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Why magic at 80 db?

I have Salk SoundScape speakers that have an Accuton midrange driver. When I listen to music at moderate levels, the music sounds plain. There is little that would make me think that I was listening to a great speaker. When I turn the music up till it reads 80 to 85 db on my Rat Shack meter, magic happens. I guess it is like that with live music, but I am not sure. I never take my meter with me. I am just confused. Anybody have any comments?

Bob
rsimms
almarg's avatar
almarg
8,673 posts
 
One factor that is probably involved is the Fletcher-Munson Effect. The sensitivity of our ears to low and high frequencies, relative to their sensitivity to mid-frequencies, decreases at low volumes.

Regards,
-- Al
rsimms OP
150 posts
 
You are probably right that it is a strong factor, but why did I only notice it with my new speakers!? Is it just that I am slow? LOL

Bob
drubin
3,240 posts
 
What were your previous speakers? Some, like Quads, do a better job of delivering the goods at low volumes than others do.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
It's funny. I think of 80-85db as rather quiet. And, of course, Fletecher and Munson got the high frequency varience with loudness more than completely wrong, which lead to many crappy loudness controls. The Robinson-Dadson equal loudness curves corrected this error and also refined the low freqency sensitivity.
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