# Decibels For Listening **URL:** \ **Category:** Music\ **Created:** [June 25, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499 "2022-06-25T19:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lemon\_LaCroix\_5000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lemon_lacroix_5000/32/144982_2.png) [@Lemon\_LaCroix\_5000](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Lemon_LaCroix_5000)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/1 "2022-06-25T19:07:38Z")
What number of decibels do you listen at? I thought that I probably listen at 85db, until I measured using a smart phone app. Turns out, I listen at 55 average with peaks up to 65. And this is loud to me. I looked into this after a recent Darko podcast. šŸ»šŸ»šŸ»šŸ»šŸ» ---
**Author:** ![SpyderTracks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@SpyderTracks](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/SpyderTracks)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/2 "2022-06-25T19:09:27Z")
Using a smartphone app, Iā€™m around the 70 - 80dB generally. I do quite like it loud, to me 80 is extremely loud, wouldnā€™t need to go over that. ---
**Author:** ![davida](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/davida/32/94292_2.png) [@davida](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/davida)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/3 "2022-06-25T19:27:36Z")
Using an American Recorders sound level meterā€¦ I like 55 db with 75,77 db peaksā€¦but some dynamics well they can go way past thatā€¦ 65 db is loud and absolutely 85 db is extremely loud for me as well. Best wishes ---
**Author:** ![timm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@timm](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/timm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/4 "2022-06-25T19:39:16Z")
Yes. I too am 70 to 75db mostly as well. 80 is prob max. Interesting I was at a concert recently and the crowd noise measured 70db. The music was pushing close to 100db. I was looking at class A wattage and found an SPL calculator based on speaker efficiency / listening position / surrounding walls and found 16 watts gives me around 85 db I recall. ---
**Author:** ![jazzophile](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jazzophile/32/5347_2.png) [@jazzophile](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazzophile)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/5 "2022-06-25T19:40:38Z")
The Noise app on my Apple Watch has the alarm threshold set for 90db. Iā€™ve never set off an alarm even when my wife isnā€™t home and the hi-fi is loud by my standards. Now Iā€™m curious, so will measure next time sheā€™s out. Sheā€™s not a fan of loud. ---
**Author:** ![Baldy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/baldy/32/223847_2.png) [@Baldy](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Baldy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/7 "2022-06-25T20:22:48Z")
Roughly 70 db here too. 80 is ok for a short while but thatā€™s about it. ---
**Author:** ![jazznut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jazznut](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazznut)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/8 "2022-06-25T20:32:47Z")
I found this post from meā€¦guess itā€™s still correct. > [@Do you enjoy listening at late night levels?](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/do-you-enjoy-listening-at-late-night-levels/17250/6): > > Hey guys, with a pianissimo beginning to be noticeably audible from around 40dB you then practically use less than half of vinylā€˜s typical dynamic range wink Whenever itā€™s possible, fortissimos reach between 90 up to 100 dB in my listening (peaks). I like quite realistic levels. Fun records like Hugh Masekelaā€˜s Hope play over 90dB for large parts here sunglasses Itā€™s still fascinating that most, arguing about dynamic range, listen below a level that would mean any difference between tape, vinyl and digitalā€¦maybe even cassette šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Craig\_Burgess](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/craig_burgess/32/258763_2.png) [@Craig\_Burgess](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Craig_Burgess)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/9 "2022-06-25T20:51:47Z")
When Iā€™m able to turn it up where I want, it seems to average in the mid-60s (C-weighted). ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/10 "2022-06-25T21:31:00Z")
Average around 65dB (A-weighted) with peaks below 80dB. FWIW ---
**Author:** ![tuladct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@tuladct](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tuladct)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 11:14pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/11 "2022-06-25T23:14:26Z")
Maybe my hearing is going. Iā€™m typically averaging 80 Iā€™d say. ---
**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/12 "2022-06-25T23:32:15Z")
When I listen loud itā€™s 73db average with peaks bumping to 85db. My wife is asleep upstairs when I do this. (2 floors up) ---
