56 pm »

Depends on what I'm listening to. Soft dinner music about 8 or a tad less. Kicking back and listening to music with a lot of drive about 9. At that setting I'm about 90db. That's loud enough for me.

Cheers
Charlie

orthobiz · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 12:52 am »

My phono section is usually about 9 o'clock or less, Ultra preamp and 550 amp, running Dahlquist DQ-10's. Using a Linn Adikt MM.

I am going deaf, have ringing in my ears, loud noise bothers me. Really sucks.

Another good question is how loud, and my answer is to try not to drown out my snapping fingers. I read that you should be able to lightly snap your fingers just behind your ears and still hear it.

I think the volume control is in a good zone, I'm glad it's less than 12 o'clock although I don't really know why I'm glad!

Paul

stereocilia · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 01:07 am »

My preamp doesn't have a dial, so the clock-hands system doesn't work for me. I don't see much reason to listen much above 85 dBA for very long, but loud levels for a short time can be, oh...what word am I looking for...crackalack-in'

Anyway, for anybody wondering how loud is too loud, I offer a link to a NIOSH (division of the CDC)document. It is oriented to industrial noise which is different than music, and even if this is followed there is still an 8% risk of hearing impairment from noise. Unfortunately, the NIOSH recommendations are not binding, and the OSHA regulation allows for a 25% risk.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/chap1.html

WGH · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 01:40 am »

For records - 9:30 is usually a good average level.

CD's using an Insight DAC - 9:00 to 12:00.

Movies and digital TV - 3:00, but the Dolby surround has a separate remote control volume.

Electronic stuff: Hagtech Cornet, Insight EC pre-amp, 440 amp, DAC, VSA VR2's (87.5 dB @ 1 watt/1 meter)

markC · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 01:51 am »

It would appear that there is a lot of gain for the amps that are being used?

ArthurDent · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 01:59 am »

I would agree with Mr C. Using the requested clock analogy, for background music with discussion at a normal level around 8. For background while working across the room at the house desk (~20'), or generally sitting in the listening position approx 8' away 9 to 9:30 depending on the music. Guess I should get a dB meter just for my own info. On rare occasion with a particular cut when I want to shake the windows I might get to 10 or 10:30. Can't imagine what the dB level is, but it is LOUD. Out of deference to my hearing and my neighbors who are only 10' away those occasions are very rare. Old house, not a lot of wall insulation, and I've gone outside to check. It can be heard relatively clearly. Glad I've got the double pane windows.

As to whether the control is in the 'right' position, tricky question. I guess it's pretty relative to the system, and the room acoustics, as well as subjective. To me the ideal is similar to a good high performance vehicle. It should cruise around town, or down the highway with no more than say half depression of the accelerator. However, if you're running 45-70 and want to pass that truck ahead it should have the capability to jump & keep pulling when you mash the peddle. Have only driven a couple of vehicles with that capability over the years, sadly neither were mine, but am lucky enough to have the AVA gear to do the equivalent musically. Just in case some day I figure my neighbors would like to hear Little Feat's 'Let it Roll', Mountain's 'Mississippi Queen', or even a little Shostakovitch (while I'm out in the yard

).

Good one Wayner, interesting to see everyone's thoughts. fwiw I didn't touch the volume when I switched to the FetValve 550 from the
Haf-Omega to send it in for the Insight upgrade.

JD

T8 (6N1P) Pre, Insight DAC, Salk Song Towers

oneinthepipe · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 02:13 am »

Playing a CD through the Insight DAC, between 1000 and 1030, playing loudly. Before installing room treatments, 900 was as loud as I could listen. However, doesn't loudness depend on speaker efficiency, room size, room acoustics, etc. My speakers, Spendor S3/5, are rather inefficient, rated @ 84db.

markC · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 02:22 am »

There must be quite an increase in volume with every small increment of increase on the volume control. This takes away a lot of selectability of loudness levels db wise. Does it not?

JerryM · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 02:37 am »

Quote from: markC on 19 Nov 2008, 02:22 am

There must be quite an increase in volume with every small increment of increase on the volume control. This takes away a lot of selectability of loudness levels db wise. Does it not?

The volume control, I believe, is a potentiometer. It give outstanding volume control, either on the graduations or nestled in between.

Nice volume for reading is about 8:00. Pushing the WAF, 9:00. Sounding really nice when I know someone here is going to have a headache, about 9:40.

Flirtin' with disaster, 10:30. Got to meet the city's finest once at 12:00. They liked the sound so much they left smiling. Never have had it louder than that.

Great Topic,
Jerry

gjs_cds · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 04:16 am »

I've got an (OmegaStar) 440HC and Acoustat 2+2s (I think around 82 dB efficiency). I never get it above 9:00; even if I'm "rockin' out".

martyo · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 09:58 am »

If I have one gripe with my T8 it would be the volume control. EVERY piece of equipment I've ever owned including older AVA gear would usually be in the area of 2-2:30 when the tunes were really cranked. Now, 11 o clock would be cranked for more compressed recordings, with better and more dynamic recordings anywhere from 9:30 to 10:30. ONE click makes a lot of difference, and often the click it is set on is too low but the next click is too high. I know there must be a good reason for it but I would like more flexibility, more room for adjustment, than just using 1/4 or 1/3 of the total range on the volume control. Small gripe, but since you asked.
I did buy a Radio Shack SPL, and with it I measure that I listen in the high 80's with jazz and such, and in the mid 90's(95-96db) with rock.

turkey · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 02:20 pm »

Quote from: martyo on 19 Nov 2008, 09:58 am

If I have one gripe with my T8 it would be the volume control. EVERY piece of equipment I've ever owned including older

makes a lot of difference, and often the click it is set on is too low but the next click is too high. I know there must be a

The pots AVA uses are continuous. In other words, you can set them between clicks. From what I'm reading, you didn't realize that. (I didn't either for a while.)

