How Far Up Do You Go ?

[Primalsea]

Generally at about 10 o clock is where the speakers imaging locks into place, so I leave it there, unless I just have background music o radio on while I am doing something around the house. Louder than this is a bit excessive for my relatively small room.

[Jimbo]

Anything past 3 o'clock is defeating on the Croft.

[walpurgis]

Anything past 7 is deafening if I use my cheap passive with the Quad 306. It's not the ideal match.

[hifi_dave]

Where the volume control sits playing music is totally irrelevant. This depends on the level cut into the disc, output of the source, the sensitivity of the amp, power output, efficiency of the speakers, size of room and your chosen listening level.

Most amplifiers are far too 'hot', in that you only turn the dial slightly to get a good listening level and a touch more into clipping the input or output. Starting at 6 o/c, many amps are clipping at 12 - 1 o/c. Not sure if it's done so that the owner can say "look how loud it is at 9 o/c, must be extremely powerful", when in fact it will be into clipping halfway up.

[Pigmy Pony]

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

[Roy S]

[Marco]

I totally agree that the only measurement that means anything, in terms of ascertaining the volume at which you're listening, is the loudness (db) level, and in that respect I average at around the 75-80db mark.

I hate listening loudly, if I'm on my own [just seems silly, and somewhat 'wrong'], but when Del joins me, or especially some of my friends, and we're playing our favourite tracks, then the levels can get pretty scary, especially heavy rock music, which lends itself to being played loudly!

However, in keeping with Rob's numerical theme, then (as the volume control on my Croft starts from zero, at around the 6 o'clock position), I can be listening at anything from 7 o'clock (late night/early morning when Del's in bed), to more usually 9-10 o'clock, and if the lads are round for a sesh, then possibly up to 2 o'clock - and trust me, on my system with huge 95db efficient Tannoys, in a relatively small room, *that* is FOOKING LOUD!!

It'll go louder, without any audible clipping, but your ears (and/or the room) will give in!

Also, unlike in some systems, there isn't a huge discrepancy between the respective playback levels of vinyl and CD/digital, which I hate, so usually no more than one of two clicks on the dial are required to 'even things up'

Marco.

[walpurgis]

huge 95db efficient Tannoys

Marco.

Mine are a mere 93db and only almost huge.



I listen at three levels.

'Adequate' where the bass impact and texture can be discerned.

'A bit of wellie' when the music is hitting home really firmly, but not uncomfortably.

And

'Ludicrous' on rare occasions. These buggers go LOUD!

[struth]

Mine are more than 96. Plus 2 more on top. Goes pretty loud pretty damned quick. Too much for position they are in really need them going longways

[eisenach]

I believe there is a correct level for music when it sounds 'right'

Totally agree. There seems to be a setting (and it can be quite a small variation on the dial) when the music snaps into place. My preamp is a Primare Pre32 and the speakers ESL63s. When I was using a Quad 606II as the power amp, the required volume indicator on the preamp was around 54 out of 90 to get the right setting ("classical" music). I've recently swapped the Quad for a Primare 30.2 and I now need to turn it up to 64 or 66 /90 to get the same "snap" setting. It's not all to do with real volume, but also how clean it sounds. Less grunge and distortion means you (can) play louder for the same perceived loudness.

Rock / Pop etc. usually needs a lower setting.