Anyone ever measure Stereo SPL?

[jacallery]

Just bought a SPL pressure meter and tested it on my home stereo.
I got it to hit 108 db, C weighted in the sweet spot 8' from my speakers
  Anyone else done this?


Callery

[Nick's Picks]

yes...Carl and I do it quite regularly.
its a good thing to do as it teaches you what your listening levels are, which in turn helps you to make informed decisions about future gear purchases (amp power requirements, speaker efficiency..etc).

[Tim]

I asked this awhile back. I'd love to know what other people are hitting.. I'm going to borrow a meter tonight.

[jpschust]

what meters are you guys using and how much were they? i've seen some pretty expensive ones, but ive been looking for one that is a little more on the cheap end.

[scervin]

I imagine they are using the Rat shack meter that is $50.  Not sure they still sell the analog version though.  There are correction charts when loking at low bass <60Hz.   Just beware of clipping the amp, wouldn't want any smoking tweeters!     I listen at around 80dB with peaks to near 90.  Never tried seeing how loud it would play though and probably never will.

[jpschust]

yah the low bass i could care less about since my sub came with a mic to adjust for the room, problem is, the metering above the bass levels isnt anything worthwhile

[Lee]

this is the one I have for the PA I run on the weekends.  Guess I'll have to bring it home and check the hifi sometime...

[BCostigan]

I'm curious what I'd be getting as well.  Is there any use for this info?  I know Nick mentioned a bit but I'm not sure how I'd interperate the info....if I want it louder I just get bigger equipment right?


What is the typical spl at a show? (Phish, WSP, DMB, moe., etc.......)

[Nick's Picks]

I'm curious what I'd be getting as well.  Is there any use for this info?  I know Nick mentioned a bit but I'm not sure how I'd interperate the info....if I want it louder I just get bigger equipment right?


What is the typical spl at a show? (Phish, WSP, DMB, moe., etc.......)

You interpret it by knowing how loud you like it, and how well your gear performs at that volume.
for example, a 50wpc amp is going to have a hard time driving 87db speakers to something like a loud concert volume.

a loud concert volume is in the 100-120db range.
SPL measurements i've done at stage lip for bands like Garaj Mahal or SKB have been in this area with peaks hitting above 120db.
that is fuckin'-A loud.

[Tim]

over 107db or so is too fucking loud for me.

[Nick's Picks]

shit ya!  me too.
my average listening levels are around 78 > 90db, but more usualy in the 80-85db range.

[Lee]

just tested mine... full blown without distortion I can push about 104 peak C weighted and about 97 peak A weighted.  It can go louder, but the bass drivers in my little paradigms start to distort since I don't have a sub or crossover yet.

Comfortable listening levels are around 83 C weighted in the sweet spot

[jpschust]

over 107db or so is too fucking loud for me.

probably too loud for your neighbors too

i tend to play my music a LOT softer than that.  IMHO the best equipment sounds as good with little gain applied as with a lot of gain applied, but every piece of gear has that threashold where it really opens up.

[Lee]

over 107db or so is too fucking loud for me.

probably too loud for your neighbors too

i tend to play my music a LOT softer than that.  IMHO the best equipment sounds as good with little gain applied as with a lot of gain applied, but every piece of gear has that threashold where it really opens up.

Not if it's in the basement in a room surrounded on 2 sides by earth.  I can run it full blast and not even wake the dog up

now, when it goes back to the dorm in the fall....

[Tim]

go get em Mike!