| What level do you watch movies at? |
| Greater than reference (>85 db) |
|
16% |
[ 4 ] |
| Reference (85 db) |
|
8% |
[ 2 ] |
| A bit under refernce (75 db to 84 db) |
|
41% |
[ 10 ] |
| Fairly quiet (<75 db) |
|
4% |
[ 1 ] |
| I have no clue what it really is. |
|
29% |
[ 7 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 24 |
|
| Author |
Message |
Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 4899
Location: Flower Mound, TX
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: What level to you watch movies at? |
|
|
I've noticed that in my acoustically treated room (fairly dead) 13.5' x 18' theater I still tend to watch movies at -8 or -9 db and that sounds about right to me, in fact pretty close to or a bit above what it sounds like in the theater. If I go to reference levels action scenes sound great, but voices and ambient sounds are unnaturally loud. With my daughter in the theater, we tend to do about -14 to -16 from reference. Curious what others tended to do. Assuming you have a calibrated system, and you know, where do you listen at?
_________________
Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
emdawgz1
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 7949
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I listen fairly quietly now. I live in a row home(town house to you suburbanites) So blasting away @ loud levels is bad form.
In my new spot im designing a sound treated room, so then i'll probably be close to reference levels.
_________________
Follow my blog
www.thesinglebrother.com
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustGreg
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3098
Location: Kenosha, WI
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I currently have a center channel issue so try to make up for low vol dialogue with wattage. You can guess how well that works out in an action movie. Either straining your ears... or crapping your pants...not good. Either that or I'm the old(er) dude from the commercial set in a theater who keeps asking his wife "What did they say? What did they say?"
I try to keep it around reference out of deference to my guests.
_________________
Greg
"Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care!" --Jimmy Buffett
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | What level to you watch movies at? |
On the floor looking up with headphones mostly 
_________________
Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustGreg
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3098
Location: Kenosha, WI
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AnalogRocks wrote: | | Quote: | | What level to you watch movies at? |
On the floor looking up with headphones mostly |
Ya nut you. 
_________________
Greg
"Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care!" --Jimmy Buffett
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
How do you measure reference level? Is there a standard test tone?
I tend to watch fairly loud, probably at or above reference. Partly because of the same kind of center-channel issue Greg mentioned, partly because of the old-dude issue Greg mentioned.  My hearing is definitely not what it was, and especially with my crap center I miss dialog if I turn it down.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
papalek
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 1536
Location: Longs SC
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I listen at or above reference level. When a door slams in the back ground I want my guests to turn and look behind them.  Besides when something blows up on screen I want everyone to "feel" the explosion.  Thats why I have 3 of the 21" subs and around 7000 watts of power in a 6.5 set up(yes 5 subs 3-21's and 2-15's).
_________________
My current list of PJ's AmPro 1 1/2-4600,4200, 1/2-3600,2600.
I do love my AmPro's
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 4899
Location: Flower Mound, TX
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| papalek wrote: | | I listen at or above reference level. When a door slams in the back ground I want my guests to turn and look behind them. Besides when something blows up on screen I want everyone to "feel" the explosion. |
Actually, at reference volumes, the peaks for explosions will be 105 db. In my theater, I feel that even at -10 db from my 2 modest subs.
_________________
Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
papalek
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 1536
Location: Longs SC
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Person99 wrote: | | papalek wrote: | | I listen at or above reference level. When a door slams in the back ground I want my guests to turn and look behind them. Besides when something blows up on screen I want everyone to "feel" the explosion. |
Actually, at reference volumes, the peaks for explosions will be 105 db. In my theater, I feel that even at -10 db from my 2 modest subs. |
Yes you can feel it but my guest have the opened eyed look  and ususally say HOLY sh*t THIS SYSTEM ROCKS!!!
_________________
My current list of PJ's AmPro 1 1/2-4600,4200, 1/2-3600,2600.
I do love my AmPro's
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 4899
Location: Flower Mound, TX
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| garyfritz wrote: | | How do you measure reference level? Is there a standard test tone? |
Calibration discs have the standard test tones to be used with the radio shack analog meter. The DVE ones are low, but it is well documented.
Most AVRs now have auto set up features. Some are relatively close. For instance, on my Yammy, after letting it do its auto set up, 0 db on the dial is just a couple db under refrence. So, when I'm at -8 db on the dial, I'm at -10db from reference.
