I know volume is a function of the efficiency of the speakers but I was curious if 45 with my very efficient Klipsch Cornwalls is a bit too high for music. Above 40 it sounds too loud and not as pleasent. I'm listening at 35 to the new Springsteen CD. The Klipsch are very efficient so most other speakers would need a higher setting to achieve the same sound pressure. I guess I need to get a Radio Shack SPL meter.

It sounds like you need new speakers,if you think the sound is not pleasent;I believe your speakers sensitivity is 102 db's at 1 meter for one watt,so how far are you from the speakers?How big is your room?For how long have you had your speakers??Or are you just playing your speakers at rock and roll levels??

I moved my speakers out from the corners and back wall and dramtacilly improved my imaging and sound. My speakers are now about 2.5' from the back and 2' from side walls. They are 7' apart (between inside edges). I'm 9.5' from the speakers and the room is 16' wide and 20' deep.

The Cornwalls are rated at 98.5dB @ 1watt/1meter. For loud rock passages on a CD, I find a setting of about 45 to be enjoyable...50 is about max. I normally listen at a setting of 40.

For movies 40 is comfortable and typcial. 45 is better, and I don't think I've tried it over 50.

You definately should get a RadioShack SPL meter (get the analog one, not the digital) and calibrate your system. You should be listening to movies near the "00" on the main volume to get the levels the film was originally mixed at, and your CD playback levels should be near this also.

As I answered you in another thread, connect up that Dynaco tube amp. It will sound a lot better with the Cornwalls than any solid state amp will. It also might be a good idea to check that all the drivers in your speakers are functioning to original factory specs. The effects of time, air pollution (smoking in particular), moisture and salt air can deteriorate speaker cones. You might give Klipsch a call and ask them about this.

Soundhound, this is the 1050 forum so I think hoots has the 1050 not the 950. The 00 setting on the 1050 is just 0 and basicly it's off. You gotta watch which forum you are in

Hoots, I listen at 45-55 however my B&W speakers are very inefficient. My advice is if the music is loud enough at 40 and below to enjoy then no worries; however, if you need to turn them up to enjoy them and at that point they don't sound good then it looks like your next purchase is going to be speakers.

[This message has been edited by desperado (edited December 29, 2002).]

Sorry, I assumed the 1050's volume control was calibrated like the 950 - it _should_ be

[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited December 29, 2002).]

45=90db at 9' from my speakers. This is a loud passage on the latest Springsteen CD. That seems loud enough. 80db actually is my more typical listening level for music.

I'll calibrate my speakers with my new SPL meter and then test some of the battle sceens from "Band of Brothers" to see how loud I"ve been listening to movies. I assume the loud scenes are probably more sound pressure than music.

hee...hee...I guess I assumed you would know how the 1050 worked even though you don't own one, so I am sort of making the same mistake. I like your final stance that the 1050 should behave like the 950. I agree, in fact it should have all of the features of the 950 as well

[This message has been edited by desperado (edited December 30, 2002).]

My knowledge is minimal of things of which I know nothing about

I just switched speakers, from inefficient Spica TC-50 to an even less efficient DIY pair. I can turn these up to around 70 on my 1050 before it gets too loud.

Klipsch used to demo his speakers in the late 50s with low power, 10 watt, amps just to show how efficient his speakers were. 65 watts is overkill for these.