Device for Equal Loudness/Fletcher Munson Curve? Do Any Speakers Adapt to This?

[Aerith Gainsborough]

I posted earlier in this topic what I do. I put a -10 loudness compensation curve (example) and adust the volume until it sounds balanced. many times i switch the curve on and off to train my ears.

So basically you are doing the "shelving tone controls" method in reverse by picking a set EQ-filter and adjusting the volume instead of the frequency response.
Got it.
Sounds tedious. You really do that manually per track on a regular basis?

 

[dasdoing]

So basically you are doing the "shelving tone controls" method in reverse by picking a set EQ-filter and adjusting the volume instead of the frequency response.
Got it.
Sounds tedious. You really do that manually per track on a regular basis?

I don't have to do it for every track. and after doing it for a while it is just like the normal adjusting volume which I always did before using those curves. atm I use only -10 and -20 curves and it is easy to get a feel for those levels. -10 I use for listening, -20 for "background music"

 

[tuga]

A couple of Phasure/BD Design speakers have Fletcher-Munson controls:

Orelino / Orelo MKII Fletcher-Munson Curves

A few examples of the settings (27 in total) :

 

[dasdoing]

why are amercians so repellent to ISO?

latest ISO is a meta-analysis of 16(!) studies https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210848/http://www.nedo.go.jp/itd/grant-e/report/00pdf/is-01e.pdf

it should be far the most accurate

 

[ernestcarl]

Rather than taking measurements in the actual listening position, this is how the Loudness DSP 'curves' roughly appear using JRiver's internal analyzer and full-range pink noise test calibration signal:

In stereo mode:

In MCH mode (last two channels [dark pink curve] are just clone copies of the full L&R channels for sending/re-routing to a separate HP amp):

Why didn't I think of this before? Simpler and quicker than taking measurements in the actual listening position.

 

[dasdoing]

for Alsa@Linux there is this: https://github.com/dpapavas/alsaloudness
for Jack@Linux there is something coming soon: https://github.com/sadko4u/lsp-plugins/issues/81

new LSP plugin has been released: https://lsp-plug.in/?page=manuals&section=loud_comp_stereo
manly targeted at Jack the LADSPA one at least should be able to work with Alsa somehow (no experience with Alsa plugins)

 

[tvrgeek]

Not sure we can put much faith in the average Englishman's hearing almost a century ago. Concepts valid. Data may not be.

FWIW, I do not like the results Adusseey provides, Emotiva was worse. My Anthem seems better. I had a DEQ2496. Dumped it. Too much distortion and noise. Went back to what I know, passive networks and room control.

 

[mlee]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but Dolby Volume does this as well. It's hard to find in devices though. Anthem has it and a few others.

 

[ElNino]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but Dolby Volume does this as well. It's hard to find in devices though. Anthem has it and a few others.

Dolby Volume integrates an equal loudness model with a dynamic range compressor. It's a pretty cool technology but I wonder if the latter isn't counterproductive for music listening -- or maybe the combination is better for some people?

 

[mlee]

Dolby Volume integrates an equal loudness model with a dynamic range compressor. It's a pretty cool technology but I wonder if the latter isn't counterproductive for music listening -- or maybe the combination is better for some people?

Ah, I thought they could be used independently. Yes, compression probably not good for music reproduction.

 

[Dj7675]

I helped develop a feature in DRC plugin for Volumio which may help you to implement this. You can set up 6 volume dependent filters which are then swapped seemlesly as you change volume, 4 of them for listening below flat curve and 2 of them above flat curve. Those 2 can also be used to reduce LF amplitude for loud playing to reduce strain on woofers.

Can this be used with the Minidsp SHD? I seem to recall in the past that it couldn’t be used. It is the 1 feature the SHD is missing in my opinion.

 

[Head_Unit]

If nobody has mentioned it (how does one search a particular thread?) the Buchardt A500 has a calibrated loudness feature you can turn on.

In the automotive space, BMW and others have speed dependent volume; I don't recall ever discussing if this was strictly volume, or if any loudness EQ was also involved

 

[Chrispy]

Dolby Volume integrates an equal loudness model with a dynamic range compressor. It's a pretty cool technology but I wonder if the latter isn't counterproductive for music listening -- or maybe the combination is better for some people?

Personally I don't like these compression programs for leveling volume at any time, but surprising how many times I see people saying they like to use them not only for tv/movies but also music....

 

[dasdoing]

new LSP plugin has been released: https://lsp-plug.in/?page=manuals&section=loud_comp_stereo
manly targeted at Jack the LADSPA one at least should be able to work with Alsa somehow (no experience with Alsa plugins)

personaly I can't live without this plugin anymore.
I use volumes from 0dB to -25dB. When I switch to flat (undoing loudness compensation) at -25dB my system sounds like a laptop (literally, even the soundfield shrinks)

 

[ernestcarl]

Personally I don't like these compression programs for leveling volume at any time, but surprising how many times I see people saying they like to use them not only for tv/movies but also music....

Don't use dynamic compression, but my wireless headphones do have the feature as well. I've never used it. I think there's always a use case for these things. Just haven't come across a need for it myself.

 

[dasdoing]

compression for movies is a must when you watch 5.1 downmixed with the ATSC standard on a stereo system. No clue why they came up with it, but it is impossible to whatch modern movies with it.
Here I solved this issue by making my own downmix in a software matrix mixer

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

personaly I can't live without this plugin anymore.
I use volumes from 0dB to -25dB. When I switch to flat (undoing loudness compensation) at -25dB my system sounds like a laptop (literally, even the soundfield shrinks)

Hmm to bad it seems to be Linux only. Would have liked to give it a shot.

 

[dasdoing]

Hmm to bad it seems to be Linux only. Would have liked to give it a shot.

afair Windows solutions have been discussed in this topic

 

[ernestcarl]

compression for movies is a must when you watch 5.1 downmixed with the ATSC standard on a stereo system. No clue why they came up with it, but it is impossible to whatch modern movies with it.
Here I solved this issue by making my own downmix in a software matrix mixer

Are these for certain DVDs? Not sure I've encountered watching a movie downmixed to stereo where I felt the need for something like it.

 

[dasdoing]

Are these for certain DVDs? Not sure I've encountered watching a movie downmixed to stereo where I felt the need for something like it.

nver heard of the "dialogs quiet, explosions loud" problem?
but yes, it is not all movies...so it is caused by bad mixing, not the standard per se.

also, in general the soundeffects on some movies are just stupid, I remember recently meassuring a movie scene of a closing trash can that had 20 and 30Hz content. I also remember "The Invisible Man" as very bad; for example a guy running into a parked car sounding like a bomb