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RE: wow 118db's !!

Posted by Tony Lauck on June 10, 2012 at 09:29:20:
I do not listen at 118 dB. This figure comes from the manual for my monitors. The manual also includes a warning about possible hearing damage.

I play most recordings at a volume setting about 20 dB lower than what the system is capable of, which means instantaneous peaks just under 100 dB and fortissimo orchestral passages at an average of 85 dB, about the same level you describe. Anything louder for more than a short period will result in hearing loss. However, I know that the system still plays cleanly after increasing the gain by 20 dB from this usual setting, but I have to be in the hallway outside the door at the back of the room at this point.

The confusion comes from the difference between peak power and average power. For a sine wave, this difference is 3 dB. For a typical recording of a symphony orchestra this difference is more like 20 dB. The better the recording the more power will be required to handle peaks. A typical current pop/rock recording will have a ratio below 10 dB, which means that you can destroy your hearing while creating 1/10th the greenhouse gases. :-)