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Post by jcisbig on Oct 30, 2016 18:03:45 GMT -5
Given that the UMC-200 doesn't show the standard "-X.XdB" for it's volume readout, does anyone know what volume level counts as "0.0dB" or "reference volume". Maybe I've got my terms wrong, but hopefully people know what I'm asking.
Thanks!
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 30, 2016 18:41:25 GMT -5
To me the whole concept of "THX Reference Volume" is a bit of a waank, it's supposed to simulate the volume used by the sound engineers/mixers. But just for a start every room is different, then there are different power amplifier gains and speaker efficiencies. It also depends on the input, in that not all movies are recorded at the same volume, despite claims. With that in mind, to answer your question, around 40 on my UMC-200 with a mix of 29 db and 32 db gain amplifiers and 92 db efficient speakers produces ~85 db + 20 db (or more) headroom (ie; reference level) with most (but not all) movies.
Cheers
Gary
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Oct 30, 2016 19:08:48 GMT -5
An SPL meter is every audio enthusiast's friend. As Gary has already stated, every room is different, so where you sit in respect to your speakers will depend on what actual decibel levels you set per channel for the MLP. Personally 85db in my room is a bit overwhelming, thus my setting 75db at my MLP is preferred.
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 30, 2016 20:25:27 GMT -5
An SPL meter is every audio enthusiast's friend. As Gary has already stated, every room is different, so where you sit in respect to your speakers will depend on what actual decibel levels you set per channel for the MLP. Personally 85db in my room is a bit overwhelming, thus my setting 75db at my MLP is preferred. Ditto ~75db (with ~95 db peaks) is the average listening level for me, that's mid to high 30's on the UMC-200. Cheers Gary |
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Post by knucklehead on Oct 30, 2016 20:41:19 GMT -5
With most AVR's and AVP's once you run the room correction program it sets the volume levels so that you will experience reference level when your volume shows 85db. Some can be changed to display a volume level from 1-100 or whatever scale they use. I'm with the 'reference level is too loud' crowd. Not because normal scenes are too loud - it's because when an action scene comes along it's TOO DAMNED LOUD! Good lord! I hate being woke up during a good movie!  Enjoy the volume levels where you like it - not where THX and Dolby tells you you should. |
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Post by RichGuy on Oct 30, 2016 21:15:36 GMT -5
Enjoy the volume levels where you like it - not where THX and Dolby tells you you should. Exactly |
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Post by klinemj on Oct 31, 2016 5:49:44 GMT -5
Totally agree with the others. As LCseminole notes, you can figure it out, but I - as the others - find that too loud in most cases.
Mark
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Post by vneal on Oct 31, 2016 6:58:18 GMT -5
Volume setting is dependent on amp size, room size, room furnishings, type of music, levels the recording was done at, your hearing ability. Find that which makes you happy
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Post by yves on Oct 31, 2016 8:17:02 GMT -5
Whilst listening to stereo music through my speakers, personally, I, like to play it LOUD if everything else and the mastering are done right. The Rolling Stones in Mono 2016 (on vinyl instead of the HDTracks version) have been giving my XPA-2 another fairly reasonable workout.  |
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Post by Jean Genie on Oct 31, 2016 8:59:58 GMT -5
...I hate being woke up during a good movie! LMAO & 1 |
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Post by doc1963 on Oct 31, 2016 9:08:06 GMT -5
Given that the UMC-200 doesn't show the standard "-X.XdB" for it's volume readout, does anyone know what volume level counts as "0.0dB" or "reference volume". Maybe I've got my terms wrong, but hopefully people know what I'm asking. Thanks! This is how I established "reference" levels with both my UMC-1 and UMC-200: - In the Speaker Level menu (Setup > Speaker Level), set the "Trim" level of each channel to 0dB. - Set the master volume of the UMC-1/UMC-200 relatively low. - Start the test tone (which will appear first in the left front channel). - Adjust the master volume ( not the speaker " Trim") until you achieve a "reference" level of 75 dB in the front left channel (while keeping 0 dB as the "Trim" level). - Take note of the master volume level displayed as this is now your "reference" volume level. - While maintaining the same master volume level you've just established, move on to the remaining channels and adjust the " Trim" level of the those channels as needed to achieve 75 dB. Hope this helps...  |
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Post by jcisbig on Oct 31, 2016 9:16:10 GMT -5
An SPL meter is every audio enthusiast's friend. As Gary has already stated, every room is different, so where you sit in respect to your speakers will depend on what actual decibel levels you set per channel for the MLP. Personally 85db in my room is a bit overwhelming, thus my setting 75db at my MLP is preferred. I'm assuming that you'd use the built in test tones? Should the meter be set to A or C weighting? |
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Post by jcisbig on Oct 31, 2016 9:19:27 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses! I guess I wasn't understanding that "reference volume" was a subjective thing. Working with some pro audio gear in the past, there were certain points that the manufacturer labeled as "reference" on some of the faders, gains, etc. because that was the optimal setting (electronically) to pass the cleanest signal. I didn't know if processors worked the same way, where they had an "optimal" volume setting that would pass the cleanest possible signal. I guess I'm kinda thinking about something like how folks have said that if you're using the DC-1 as a passthrough DAC (not using it to control volume) you should have the DC-1 set at "0.0" instead of passing audio through it at "-21.5" or something. I always assumed that was because setting it at 0.0 allowed it to pass on the cleanest signal possible to the next thing in the chain?
