How Far Up Do You Go ?

[Barry]

To provide a simple answer: for normal listening the volume control is set at 12 'o clock, which is half way around the scale (8 'o clock to 4 'o clock), so it is sufficiently above the background noise level but still allowing sufficient headroom for peaks (i.e. far from clipping).

But since we seem to have become fixated with dBs, when measured with a sound pressure level meter positioned at ear level height (0.75m) at my listening position (4.2m from the speakers - Quad 57s), I find:

Listening to speech: 55 - 60 dBA

Late night listening: 60 - 70 dBA

'Belting it out' (loud): 70 - 80 dBA

'Shaking the floorboards': 85 - 90 dBA

(Maximum SPL achievable 99-100dB).



So typical normal listening levels are ~ 70 - 75dBA.

[Mike Reed]

My cat is a good indicator of volume level. I just increase the volume till she leaves the room.

I've long thought that my cat is Mutt & Jeff ! I know when it's too loud because my wife leaves the room. She hasn't left the house yet, so an element of s.p.l. control seems to exist.

I've found that just about every pre. (or integrated) I've had requires a different vol. control level, and, as far as pre-amplifiers go, it depends, among other things, on the logarithmic scale (is that right?) of the pot. It also depends upon the source I'm listening to, as each has its own output level. I do find, though, that despite my hearing loss, my ESLs tend to be more dynamic at lower volumes than the moving coils I had before. My valved pre. is also more dynamic than the Naim I had before. Lots of variables here; sufficient, methinks, not to be able to come to a meaningful conclusion, unless you have an s.p.l. meter.

[Yomanze]

No more than a quarter up, but this is a relative question because using a passive I could easily pass half way on the pot.

[Audio Al]

All the way up until my round things are banging on the back door

[Marco]

To provide a simple answer: for normal listening the volume control is set at 12 'o clock

Your preamp obviously works differently from mine, or perhaps it's more to do with both your speakers being considerably less efficient and your room bigger?

In my system and room, listening at 12 o'clock, even with vinyl (unless it was a piece of music recorded at a very low level), would be too loud for me to enjoy alone for sustained periods, hence why I'm usually hovering at around the 10 o'clock mark, to achieve normal listening levels.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not it the situation, as some are, where a clipped, saturated sound is quickly achieved within the first few turns of the volume control [the Croft, in conjunction with the rest of the equipment and speakers in my system provides a 'comfortable' listening experience from 7 o'clock to 3 o'clock, and further still with vinyl], but I like my normal listening levels to be achieved earlier on the volume control than 12 noon.

It's just a personal taste thing, but I also find that when you tune your system's 'gain structure' to work that way, it gives the sound more 'guts' [and makes for a punchier, more dynamic rendition of music], than when you have to lean harder on the volume control, to achieve normal listening levels, and your preamp sometimes appears as if its 'running out of puff', especially with recordings produced at a low level...

For passive preamps, of course, different rules apply!

Essentially, I like it so that my sources have a healthy (voltage) output, and both my power amp and speakers are nicely sensitive, thus making the job of amplifying the music signal easier, minimizing any 'bottlenecks'/restrictions, and allowing the music to 'breathe'. I then tune the response of my preamp to perform optimally in that context.

In the case of valve power amps like mine, that means reducing feedback as much as possible, to the point that it doesn't adversely affect bass control or vocal definition. Applying more feedback always results in less sensitivity, and usually when combined with the former, results in a sub-optimal sound.

Conversely, because the sound I enjoy now from my system has so much 'presence' and detail, even at low volume levels, you don't need to crank it up too much, in order to make music 'come alive', which is why most of my listening is done at around the 10 o'clock position - and with the majority of recordings needs going no higher, in order for the sound to be satisfactory.

That for me, always produces optimal results. As ever, it's about achieving synergy, by getting the balance right between ALL constituent parts of the system, not just with certain ones

Marco.

[RothwellAudio]

It's commonly assumed that, for example, a 100W amp with the volume control maxxed-out will put 100W into the speakers. With the control at half way it will put 50W into the speakers, and a tenth of the way round will put 10W into the speakers.
However, it just isn't true.
Neither is it necessarily true that if your music is loud with the volume control only a quarter of the way round you still have 75% of your available power in reserve, though I'm sure some manufacturers would like you to believe that so they make their amps deliberately over-sensitive. Actually, I'm not complaining because I've sold thousands of pairs of attenuators to reduce the sensitivity of such amps

The truth, as other members have stated, is that the position of the volume control is no indication of how hard you're pushing the amp, or how much power you're using, or how loud the music will be.
Personally, I like the music to be at moderate listening level with the control at 10 o'clock and fairly loud (whatever that means) at 12 o'clock. What really bugs me is when the volume control is too sensitive to set a quiet listening level for late night listening without the channel balance going completely off.

[walpurgis]

What really bugs me is when the volume control is too sensitive to set a quiet listening level for late night listening without the channel balance going completely off.

Yes, that's really annoying. Another argument for dual volume controls, which I don't mind, but many seem to hate.

I have a couple of cheap Chinese pre-amps and the stereo pots in those are spot on, but I've had a fair bit of British gear with pot imbalance. I recently replaced the volume pot in my Moth pre-amp and I had to try four new pots before it was satisfactory, those were Chinese too, so you can never tell.

[Marco]

The answer is to use the best stepped attenuators, instead of pots (even in dual-mono mode), as they're more accurate, and consequently sound better!

Marco [has never heard any pot sound as good as the best steppers, in the right circuit].

[walpurgis]

I like those and sometimes use them Marco, but they are too big to fit inside the Moth pre-amp.

[Marco]

Drill out a bigger hole then, daftee!

Marco.