Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23
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OP
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This is one of those stupid questions, but Ive seen lots of people talk about listening to movies/music at "reference level". What is reference level? Is it different for movies and music?
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859 |
90 db if I remember correctly.
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17 |
Actually it is 85dB or 75dB depending on where you get the info.
75dB is the most common version and certainly an adequately loud point for listening.
"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2002
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Hi LazyJ,
This is a term that is tossed around with little clarification. It really depends on what you are referencing it to. . .real-life sound levels? If real life, measured at what distance from the source? The front row in Carnegie Hall, or the first Tier halfway back? The levels the audio engineer mixed at? (Usually excessive, and much louder than life, in my experience.)
If memory serves, the THX level for movie theater playback is an average of 85 dB SPL measured in a mid-audience location. Subjectively, that's termed "quite loud" (and it is). It's also routinely exceeded in lots of cinemas. I fled a press showing of one of the Star Wars movies at the Zeigfeld theater in New York because the peak levels were away above 100 dB SPL (and I was at least halfway back in the movie theater).
Amplified rock in concerts reaches levels of 110 dB and louder (there are bylaws to control this, seldom enforced) but levels like that, if it's cleanly amplfied, are far more tolerable outside or in a club than in your living room at home.
The loudest peaks I've ever measured in concert halls with a 150-voice choir and full orchestra are about 106 dB SPL in the first ten rows of the orchestra section. From a first tier balcony seat at the side of Carnegie Hall, peaks of 96 to 100 dB SPL are not uncommon with large choral/orchestral works.
At home, I often listen to music peaking between 85 and 90 dB SPL at my listening position. It's realistic and enjoyable at those levels, even thrilling at times, and occasionally, at the risk of offending neighbors, I'll up the ante with peaks between 95 and 100 dB.
Listening-level tastes vary quite a bit from one person to another. Colleagues of mine routinely listen at levels at least 3 to 6 dB louder than my preferred levels.
Regards,
Alan Lofft, Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23
hobbyist
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23 |
Thanks for all your help. Its interesting to see that reference level is widely used but seldom understood. I seldom listen to movies/music that most would term quite loud. I guess Ill have to get myself a sound pressure level meter and see where I would like to be at (loudness wise), and make adjustments to my speaker selections to accomidate it.
Last edited by LazyJ; 03/03/04 04:41 PM.
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602
connoisseur
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connoisseur
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Since Alan's already seriously answered your question, I don't feel bad posting this.
Reference Levels by job title:
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Director : The soliloquay I'd like to be really "present"... kind of "coeval", you know! Idiots!
Audio Engineer : (incomprehensible jargon)
Audio Tech : I don't care long as the IOC doesn't flash
Lighting tech : Stop that ****, my HMIs are vibrating!
First camera : Dee-Bee?!?
Bren R.
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17 |
Bren, i think you've been nipping a little too much of grandma's secret hooch.
Time to get out of the house. It is actually mild out there (only -14 C today with light snow).
"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
In reply to:
Bren, i think you've been nipping a little too much of grandma's secret hooch
My grandma's secret hooch is made from milk, believe it or not.
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488 |
Milk? That's got to be SOUR! Does milk have enough starch in it to be the main fermentable? Or are you just pulling our collective legs with old-world references?
Easily fooled and rising to the bait -
Tom
bibere usque ad hilaritatem
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Re: Reference Level Sound
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602 |
In reply to:
Bren, i think you've been nipping a little too much of grandma's secret hooch.
Nah, it's the dry reading I've been doing lately... last night - the Crown Com-Tech 1600 Power Amp manual... today - the Peavey Architectural Acoustics "Systems Approach to Sound" tome. Gotta brush up on my constant voltage distributed speaker systems theory.
Though some of Peter's grandmother's rheumatizz medicine is starting to sound better.
Bren R.
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