As for where on the dial normal listening volume is, I believe Frank will be able to adjust it for you if necessary. I'll leave it up to him to provide more detail, since I could be wrong.

carusoracer · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 02:27 pm »

Quote from: JerryM on 19 Nov 2008, 02:37 am

Quote from: markC on 19 Nov 2008, 02:22 am
There must be quite an increase in volume with every small increment of increase on the volume control. This takes away a lot of selectability of loudness levels db wise. Does it not?

The volume control, I believe, is a potentiometer. It give outstanding volume control, either on the graduations or nestled in between.

Nice volume for reading is about 8:00. Pushing the WAF, 9:00. Sounding really nice when I know someone here is going to have a headache, about 9:40. Flirtin' with disaster, 10:30. Got to meet the city's finest once at 12:00. They liked the sound so much they left smiling. Never have had it louder than that.

Great Topic,
Jerry

"Got to meet the city's finest once at 12:00. They liked the sound so much they left smiling. Never have had it louder than that."

G E · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 03:46 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 18 Nov 2008, 11:01 pm

I am curious about my fellow AVA owners, and perhaps this is more of a survey, but, on average, how loud do you listen to your music? If we could use the clock hands (at least it's a reference point) with 7 o'clock being no volume, where are you usually at? And do you think the control is at the right position for the sound level being heard?

The Fetvalve is generally set to around 10:00 position for line input from Pioneer Elite 79avi. That provides pretty good volume on Saturday nights. For Phono it can be as much as 1 or even 2 depending on the recording level on the record. These are all Eastern Standard Times btw. Speakers (fronts) are original Infinity Kappa 8 which are not very efficient.

But Frank needs to add an "11" setting on his preamps for when you need that extra push over the cliff....

G E

rcag_ils · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 03:50 pm »

I play mine at between 9 to 11, never passes 12, certain CDs that were recorded at a higher level would be played at 9 for sure. Once it passes 11, it gets too loud.

Even they said we could set our volume control between "clicks", I don't like to do that, I am too anal about the equipment that I have, I don't want to take a chance of generating too much mechanical tension for the volume control whiper by setting it between clicks, but again, I have never taken one apart, so I don't know for sure.

robinje · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 03:58 pm »

Driving Salk SongTower RT's with my AVA Ultra 350, Ultra SL, and Ultra DAC... around 9:00 max on the volume dial is pretty much where I listen. That's roughly 90 dB according to my Rat Shack SPL meter and is plenty loud for me. I do wish I could use more of the volume pot's available rotation, however, to provide finer control (especially when using the remote). One day, I may ask Frank to install a resistor on the output to effectively lower the signal level coming out of the preamp. But it sounds great right now and I am afraid adding a resistor may have an effect on sound quality. I'm probably just being paranoid here, though...

fluke242 · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 04:14 pm »

Don't have AVA gear yet but seem to be inline thus far (sony pre/aragon amp/salk sound). 7:00 is off and 8:00-9:00 is normal listening. Have not gone past 1:00 and only enjoy 12:00 on ocassions... Speakers don't even "move" until 11 O'clock and varies with the music source. I like a limit of 100dB but don't have a SPL meter anymore to verify. I am guessing 100dB is normally around 11:00, but dB's are hard to calculate by ear (think I read we error +/- 6dB, like 10 years ago)...

Anyone else set audio listening level by dB vs. volume knob? 100dB too much or too little? I just read that robjinje mentioned 90dB for his setup. Do I understand SPL correctly, 100dB is over 8 times louder than 90dB? (Seem to recall every 3dB SPL doubles, and power has to double to for every 3dB.... i think

... time to hit the books again...)

Going to add Insight pre-amp and DAC next.

EV-MAN · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 04:50 pm »

Well I just got my new Dyna Insight 240 yesterday and have not got the Pat-5 Insight & DAC yet. The wifes at work so I rattled the windows this morning. I hooked it to a old Dyna Pat-4 Omega 2 pre. And to a pair of Dyna A-25 speakers. The old speakers I have never been really empressed with them but with the new amp it is amazing. I ran the volume at 8 and it sounded great. Went to 9-10-11 still clear as a bell absolutely no distorsion. Went to 12 still sounds perfect but I could not stand it had to back off. WHEW--- Need a lot larger room for that. I listen to my music at my shop where I have a pair of EV- Regency speakers will see how they sound later today. Having FUN Billy

mark funk · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Nov 2008, 10:14 pm »

I have a T-5 not a T-8 or Ultra, the highest I have gone was 3:00

after two or three too many glasses of wine. I would say on my set 1:30 is about max, I measured it with Martyo's SPL and at 1:30 it was 100db but most of the time we are between 10:00 and 12:00.