Movie theaters too loud?

This is one of the secrets of a movie house according to article that I've read. The loudness of the speakers will really make you deaf- especially if constantly your watching movies. I do watch movies but only at a limited time. On the good side, watching movies at a big movie house especially 3D movies is more enjoyable compared simply watching movies at the house.

Sometimes I cover my ears when the volume is extreme.

Oh yah, I've done the napkins in ears a number of times. I usually try to carry around a pack of foam earplugs -- same ones I use on every motorcycle ride -- I just don't insert them as fully for a movie. It's definitely too loud!

I've also been to two films where the Center / dialogue channel was completely off, meaning there was almost no ability to hear or understand any speaking. The really sad part is that other people in the theater don't seem to notice. It feels like I'm in the Twilight Zone sometimes...

I think occasionally the movie's too loud, but I never had earplugs handy.  I've been to a number of different churches (rock-concert-type churches) where things were definitely too loud, and I used earplugs then.  It actually made me angry, because they weren't offered at the church, and this iPod generation is slowly, happily going deaf.

i personally HATE watching movies loud, IDK why...i just like to listen to it so that i can barely hear it.

all my fiends like it as loud as possible but i don't...

One of the reasons I dislike going to movies. And if I do go, I bring ear plugs.

I've got a good sized screen and surround sound in my bedroom. No need to pay $12 to go deaf.

Originally Posted by sulkoudai 

i personally HATE watching movies loud, IDK why...i just like to listen to it so that i can barely hear it.

I pretty much do the same thing. I was at -20dB on my receiver for TV/movie viewing for a while and realized I just didn't need that, so I lowered it to -30dB, and now I'm at -35dB.

Someone with a portable SPL meter should take some readings at their local theater and post them- I'd be interested to know how loud they actually are.  I know I am usually uncomfortable with the volume at theaters and have had to plug my ears on occasion too.

I'm going to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and maybe Sherlock Holmes soon, and I have the Radio Shack dB meter, so I'll check.

Even my 60 year old dad commented the last time he was on the theaters that the volume was too high for his liking and he hasn't exactly got the best hearing possible. :P When the volume gets a lot higher than it would be in real-life on certain things, it gets disturbing.

I haven´t noticed that operators go for higher volume now then earlier.

I don´t go to movies that often though. It was a long ago you got a better experience at home then in cinemas. Then they invented 3D and I got a reason to go to the theater again. But having a 51" plasma at home I have to realize that the 3D you get at home is better then what you get in realD cinemas.

Of course it´s impressive that you can get the 3D to work for so many people at once but sitting at home in the sweetspot just give me a much better experience with less crosstalk or ghosting issues. I was impressed by Avatar 3D in the movies but when I got to watch it at home I was in total disbelief. That animated movies look perfect I am used to but this...

Bad thing I have neighbours so I still don´t have full control of the SPL unless I want to be a total ass ;)

I've found the worse theaters tend to crank it up a bit much.  I've been to theaters with rampant distortion and sounds of blown speakers which I'd quickly walk up to the counter and ask for a refund.  

Lucky for me now I live in Austin and we have the Alamo Drafthouse theaters which take great pride in their presentation of films including the sound.  I've never walked away from those theaters thinking it was too loud.  It's loud, but only to the point of immersion.

I can relate to this. 

I have been to quite a few cinemas where I am sure it was too loud.  The last film I went to watch was "Hanna" in a 100(~) person theater and I honestly felt like my ear drums were being raped by the treble.

I was worried some guy had accidentally nudged the volume button way too high making out with his girlfriend or something and sentenced us all to deafness.  It's not like any of us are going to stand up and complain asking if anyone else thinks its too loud. 

Next Wednesday I will be going to watch MI: Ghost Protocol but it's in a huge theater so hopefully it should be ok. 

On an unrelated incident I have been suffereing very very mild tinnitus which started about a week ago and I think this is due to the sharpness of my AKG K518.  I have stopped using headphones for a week and I am now very careful about volumes.  Also why I wanted to reply to this thread! Take note people: Watch the volumes!

What I hate are the IMAX rooms in my local theater. I love the standard globe IMAX, they're fantastic. However, there is a new IMAX spec made to allow easy conversion from a normal theater into an "IMAX" theater by adding a slightly larger screen, and MASSIVE speakers into a smallish room. Those speakers are *not* meant to be in such a damn small room, and it's bloody ******* painful when I watch a movie in one of those rooms. Watched Super 8 in a room like that, never going for the IMAX rooms ever again. I love sound, it's why I spend so much on headphones, and I don't want to lose my hearing. The spec is something like 16,000 watts, that absolutely does not belong in a standard size theater.

A lot of people play music way too loud into their (usually) earbuds. Maybe the spec was made for them?