Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: MysticLlama
I've noticed this too, and with a nice sound system it drives me nuts.
The volume level that you can listen to and enjoy on a 1200w RMS system with great speakers without fatigue is far higher than some little crappy system.
Why is this? Shouldn't the same sound level on one system sound the same as the sound level on another? By fatigue, do you just mean a headache from the music being too loud or what?
Originally posted by: MysticLlama
I can listen to things at 10-15db higher easy than my bookshelf speakers in the other room (which are still pretty decent) and have less hearing discomfort.
What exactly do you mean by hearing discomfort? Again, are you just referring to a headache from the music being too loud? It may sound like a dumb question but the only time I could have ever described music as "fatiguing" is if it was turned up too loud and giving me a headache.
No, not a dumb question at all, it's really hard to explain.
Basically, I could take two of the aformentioned CDs back to back, so say the U2 originals vs. the remastered ones.
At the same volume level, as set by an SPL meter, say 95-100db, you'll be able to listen to the better master a lot longer without your ears feeling "scratchy" and bothered.
I think it has something to do with the sound curve of the actual sound produced. The more compressed the signal is, the more blocky the sound curve would be, and the transitions on your eardrum might not be as mellow. (completely guessing here, not a Doctor or anything). A lot of clubs still use Vinyl, which is analog, and even though there are hisses and pops at times, the sound is still more warm and smooth and able to go louder.
This isn't to say that with a great recording you can go as loud as you want, at some point the volume and pressure level is just too high and isn't fun. I had Dire Straights - Money for Nothing up to 111db, and that was just too loud. But at 100 or so, it was loud but fine, newer CDs hurt my ears in the mid-80 range.
Hope that maybe helped a little, I still think it's hard to describe how it actually feels.