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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
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
I've been a professional musician for many years...guitar, loud bands, live sound mixing...blah blah blah...I was sitting in a movie theater a couple of years ago (rare for me as I usually wait for films to be available for home) waiting for the film to start and I was ASTONISHED at the high sound level of the previews...wow. I looked around thinking people must be stunned...and the crowd seemed oblivious. Amazing. The features seem a to run less hot, but still...wow.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,957 posts
 
The features seem a to run less hot, but still...wow.
observe the same thing on your TV set - the feature presentation will be at a lower volume compared to the ads that come every 10 minutes or so. MAke a note of this the next time you are watching TV (don't touch the sound level on your remote when the ads come on).
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
There's been a move in Washington, to try to control commerical loudness levels: ( http://www.livescience.com/5737-effort-shush-loud-tv-commercials.html ) I hate hype, and immediately mute my system's sound, when they come on. The fake excitement, noise and blatent lies...... oh well.....!
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
Answer: DVR. I refuse to watch commercials EVER.
cdc
1,412 posts
 
Low-efficiency speaker like ATC and Dynaudio have this problem. Some with heavy cones need more juice before they come to life too.

Just food for thought, but for anyone who thinks 80dB is quiet, try 80dB with active (no passive crossover), line arrays (multiple drivers in a vertical arrangement) in a small room. There is something called room pressurization and dynamic range that can make 80dB sound quite loud.

FWIW, people complain that they cannot talk over my speakers at 75-85dB levels.
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