Quote:
Originally Posted by Grahame
Put Them all together and you can set the Max Volume to a Safe 85dB - as seen here.
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I think setting the absolute maximum to be 85 is too conservative.
Want to wear the hat of the Devil's advocate for a second:
1) Actually listening to levels above 85dB during short periods of time (peaks and bursts) is not dangerous; the problem occurs when listening to such high levels in a sustained manner, for long enough periods.
2) Setting the absolute maximum volume to 85dB means that the average volume of the recording might end up too low for proper appreciation and enjoyment.
3) Volume levels vary from recording to recording. At the extreme setting of 85dB for absolute maximum played back by your system, some recordings will be barely listenable.
With my speakers I have played specific songs and have measured volume at the listening position using the Rat.Shack meter. If the music sends the needle quite too frequently above 85dB then it's too loud for me. Actually I have noticed that I rarely need the meter, since when it goes too many times above 85 it rapidly becomes uncomfortably loud for me. When only a few times it gets past the 85dB, or doesn't even pass it but gets there close enough just a few times, then the volume is loud but comfortable and acceptable (yet it's almost concert leavel reallistically loud at the listening spot.)
The perceived volume I set for my headphone rig is similar. Have also measured it with the Rat.Shack near the headphones, as limited as such a measurement can be, and it's consistent with my speaker setting: loud enough but rarely goes above 85dB.
So my rule of thumb is to be around 85dB for the loud passages of a song; can go slightly higher than that, but just very few times.