**Author:** ![jazznut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jazznut](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazznut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/13 "2022-06-26T01:22:08Z")
Thatā€™s loud for only 2 floors down, unless you have good isolation and sealed doors šŸ˜‰ Not sure anyway if we all use the same weighting when measuring. Not even remember mine. ---
**Author:** ![Sohail](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sohail/32/9389_2.png) [@Sohail](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Sohail)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/14 "2022-06-26T02:47:54Z")
C-Weighting. Typical 75 to 80. Peaks in the upper 80ā€™s. ---
**Author:** ![jerry.hendel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b782af/32.png) [@jerry.hendel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jerry.hendel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/15 "2022-06-26T13:16:47Z")
My listening is in the 70 to 84 range. Always use the C or Z weighting when measuring. Great phone app is from NIOSH, the science side of OSHA. The app is free and calibratable. Very accurate. Just go to NIOSH web site to get it. You dont want to use A scale as it ā€œweightsā€ the noise data. C or Z scales have no weighting. ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/16 "2022-06-26T14:02:35Z")
> [@jerry.hendel](#): > > You dont want to use A scale as it ā€œweightsā€ the noise data. C or Z scales have no weighting. Interestingā€¦Iā€™ll take that under consideration. In terms of FR accuracy (I use the iPhone app pictured below), which scale would you recommend? TIA. Decibel X PRO v9.5.0 (19506): ![IMG_1252.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/c/e/ce46403b45fb53408501ec1276398c6d86cbaf66.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![jerry.hendel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b782af/32.png) [@jerry.hendel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jerry.hendel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/17 "2022-06-26T14:27:13Z")
You should find in your settings, the choices for the weighting scales. Some systems call it C and some use Z. They are the same. Also use Fast response. The settings give you instantaneous response. If youā€™re looking to aggregate the data, use leq and sample the sound for a whole song. ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/18 "2022-06-26T14:31:56Z")
Jerry: My options with this particular app/meter are: ITU-R 468 A B C Z _Clarifying my question and your answer(s):_ 1. Use C or Z for a more accurate measure of sound pressure level potentially impacting your hearing. Correct? 2. For measuring the frequency response of the room while playing music, which of my available choices would you recommend, and why? TIA. Scott ---
**Author:** ![chrisj1948](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/chrisj1948/32/15436_2.png) [@chrisj1948](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chrisj1948)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/19 "2022-06-26T16:45:09Z")
> [@timm](#): > > I was looking at class A wattage and found an SPL calculator based on speaker efficiency / listening position / surrounding walls and found 16 watts gives me around 85 db I recall. If your speaker efficiency is in the 85-90dB/W/m range then that calculation is in the right ballpark. Responding to other points in the thread so far: The most commonly reported normal listening level seems to be around 70dB. Phone app meters, especially on Android where there is a wide choice of phone hardware, are often inaccurate and should be calibrated. If you cannot do this then in an urban dwelling at the dead of a windless night it should read about 35dB. A few dB lower out in the country. Since we are primarily interested in SPL, not nuisance, levels the A weighting is very misleading, particularly for bass. C is better but you really want the unweighted Z reading. ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/20 "2022-06-26T16:48:27Z")
> [@chrisj1948](#): > > Phone app meters, especially on Android where there is a wide choice of phone hardware, are often inaccurate and should be calibrated. If you cannot do this then in an urban dwelling at the dead of a windless night it should read about 35dB. A few dB lower out in the country. > > Since we are primarily interested in SPL, not nuisance, levels the A weighting is very misleading, particularly for bass. C is better but you really want the unweighted Z reading. Good info. Thank you, Chris. SEE ---
**Author:** ![owlsalum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47c2d/32.png) [@owlsalum](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/owlsalum)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499/21 "2022-06-26T16:53:11Z")
Very rarely above 70 dB peak at a few meters distance. Why? Because I live in a high-rise and common-sense courtesy for my neighbors who share walls, floors and ceilings prevails. Also, never above a whisper if at all after 10 pm. If only some of them did the same. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/decibels-for-listening/29499.md?page=2)