"Dick Pierce" wrote:
The result were VERY interesting. With but a single exception,
EVERY one of the participants in the experiment adjusted the
volume control so that the sound pressure levels on playback
were SIGNIFICANTLY louder than they encountered during the
performance. And the differences were not subtle, often they
adjusted the volume so it was 10 dB or more louder than they
experienced in the performance.

The ONLY person to get close was the conductor.

The experiment suggests that many people tend to play louder
than realistic sound levels.

This correlates with the tendency of people to overestimate
what the sound pressure of music actually is in a live performance,
especially for classical music.


I have read numerous reports in the past that correlate with your findings.
People are very surprised to learn the SPL in a live classical performance is
usually much lower it is than expected, compared to home stereo listening.

"Cossie" wrote:
snip
On the other hand, the way much of today's music is recorded, we often turn
it up to try to replicate that intensity we hear live that is missing from
the aural assault of what compression has done to the dynamic range.


I tend to agree that dynamic range difference is one of the primary reasons for
the perceptual differences of SPL here. Even though the "potential dynamic
range" of recorded music is high, in reality it rarely has the ease and wide
contrast swing of a live orchestra. It is very difficult to hear the subtle low
level detail at the pianissimo end and capture the power of a full orchestra at
triple fortissimo in your listening room, even though you may continue turning
up the volume. IMHO this is one of the greatest differences between live and
recorded music yet today.
Regards,
Mike