_________________
Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 4899
Location: Flower Mound, TX
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Also, the Rives Audio Test CD is very good.
_________________
Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
OK, I'll have to dig out DVE when I get a chance. I usually run my Onkyo at 40-45 on the dial, but whoknoze how that translates to dB?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 4899
Location: Flower Mound, TX
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| garyfritz wrote: | | OK, I'll have to dig out DVE when I get a chance. I usually run my Onkyo at 40-45 on the dial, but whoknoze how that translates to dB? |
If the AVR does not have calibration features, then it is just their ballpark guess with "average" sensitivity speakers. 0 db on the dial SHOULD be 85 db, but without calibration, there is no way for that to be known.
Do you mean -40 on the dial? If +40, either your Onkyo is waaaaaaay off or you are using some very low sensitivity power hungry speakers!!!
_________________
Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
No, the Onkyo doesn't have a dB-labeled dial. Its "Volume" control goes from 0 to 72.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dropzone7
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 1069
Location: Charlotte, NC
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If it's just me in the room and I'm trying to spare my wife the rumbles and rattles then I usually run at -20 to -25. If everyone is in the room and we want the full effect then I normally crank it up to -12 or so. This is on an Onkyo 705 and I have run Audyssey on it and it sounds great to me. If I could change anything it would be to add two more surrounds and upgrade my sub.
_________________
"Coffee is for Closers."
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustGreg
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3098
Location: Kenosha, WI
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Person99 wrote: | | Also, the Rives Audio Test CD is very good. |
The Rives Audio Test CD 2 has compensated tones for the Radio Shack SPL meter
http://www.rivesaudio.com/software/TestCD.html
I'm thinking of running my center channel through an older Rat Shack receiver and then through an equalizer. It may be the location of my center channel that's causing me grief too. (In my photo album) It's above and about 3 ft in front of the screen but still in line with the fronts. It's angled down to hit in between the front and rear row of seating. I admit freely I winged things when setting up the audio.
Before adding the amp and equalizer I may take a look at the crossover in it. Well, have someone else look at it and make recommendations for modifications. I'd replace what is just a generic multi location speaker with a designed-for mid tier (never mind high end) center channel but the $$$ just isn't there.
Until one of the two happens, center dialogue is gonna have to remain Mob Don cotton-stuffed-cheeks sounding. 
_________________
Greg
"Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care!" --Jimmy Buffett
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, crap. The battery in my Ratshack meter corroded and I don't have another 9V handy. Have to try measuring later.
I dug out DVE and I see all kinds of test tones and sweep tones, but I don't see a reference measurement tone. Where is it?
I must have something really screwed up with my audio. Last time I checked the sound setup with DVE, everything was OK. Now I'm not getting proper location (left-front coming only out left-front speaker, etc) and I don't seem to be getting ANYthing out on LFE. But the sub responds when you do a low-freq sweep in other channels. Urgh. Probably some bad setting in the AVR. I'll have to track that down, but that'll be another thread.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fireanimal
Joined: 17 Jul 2007
Posts: 231
Location: Stayner, ON
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My room is soundproof and accoustically treated. I listen at or above reference levels, and it never sounds too loud or causes listener fatigue.
_________________
My Movie Collection
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
perisoft
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 2920
Location: Ithaca, NY
|
| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
I use a whole pile of random amplifiers. Levels depend on the movie... if I'm watching transformers, I turn the mother up so loud that jets are as loud as actual jets. Or as close as I can get without distorting all over the place.  At any rate, with my setup there are so many knobs that it's pointless to look at the numbers. Everything gets matched up with AC3filter anyway; I set the levels so the max is clean and go from there.
During one of my test setups, I actually started to get up to go get the door when someone knocked off-screen. My wife really thought it was funny.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
|
| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| perisoft wrote: |
During one of my test setups, I actually started to get up to go get the door when someone knocked off-screen. My wife really thought it was funny. |
I've gotten up to answer the phone once just like that. I was running for my old work phone cause you only get 5 rings and it was in my jacket. I stoped running once I walked pass the speakers. lol
_________________
Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
Last edited by AnalogRocks on Wed May 21, 2008 4:05 am; edited 1 time in total
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
