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With a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old baby at home, it is mostly earphones these days, although I do manage to listen (quietly!) after 10 pm or so.
Last week's question about car systems prompted many readers to respond that their car is the only place where they can crank up an audio system. Are you restricted to quieter-than-ideal listening levels at home?
I'm fortunate in that I live in a detached 3 story home and have a dedicated listening room in the basement. The listening room is well insulated and most of the sound is contained. As a result, I can listen as late and loud as I wish and not disturb the family. Tony R. Harrison Sr.
Our family is fairly typical in that everyone is going in different directions on the weekend. If the family is out and I am in, I will put it at the level that brings out the best from the particular source I have on. Records seem to be easier to find a level than CD's (less dynamic range and a smoother sound).
I listen mostly to acoustic jazz and classical music (more chamber than orchestral), and if, as most audiophiles will profess, the goal is to approximate live sound as closely as possible, it does not need to be loud. In fact, it must not be. Think about it -- even a full symphony orchestra cooking on an fff section in a good concert hall does not sound "loud" by hi-fi standards.
The only times I listen to loud music are in the car, at home on headphones, or at home when the Missus and Miss are running errands without me. I do not want to strain my daughter's hearing. Sometimes she tells me "That's loud music, Daddy!" if I'm playing Beethoven, Bruckner, Ginastera, or Dream Theater at moderate listening levels. What she doesn't know won't hurt her ears. Besides, I need her to hear the pink noise tests when helping Daddy set up his loudspeakers!
I usually listen to music about as loud as I'd like. There are occasions, when listening to giganticly proportioned symphonies by Mahler, Bruckner, Scriabin, and a few others, where I'd like to crank the vloume just a little bit more but do not since I must respect my upstairs neighbors' right not to go deaf, too. Damn apartment living!As consolation, as a chamber music freak, I can usually listen to my string quartets quite loudly. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.
Since the listening/home theater is located below the master bedroom, I sometimes need to tone it down when the wife goes to bed early. She doesn't seem to mind too much except when a loud explosion causes the subwoofer to toss her out of the bed!
I live in a dorm which is great for rent, but crappy for music. The only time I can really listen to music at reasonable levels is in mid-afternoon (don't want to piss off the neighbors). This is unfortunate because my favorite time to listen to music is evening to late evening (8-12)