tFB experiment: "Home" volume... tangible measures

Snags

In the spirit of contributing useless data that doesn't meet the crtieria, I've got one of those cheapish dB meters on the wall, similar to Andertons/TPS.

When I practice at home it tends to register anything between late 80s to low 90s, and only hits 100 if I'm getting carried away. That's at roughly 4m.

ecc83

Dave_Mc said:

ecc83 said:

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=loudness+weihting+graphs&fr=yhs-iba-syn_weatherprince&type=f2:;.6850610d4680680b2811f3dcdca6be379af;5.ac48569fc081a6a1b52a8ef8e64166f19c0ca9cd289925759ba5c0534a4ff17f5111c77ddaee787ec434f84&hspart=iba&hsimp=yhs-syn_weatherprince&imgurl=https://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/images/sound-weightings.jpg#id=0&iurl=https://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/images/sound-weightings.jpg&action=click

I am willing to bet you a cheap guitar cable that your meter has a C weighting. If that link works you can see how much "grunt and chugg" you are not reading.

"A" is for measuring traffic noise mainly and that is very close to "white" noise.

Dave.

Is that to me? If so, my meter's just a cheapo Maplins one from years ago, I think it just has a minimum and maximum button, though I could be wrong...

Same as mine! But when I bought it I made sure I got one with a C weighting. My main reason was for calibrating the  monitors (Tannoy 5a) in my son's home recording setup.

Dave.

guitargeek62

Snags said:

In the spirit of contributing useless data that doesn't meet the crtieria, I've got one of those cheapish dB meters on the wall, similar to Andertons/TPS.

When I practice at home it tends to register anything between late 80s to low 90s, and only hits 100 if I'm getting carried away. That's at roughly 4m.

Lol, thank you anyway - the spirit's there at least!

sev112

have we got any numbers yet?

Dave_Mc

ecc83 said:

Dave_Mc said:

ecc83 said:

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=loudness+weihting+graphs&fr=yhs-iba-syn_weatherprince&type=f2:;.6850610d4680680b2811f3dcdca6be379af;5.ac48569fc081a6a1b52a8ef8e64166f19c0ca9cd289925759ba5c0534a4ff17f5111c77ddaee787ec434f84&hspart=iba&hsimp=yhs-syn_weatherprince&imgurl=https://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/images/sound-weightings.jpg#id=0&iurl=https://www.acoustic-glossary.co.uk/images/sound-weightings.jpg&action=click

I am willing to bet you a cheap guitar cable that your meter has a C weighting. If that link works you can see how much "grunt and chugg" you are not reading.

"A" is for measuring traffic noise mainly and that is very close to "white" noise.

Dave.

Is that to me? If so, my meter's just a cheapo Maplins one from years ago, I think it just has a minimum and maximum button, though I could be wrong...

Same as mine! But when I bought it I made sure I got one with a C weighting. My main reason was for calibrating the  monitors (Tannoy 5a) in my son's home recording setup.

Dave.

I can't remember why I got mine! I think I probably just wanted a rough idea of how loud I was playing, so as not to unintentionally kill my ears.

skunkwerx

• Room ave. dB reading: 43.1
• Room peak dB reading: 56.1
• Amp: Boss Katana 100 mkii Artist head
• Speaker(s): ummm, Boss Katanas 2x12 cab with whatevers in there. 
• Output rating:  0.5w mode though solid state. 
• Master volume: See pic. 
• Channel volume:   35 of 100
• Gain:  70 of 100
• Ave. dB reading: 67.5
• Peak dB reading:  70.50
• Phone/hardware used to record:   iPhone 14 Pro max. 
• App used: Decibel X

I took the pic then realised its pretty pointless as all knobs are set to 0 except the master volume. 

I was using my presets. 

As I've said before my walls are so thin I can hear my neighbours talking at regular talking levels, every footstep/cough etc lol. So when the app was reading 70db, whatever true level that was, it was as loud as I'd want to go given the room. Louder than I'd normally want to practice at thats for sure. 

guitargeek62

Cheers @Skunkwerx, that's helpful Do you normally use that amp at home, or did you crank it a bit just for this then?

HT986M2

I have a Marshall SL-5 and I mainly use it on 1 watt mode.  I think this is a loud amp for home use, and this is the results after I recently turned down the volume.

• Room ave. dB reading:  24.6 dB
• Room peak dB reading:  37.2 dB
• Amp:  Marshall SL-5 
• Speaker(s): Celestion V30
• Output rating:  1w
• Master volume:  N/A
• Channel volume:  3
• Gain:  6
• Ave. dB reading:  82.5 dB
• Peak dB reading:  88.2 dB
• Phone/hardware used to record:  iPhone 14 Pro
• App used:  Decibel X

This would be my 'wife is out of the house' level.  Even though I live in a detached house I'd be hesitant to play louder than this since I don't want to mess up my hearing.  Plus, I suspect there will be some sound leakage outside.

This is also probably the lowest I'd run the overdrive channel.  While I would play it at a lower volume if it would allow, any lower and I think it loses something

skunkwerx

guitargeek62 said:

Cheers @Skunkwerx, that's helpful Do you normally use that amp at home, or did you crank it a bit just for this then?

Yeah its my only amp these days and I'm just a home player

I turned it up only to the maximum that I'd ever play with at home. A spirited session if you will but it was no louder than I'd feel comfortable with playing for extended periods. When I say home player, I mean my old bedroom which was converted to a very small 'living room'. 

Normally, I will go a bit quieter for regular playing. 

If I was home alone, and had a bigger room, no doubt I would err a little louder. 

Its solid state and with the master volume I can practically turn it down as low as I like, low enough so as not to wake someone sleeping in the next room.. as more often than not I feel the need to riff at midnight.. or 6am.. (however the acoustic sound of the strings being louder than the amps sound in those situations is what has woken them) lol. 

snowblind

Just for additional interest, same thing with the Laney VC30, 2x12" Hiwatt speakers, clean channel, vol at 9PM(2).

iphone8/DecibelX:           idle 40dB        guitar peak: 95 with no extra drive  
Moto G54/DecibelX :       idle 50dB        guitar peak: 93 with no extra drive.

Kicked in a t-rex moller2. both sides active but output level is about 11AM(4) and...

iphone8/DecibelX:          peak: 121  
Moto G54/DecibelX :      peak: 113

Not quite sure why the iphone is getting all sensitive today.  The old VC30 can certainly make a bit of noise though. Doesn't fold up like the LC15. That same pedal into the Hiwatt/BC30 combo sits around 113 peak so make of that what you will.

The VC30 didn't sound obviously louder than the other rig so I'm not quite sure where the iphone got the extra 8dB from. I did reset the peaks in case it was just a transient but each time it hit 120. Maybe Apple has a thing for Laneys?