how far can i go??!!
- Thread starter rijuc
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hyeah:square_wave
Well-Known Member
Difficult to say unless one knows your amp, speaker and the recording level of the song well.
Two situations that you could look for:
1. Beyond a certain level the sound starts distorting. Reason could be your amp is clipping or your speakers have are operating beyond their capabilities. Both can damage the speakers.
2. Your ear starts to complain. Harsness or loudness could be the reason.
Listen to your ears. It will give you a good idea of your system's capabilities. Stay within this. Remember that most of the time, the reason for fried speakers are incapable amplifiers. If you have a well designed amp, you can drive your speakers to much higher levels without distortion. The speakers and your ears will be safe. Only problem is the cops.
Two situations that you could look for:
1. Beyond a certain level the sound starts distorting. Reason could be your amp is clipping or your speakers have are operating beyond their capabilities. Both can damage the speakers.
2. Your ear starts to complain. Harsness or loudness could be the reason.
Listen to your ears. It will give you a good idea of your system's capabilities. Stay within this. Remember that most of the time, the reason for fried speakers are incapable amplifiers. If you have a well designed amp, you can drive your speakers to much higher levels without distortion. The speakers and your ears will be safe. Only problem is the cops.
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spirovious
Well-Known Member
When we played 2060 yesterday,I found we were not going beyond 11 O'clock to get enough loudness.
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
For a pair I'd say 111db @ 1 meter if its a mono signal, assuming the 86db sensitivity and 100W power handling are correct. I am pretty sure though that you will have a lot of distortion and they are not meant to be played that loud for long periods of time, you risk speaker damage.
You should note the sensitivity is usually an average, the lower frequencies will likely be less loud.
You should note the sensitivity is usually an average, the lower frequencies will likely be less loud.
square_wave
Well-Known Member
Some 7 years back when I had the wharfedale 8.4's, I blew its tweeter with a pioneer amplifier at 12 o clock position. This amp was rated at 60 watts/channel and had a good following (A 445). I replaced the Pioneer with a Nad amp and I realized that I can go much higher in volume without damaging the speaker.
Lesson : Bad amps will fry your speaker. Good power can play loud and safe !
I am sure the Norge will distort big time if you push it. Watch it bro or you will have pair of nicely fried tweeters in your hands soon !
Are you talking about SPL here? If so you are asking the poor guy to damage his ears. Beyond 85dB you ears are damaged from long term exposure. At around 120dB you ears are damaged from short term exposure. At around 135dB, your ears will start bleeding and you can become permanently deaf.
Never push your speakers beyond 70-75dB at 1 meter.
Cheers
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
Yes I am referring to SPL. I am not asking him to do anything, simply informing him of what his speakers are capable of. Everyone has different choices of SPL level, I listen loud, others may choose a level that suits them. A speaker @ 75db @ 1 meter would be very quiet, I doubt people listen at 75db or less at LP, but measuring is the only way to be sure.
Venkat is right about the SPLs. Yes, listening levels are personal, but sensitivity of ears to SPL is more or less the same for all human beings. 75db at 1 meter is not very quiet. I have measured with the SPL meter app on my iPhone. Most rooms unless sound proofed already have around 50dB of ambient noise.
Just FYI, I was at a audiologist (Ear Doctor) to check my ears recently and the sound proofed lab measured at 42db. I compared this with my Sound proofed Home Theater settles around 39 db. Dunno what I am experiencing is right, but when there is no audio playing and a/c is turned off, the silence is deafening. When I checked this with RTALite (another iphone app), I found that when it is fully silent, the 39 db is mostly in the LF's mid segment (around 100Hz).
ps: the response on the Iphone's mic is quite flat, so the SPL meter app captures SPLs to almost + or - 5% tolerance when compared to the RadioShack meter after correction.
square_wave
Well-Known Member
The position of the knob has nothing to do with the volume level/Db. Different brands scheme different methods of attenuation/gain into the preamp. Some will let you go to 3 o clock before they distort. Some will distort from 11 o clock position. It depends on the design.
well, the position of the knob definitely doesnt have anything to do with the Db for sure!! but what i was wondering was that since there are many on this forum refering to the norge wharf combo im sure there must be many using the same and wanted to know how far they've gone...