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Post by garbulky on Oct 31, 2016 13:11:38 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses! I guess I wasn't understanding that "reference volume" was a subjective thing. Working with some pro audio gear in the past, there were certain points that the manufacturer labeled as "reference" on some of the faders, gains, etc. because that was the optimal setting (electronically) to pass the cleanest signal. I didn't know if processors worked the same way, where they had an "optimal" volume setting that would pass the cleanest possible signal. I guess I'm kinda thinking about something like how folks have said that if you're using the DC-1 as a passthrough DAC (not using it to control volume) you should have the DC-1 set at "0.0" instead of passing audio through it at "-21.5" or something. I always assumed that was because setting it at 0.0 allowed it to pass on the cleanest signal possible to the next thing in the chain? 0.0 will give you the line level signal. Above 0.0 you risk the chance of clipping the signal depending on how much you turn it up. |
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Oct 31, 2016 16:16:00 GMT -5
An SPL meter is every audio enthusiast's friend. As Gary has already stated, every room is different, so where you sit in respect to your speakers will depend on what actual decibel levels you set per channel for the MLP. Personally 85db in my room is a bit overwhelming, thus my setting 75db at my MLP is preferred. I'm assuming that you'd use the built in test tones? Should the meter be set to A or C weighting? Use your SPL meter on C weighting with the built in test tones. If you don't want to use the built in test tones, calibration discs such as DVE/Spears & Munsil/Disney WOW have test tones as well. About A and C weighting. If I remember correctly, A-weighting works for frequencies 500Hz and higher, so on this setting your subwoofer probably wouldn't register. C-Weighting works down to around 30 or 40Hz or so, this will pick up your subwoofer tones as well. |
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Post by millst on Nov 1, 2016 11:24:46 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses! I guess I wasn't understanding that "reference volume" was a subjective thing. Working with some pro audio gear in the past, there were certain points that the manufacturer labeled as "reference" on some of the faders, gains, etc. because that was the optimal setting (electronically) to pass the cleanest signal. I didn't know if processors worked the same way, where they had an "optimal" volume setting that would pass the cleanest possible signal. I guess I'm kinda thinking about something like how folks have said that if you're using the DC-1 as a passthrough DAC (not using it to control volume) you should have the DC-1 set at "0.0" instead of passing audio through it at "-21.5" or something. I always assumed that was because setting it at 0.0 allowed it to pass on the cleanest signal possible to the next thing in the chain? No, it's not a subjective thing. Reference level is average output of 85dB SPL with 20dB of headroom for peaks. The LFE channel is 10dB higher so it can hit 115dB. It is meant to reflect the level that movies are mastered at. If you aren't listening to it at that level, then you aren't truly experiencing it the way the artists intended. Listening 10dB lower throws the highs and lows out of balance because of how our ears work (think F-M curves). Having said that, in reality things never quite match the laboratory. Most peoples systems distort at these levels and their rooms are not treated (much brighter, especially so when compared to a movie theater). Thus, reference level is ear piercing loud. Many discs we watch at home are mastered hot. Some are mixed with the home environment in mind, others not so much. It's good to calibrate to that level, but in the end, no need to feel obligated to listen there. There are technologies such as THX Loudness and Audyssey Dynamic EQ that compensate for the difference in volume from reference. -tm |
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