My fiance just downloaded an app on her iGadget (Decibel 10th, the same as Joel up in this thread used) to measure sound pressure levels. The living room where I also do my listening measures at 36-37 dB when nobody is talking. Based on the readings, I listen to my music between 65 and 75 dB on average, with occasional dynamic peaks shooting up to around 80 dB. Measurements taken in the evening past 10 o' clock.
If I go above 75-80 dB average, I start to get fatigued and uncomfortable quickly, which is probably a side effect of several things:
- crappy, rather plasticky speakers I'm using at the moment (
$50 Pyle PDMN48 anyone?
)
- wall behind speakers and wall behind listening spot less than 2.5m apart
- simple DAC that does a decent job for the price but just sounds too digital to my taste
- no acoustic treatment
I'm waiting for my Orcas to arrive, fingers crossed. They should represent a more than decent remedy against listening fatigue if I may believe the general consensus. And I should also look into hanging some sort of absorbing panels behind the speakers... I guess this is why it's called a hobby.. it never ends
« Last Edit: March 23, 2013, 12:37:44 PM by manis »
> Macbook Air 13" late 2011
> Audirvana+ 1.4.6
> Supra USB 2.0 cable
> Jkenny Ciunas DAC 32/192
> Vermouth Audio Red Velvet ic
> Bottlehead S.E.X 2.1 (w/ C4S & imp.sw);
Belden 19364 mains (w/ cryo Wattgate 320i IEC)
> Blue Jeans Cable 10 white (Belden)
> Blumenstein Orcas