I had pleasure to see Orbital at Brixton Acadamy last night and as is fitting for such a gig the volume was on eleven but combined with excellent clarity. Interestingly I am not suffering with the to be expected ringing in my ears. I have noticed this for quite a few gigs whereas when there has been perhaps a lower volume level and a poor quality setup with a degree of distortion/lack of clarity the effect on my ears has been much more severe.
Are there any wise heads that could confirm or otherwise my experiences/suspicions?
Sound system volume vs distortion
- Keithh
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Sound system volume vs distortion
Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. - Samuel Johnson
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Shaking it all about == P50SA + SP + A80s
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In == Vortexbox + Raspberry Pi + BOSS DAC/ Goldring 1042 + SL-1210MK2 + Phono 1
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Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
Keithh,
It is quite obvious that you are suffering from that rare disease I sometimes call.............. STONED OOT YER SKULL.............
Cause 9 times out of ten distortion increases with volume increase.
Saw Orbital at Glasgow......Thought it was a great show...
![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
It is quite obvious that you are suffering from that rare disease I sometimes call.............. STONED OOT YER SKULL.............
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon/lol.gif)
Cause 9 times out of ten distortion increases with volume increase.
Saw Orbital at Glasgow......Thought it was a great show...
![Clap :clap:](./images/smilies/eusa/clap.gif)
![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
- Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
There is a common miss belief that loudness creates distortion to the music - not true, loudness creates distortion to the ears. The truth is that distortion creates loudness to the music. Why do you think a 1w portable radio sounds so loud when turned up full - because of the distortion.
This *FACT* caused an enormous kurfuffle between Marco and I when I claimed his amps were distorting because they sounded "loud".
It is fact because I have and I can prove it. Back in Tresham Audio days I produced over 1000w pro-amps and the music wouldn't sound loud until levels where your ears started bleeding, it sounded clean and powerful. Where as a 50w solid state amp will go loud nastily if over driven as it is hard clipping, a 50w valve amp will go loud musically (which is why muso's like them for amplification), the distortion becomes part of the music as it is soft clipping when over driven - BUT both are distortion.
This does not mean I advocate over 1000w hi-fi amps, what I advocate is sensible listening levels, quite often you don't know how loud you are playing your hi-fi until the onset of distortion, but loudness = carry, so often the first you know is when neighbours complain. If I used Tresham amps they would be complaining from the next street.
This *FACT* caused an enormous kurfuffle between Marco and I when I claimed his amps were distorting because they sounded "loud".
It is fact because I have and I can prove it. Back in Tresham Audio days I produced over 1000w pro-amps and the music wouldn't sound loud until levels where your ears started bleeding, it sounded clean and powerful. Where as a 50w solid state amp will go loud nastily if over driven as it is hard clipping, a 50w valve amp will go loud musically (which is why muso's like them for amplification), the distortion becomes part of the music as it is soft clipping when over driven - BUT both are distortion.
This does not mean I advocate over 1000w hi-fi amps, what I advocate is sensible listening levels, quite often you don't know how loud you are playing your hi-fi until the onset of distortion, but loudness = carry, so often the first you know is when neighbours complain. If I used Tresham amps they would be complaining from the next street.
Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
WELL I NEVER....
So Keithh might not have been STONNED OUT OF HIS SKULL after all....................
Sorry man jammy....![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon/lol.gif)
So Keithh might not have been STONNED OUT OF HIS SKULL after all....................
![Think :think:](./images/smilies/eusa/think.gif)
![Doh! :doh:](./images/smilies/eusa/doh.gif)
Sorry man jammy....
![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
- Keithh
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Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
Thanks Doc for the tech that make sense to me.
Jammy, I always find that the odd beverage help loosen the lugs - not essential but definately beneficial.![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
Jammy, I always find that the odd beverage help loosen the lugs - not essential but definately beneficial.
![Dance :dance:](./images/smilies/eusa/dance.gif)
Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. - Samuel Johnson
In == Vortexbox + Raspberry Pi + BOSS DAC/ Goldring 1042 + SL-1210MK2 + Phono 1
Shaking it all about == P50SA + SP + A80s
Out == LS6 biwire + B&W 602 S3
Bubbling under == BMU
In == Vortexbox + Raspberry Pi + BOSS DAC/ Goldring 1042 + SL-1210MK2 + Phono 1
Shaking it all about == P50SA + SP + A80s
Out == LS6 biwire + B&W 602 S3
Bubbling under == BMU
Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
I don't know if this has any relevance but,I've found that the cleaner (transparent,neutral,detailed ) the sound from equipment is,the less volume I'm inclined to use
but on the other hand,if I (we) want to play it at a louder volume it's still less likely to increase the level of my Tinnitus (and I don't mean my "metal arse Doc
)
I've never really understood why "every" time my BIL and I went to audition Hi-Fi equipment they insisted at playing the music and high volumes
,just put me right off ![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon/mad.gif)
![Think :think:](./images/smilies/eusa/think.gif)
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon/question.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon/lol.gif)
I've never really understood why "every" time my BIL and I went to audition Hi-Fi equipment they insisted at playing the music and high volumes
![Head Banger :music-headbanger:](./images/smilies/music/headbanger.gif)
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon/mad.gif)
- terrybooth
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Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
My introduction to this phenomena was listening to a decent hi-fi setup with someone else. I didn't realise how 'loud ' the music was until I tried to talk to my companion. Very different from trying to talk to someone next to you at a disco because then you feel you have to shout. All down to levels of distortion, I presume.
Pioneer PL71/DL103/ Phono2/HiFiPi/P90SA/TIS/CubixPro
- Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
Spot on, you got it :Dterrybooth wrote:My introduction to this phenomena was listening to a decent hi-fi setup with someone else. I didn't realise how 'loud ' the music was until I tried to talk to my companion. Very different from trying to talk to someone next to you at a disco because then you feel you have to shout. All down to levels of distortion, I presume.
Re: Sound system volume vs distortion
Definitely relate the that.terrybooth wrote:My introduction to this phenomena was listening to a decent hi-fi setup with someone else. I didn't realise how 'loud ' the music was until I tried to talk to my companion. Very different from trying to talk to someone next to you at a disco because then you feel you have to shout. All down to levels of distortion, I presume.