chaotik_lord wrote:
two of my roommates are blasting classical so loud that it's disturbing me across the house and up a floor. I love classical, yet I'm in anguish over this intrusion. I'm also bothered by the dissonant tonalities of Brian's preferred composers and selections.
This is not the point. In a car, or at home, or using a portable device, why are they blasting music so loudly? I'm hard of hearing yet I never listen at anything near those volumes.
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your roommates are being inconsiderate, in terms of volume. you need to come to some sort of arrangement with them to where they can listen to their stuff when you are least likely to be around, or limit listening time, or wear headphones. this said, audio professionals will tell you there is only one "correct" volume level at which to properly listen to music, and that level is generally within 10db of its actual recording volume [how loud it was in the recording venue]- listening above that level or below alters the frequency balance unpleasantly, with low levels losing bass/treble and sounding comparatively muffled.
btw, are you sure you're hard of hearing? you may have an [aural] perceptual difficulty instead. you mentioned dissonant tonalities which makes me think you have unusual acuteness in your aural sensitivity. when i was young, i absolutely couldn't stand the whistling whining sound of the vacuum cleaner- too much treble energy. animals like cats also hate vacuum cleaners for the same reason- extra sensitivity to trebles.
just my 2-cents-worth