Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater How loud is your theater?

And I don't mean your home theater! I'm talking about your local theater. I have been told that I play movies at home much louder than the theater does. With the exception of a recent demo, I usually run at 80-85 dB with dynamic peaks at 98-102 dB, give or take. Being the curious, scientific type I had to find out what the local theater was up to. So we went to see HP V last night and while the previews were running I pulled out, much to the complete embarassment of my wife, my RS meter. So during the movie I checked several times what I considered normal volume dialogue and background levels as well as the more intense, loud scenes and sure enough, I'm right on with the local theater, which happens to be brand new and state of the art. I did notice quite a bit more bass in the vocals than I get at home, and it's not because Harry is older.

My wife thinks I'm a *total* geek. I think this behavior, while maybe not normal, is something many of us have either done or wanted to do. So what do you think? multiple choice, up to 3 choices
	The Mrs. is correct, you're a total geek
	Cool, but still geeky.
	Totally awesome, I have wondered about or done this myself.
Votes accepted starting: 07/26/07 06:57 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Yeah Scott, the Mrs. is just part-way right about your geekiness, so I voted the 2nd choice. In case you didn't see it you might be interested in Alan's answer to a question about appropriate sound levels which appeared in the March Audiofile and which described this test of sound levels in commercial theaters in Canada.

The first rule of Geek Club is that you shouldn't care what other think about you being in geek club.

Measure away, whether it's cool, awesome, or not.

Just be careful what scenes you pull your meter out in. Pulling out a long cylinder like object with a large foam bulb shaped head can make for an interesting silhouette in your hand during a dark love scene.

Were you measuring dBA or dBC?

The dB meters I'm familiar with would not be mistaken for an indiscretion.

Power my Brother! Wave that Geek Flag high!

I did the same thing but embarrassed my wife further by moving around the theater to get readings.

We saw Harry Potter at the theater, the first time we've gone since about five years ago, and I actually blocked my ears at a number of points when music was playing. It was WAY louder than we play movies at home!

....I'm still in my LOW 60s so I want my hearing to last at least till I get older!

My home system so completely destroyed what we heard at the theater that we went a couple days later to a different theater to see if it were a fluke.

...and we only have M50s in a sucky room with an M3 for center and surrounds. And a little 12" sub with only 275W.

Pirates 3 was better at the new theater, but I still came away with a renewed respect for my humble system.

In both cases there were voices through the subs and inferior surround at the show.

Even the Wife commented on how much better the Pirates theme sounds on our home system than at the theater!

...yeah; it surprised me too!