Setting accurate volume levels

[faheem]

After watching Amir's video on Loudness.

Got me thinking that I could test voltage level going out of source with multimeter, test tone and cable termination out of source. Then work out spl by using a headphone calculator and headphone with tested sensitivity.

Will this be correct?

 

[trl]

Shouldn't this be related to headphone's sensitivity? I don't know what application you're using, but you may also check https://www.headphonesty.com/headphone-power-calculator/. Digizoid is also a very good tool too.

 

[AnalogSteph]

You would still need to know your average levels on the digital side, but basically that's the right approach, yes. Results may vary somewhat depending on headphone frequency response but it should give you a pretty decent ballpark figure.

 

[trl]

Forgot to say something related to headphonesty, digizoid or any other headphones SPL calculator, always aim to at least 115 dB peaks, even to 120 db SPL, instead of 110 dB. Reason for this is: 3...5 dB EQ headroom, 3...5 dB headroom for tracks recorded below 0 dB. If you use no EQ and all of your tracks are recorded with peaks that reaches -1 dB...0 dB then you're good with SPL peaks of 110 dB.

 

[faheem]

Shouldn't this be related to headphone's sensitivity? I don't know what application you're using, but you may also check https://www.headphonesty.com/headphone-power-calculator/. Digizoid is also a very good tool too.

Thank you, will have a look

Headphone Calculator

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_robinette77.HeadphoneCalculator

 

[faheem]

You would still need to know your average levels on the digital side, but basically that's the right approach, yes. Results may vary somewhat depending on headphone frequency response but it should give you a pretty decent ballpark figure.

Thank you, so what I did was send a 420hz tone, tested frequency and voltage with multimeter.

Then played a few tracks, keeping an eye on my meter and the peaks in particular. One track stood out. Billie Ellish - Bury a friend. It peaked by 5db at 56 to 58 seconds ( Sub bass at about 40hz if I remember correctly ).

This is more my curiosity on a few levels.

* What my listening volume was
* would different sources set to a constant voltage out, sound different with my headphone
* what would my peak voltage be in music compared to the constant at a tone signal.

 

[faheem]

Forgot to say something related to headphonesty, digizoid or any other headphones SPL calculator, always aim to at least 115 dB peaks, even to 120 db SPL, instead of 110 dB. Reason for this is: 3...5 dB EQ headroom, 3...5 dB headroom for tracks recorded below 0 dB. If you use no EQ and all of your tracks are recorded with peaks that reaches -1 dB...0 dB then you're good with SPL peaks of 110 dB.

Thank you, that's very useful info.