Reference volume?

[monsterman]

Hey all,

What is reference volume and how loud is it?

[Johnny Vinyl]

What do you mean? Please elaborate on your question!

[monsterman]

Blu-ray reviews mention reference volume when talking about audio quality, just what is the reference volume...at what level is it?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I've never picked up on that while reading the reviews, but IMHO..I don't think that is something that can be stated. We each have different componants and volume varies as such.

You can't go by receiver output either as speakers have different sensitivity levels.

Are you sure the reviews are mentioning Reference volume? Do you perhaps mean to say Reference Audio?

[Johnny Vinyl]

By the way monsterman...welcome!

[monsterman]

Thank you for the welcome, i've been here for a while, I just have not posted.
Anyways, In Martin Lieberman's review of Planet of the Apes, in the audio review section, he refered to reference volume...

"Planet of the Apes arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and Fox has also included the film's original mono soundtrack. The DTS track is fairly good, perhaps a bit rough around the edges and sometimes ear-piercingly loud at reference volume, but it supports the original material very well."

This is not the first time that I've seen this mentioned and I was curious at what volume is the reference volume?

[Rustmonkey]

I believe THX reference volume is 85db with up to 105db peaks but for home theater, most people stick to around 75db as 85 is a little much for home listening. So with this in mind, most home theaters should be calibrated with an SPL at 75 decibles. This is then what you would watch most movies at to hear the soundtrack as it "should be" but listening at lower volumes is deffinately a good choice for hearing longevity

[JasonR]

Reference volume level is 85db. You can gauge this by using an SPL meter.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Rustmonkey

I believe THX reference volume is 85db with up to 105db peaks but for home theater, most people stick to around 75db as 85 is a little much for home listening. So with this in mind, most home theaters should be calibrated with an SPL at 75 decibles. This is then what you would watch most movies at to hear the soundtrack as it "should be" but listening at lower volumes is deffinately a good choice for hearing longevity

Thank you Rustmonkey. Now I get the significance of what Monsterman was saying. Funny that I never picked up on that in any of the reviews? I suppose it's because I don't get too technical with my settings. Goes to show ya, ya learn something everything and thanks to the both of you for that! Now my day is complete!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Reference volume level is 85db. You can gauge this by using an SPL meter.

Where can I get an SPL meter?

[JasonR]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103668

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by JasonR

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103668

Thx JasonR!

Sorry guys. All that money I spent on a HT Setup and I'm not even familiar with the lingo. I guess it's because I'm really a 2-Channel Audio Guy at heart!

[monsterman]

Thank you all for the info, that answered my question.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by monsterman

What is reference volume and how loud is it?

"All movies, music and games are mixed at a Reference Level in the studio, to be played back at the same Reference Level in the cinema or home theater (0 db on the volume dial for THX Certified Receivers is the studio Reference Level). However, many of us find Reference Level to be too loud for our homes. Still, turning the volume down often means that elements of movie, music and other soundtracks can be lost or perceived differently from the original sound mix."
http://www.thx.com/technologies/loudness_plus.html

"THX Reference Setting for Volume Controls: A key element that THX requires for receivers and pre-amps is the reference setting for volume controls. When a system is calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and a movie is played back at this marked reference setting, (usually zero on the volume control), the audio experience will be at the same volume level that the movie was originally mixed and played back in a theater. To achieve THX certification, components must play at this reference level without breaking, distorting, buzzing, rattling or any other distracting effects."
http://www.thx.com/products/home/tests/rec_testing.html

Originally Posted by John72953

Where can I get an SPL meter?

You can buy an SPL meter from Radio Shack. However, read Calibrating Your Audio with an SPL Meter first.

[monsterman]

Very interesting Big Daddy.

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

"All movies, music and games are mixed at a Reference Level in the studio, to be played back at the same Reference Level in the cinema or home theater (0 db on the volume dial for THX Certified Receivers is the studio Reference Level). However, many of us find Reference Level to be too loud for our homes. Still, turning the volume down often means that elements of movie, music and other soundtracks can be lost or perceived differently from the original sound mix."
http://www.thx.com/technologies/loudness_plus.html

"THX Reference Setting for Volume Controls: A key element that THX requires for receivers and pre-amps is the reference setting for volume controls. When a system is calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and a movie is played back at this marked reference setting, (usually zero on the volume control), the audio experience will be at the same volume level that the movie was originally mixed and played back in a theater. To achieve THX certification, components must play at this reference level without breaking, distorting, buzzing, rattling or any other distracting effects."
http://www.thx.com/products/home/tests/rec_testing.html


You can buy an SPL meter from Radio Shack. However, read Calibrating Your Audio with an SPL Meter first.

So we clearly understand this, 0 reference on a THX controller is 75db's, not 85db's. For calibrating in the home where we are closer to the speakers, 75db (-30dbr) is calibration level, and reference level is 105db (0dbr level digital reference) the loudest. For the theater where we sit in the far field, and thus subjected to losses in the air, 85db is calibration level, and 105db is reference.

We have to seperate calibration levels from reference levels. Calibration level=average dialog level on track. Reference level=the loudest sound on the track.

I hope and pray that none of our reviewers are playing back tracks that peak at reference level. They ain't gonna last very long.

[Big Daddy]

There are alarming reports about hearing loss in the young i-pod generation. Please turn the volume down.

The following table from the U.S. Department of Labor gives data regarding safe sound level exposure.

A-Weighting, Slow response
Hours per day, Sound Level (dB)
8hrs, 90db
6hrs, 92db
4hrs, 95db
3hrs, 97db
2hrs, 100db
1.5hrs, 102db
1hr, 105db
0.5hrs, 110db
0.25hrs or less, 115db

[BACsader]

So I tried something and interestingly I like the results. I turned down the PS3's volume to minus 4, or all the way down, and instead, allowed my Pioneer VSX-91TXH receiver that is THX certified to be closer to Reference volume, and wouldn't you know it, I believe it sounds considerably better. I still can't get it to 0, it is too loud, but at -6db the bass is much deeper, the sound is more natural sounding and absolutely no distortion. Maybe it is best to change the PS3's volume to allow these receivers to get closer to "Reference" volume?

[sokrman14]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

"All movies, music and games are mixed at a Reference Level in the studio, to be played back at the same Reference Level in the cinema or home theater (0 db on the volume dial for THX Certified Receivers is the studio Reference Level). However, many of us find Reference Level to be too loud for our homes. Still, turning the volume down often means that elements of movie, music and other soundtracks can be lost or perceived differently from the original sound mix."
http://www.thx.com/technologies/loudness_plus.html

"THX Reference Setting for Volume Controls: A key element that THX requires for receivers and pre-amps is the reference setting for volume controls. When a system is calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and a movie is played back at this marked reference setting, (usually zero on the volume control), the audio experience will be at the same volume level that the movie was originally mixed and played back in a theater. To achieve THX certification, components must play at this reference level without breaking, distorting, buzzing, rattling or any other distracting effects."
http://www.thx.com/products/home/tests/rec_testing.html


You can buy an SPL meter from Radio Shack. However, read Calibrating Your Audio with an SPL Meter first.

Well said Big Daddy...i was going to put almost the same thing down, but I am glad I didnt spend the time to do it.