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
Sure 120db is not recommended. Neither is alcohol or drugs. But we do it anyway, among other things. I would disagree again as I have measured with a RS meter and I feel 90db is okay (moderate) at LP (not 1 meter), it should be noted my EQ sets a big bump in the 120Hz region, so the rest of the frequencies are considerably lower. The human ear is most sensitive around the 1-2Khz mark if I recall correctly, I also recall reading that everyone has a different hearing curve. By the way I do not consider the iPhone an accurate instrument for SPL measurement, one of the very reasons I did not go this route instead opting for a RS meter.
Depending upon where you live most rooms can have a lot more than 50db when nothing is on, in particular when the AC is on it will be much louder. If you could verify those measurements with a proper instrument then 39db ambient is pretty damn good if you live in the city so props to you on a job well done if this is the case. My soundproofed room is right next to a busy street, with everything off I can't measure the SPL, C weighted, on a RS digital meter. The meter goes down to 50db.
Depending upon where you live most rooms can have a lot more than 50db when nothing is on, in particular when the AC is on it will be much louder. If you could verify those measurements with a proper instrument then 39db ambient is pretty damn good if you live in the city so props to you on a job well done if this is the case. My soundproofed room is right next to a busy street, with everything off I can't measure the SPL, C weighted, on a RS digital meter. The meter goes down to 50db.
avidyarthy
Well-Known Member
I stop at the 12'O clock position always ..... that too for a maximum of couple of minutes .... when get in a mood to hear out some notes very very loud. Otherwise, 9'O clock is quite loud and bearable. Just don't have the guts to go any further for fear of hurting the vintage guys.
Have the Norge 1000 coupled to 90 W (peak) Sony 3 way towers.
Have the Norge 1000 coupled to 90 W (peak) Sony 3 way towers.
Decadent_Spectre, if you find 90dB to be moderate and use that amplitude regularly, my sincere advise would be to rush to an ENT and get your ears checked. You are very close to damaging your ears. BUT, as I said, please follow the advise of your ENT specialist.
I am assuming your listening position is longer than 1 meter. At 1 meter, the SPL will be even higher maybe some 95-100dB. These are dangerous amplitudes to use irrespective of your age. 90-100 dB is close to the sound made by a jack hammer some 2 meters away.
To the OP, please check Peak SPL Calculator to calculate the SPL based on a number of factors including speaker sensitivity, amplifier power, number of speakers, and distance.
Cheers
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the concern venkatcr but I did have them checked last year, I do need to get them checked again. My listening position is about 10 feet, and regular use is louder than 90db at LP.
square_wave
Well-Known Member
@DS,
I guess you are trying to recreate the excitement of live music at home. At least the volume levels and all the punch, bite and exhilaration ! And lots of Macro dynamics !
Watch your ears bro !
We pay when old for the excesses of youth
I guess you are trying to recreate the excitement of live music at home. At least the volume levels and all the punch, bite and exhilaration ! And lots of Macro dynamics !
Watch your ears bro !
We pay when old for the excesses of youth
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
@DS,
I guess you are trying to recreate the excitement of live music at home. At least the volume levels and all the punch, bite and exhilaration ! And lots of Macro dynamics !
Watch your ears bro !
We pay when old for the excesses of youth
I don't really go to concerts and live shows but you might say that since my EQ has the same bump in the bass/mid bass region as live shows/clubs. I listen to a particular sub genre of electronic music that doesn't really sound good at low volumes. You are correct though, dynamics are stunning, if you haven't experienced it the first time is quite an eye opener. You just can't go back to regular speakers. After I got my CVs (which are up for sale) I stopped listening to my Wharfedale system(also up for sale), it was no contest.
I also use these speakers for HT and they do a brilliant job there as well. I am missing some capable subs for both music and HT but that should be rectified in a month or so.
As for old age, yes perhaps but it is better to enjoy life till 50 than to tolerate life till 80, that is my view anyway. What good is life if you don't enjoy yourself? I have come down to 105db at LP from 115
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Will get a Radio Shack Meter too and will retest the SPLs in my room. BTW, my listening room/home theater is in a corner of the house not near the road.
Did I miss something? What speakers did you get yourself?
Reminded me of our King of Bass's(manu4punjab) signature reads "If it is toooo loud, you are toooooo old". I agree with you about the way one should live life, but there is no way to tell when your hearing department will go kaput, could be tomorrow for all you know. I used to listen to high SPLs when I was a teen, but not anymore.As for old age, yes perhaps but it is better to enjoy life till 50 than to tolerate life till 80, that is my view anyway. What good is life if you don't enjoy yourself? I have come down to 105db at LP from 115
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