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On most Beomasters there is a loudness-setting. This is intended for use when playing vinyls on a Beogram.
Do you use this setting?
If yes, why?
If no, why not?
GO!
"You think we can slap some oak on this thing?"
This was discussed on a recent thread mainly related to the Beolab 5000 system.
Yes, I use it because it sounds better to me in my environment and I prefer it.
The loudness circuit is designed to aurally compensate volume control - 'to provide balance between bass, midrange and treble according to the sensitivity of the ear' (quote from the Beolab 5000 user manual).
This is dependant on each individual user hence some preferring it and others not. My hearing range has decreased a lot due to ageing, the loudness control helps compensate.
I haven't read anywhere that it's only intended for use when playing vinyls on a Beogram. Where has that been said as I'd be interested in reading about it?
Dave.
Loudness is designed to make up for the fact that at lower levels human hearing in the bass and treble regions rolls off, more in the bass than the treble, as illustrated in the Fletcher-Munsen curves. So, loudness boosts the bass and treble but less treble boost than bass boost. It has nothing to do with LP, that's RIAA equalization and is automatically incorporated in phono preamps and phono sections of receivers.
Different implementations of loudness are better or worse than others. I find the contour on my BS9000 works very well to improve the sound of my Lab 9s at lower levels, also works well on my BL8000s. At higher levels it's a tad heavy handed as you'd expect so I don't use it then.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
its down to preference and set up.... I use loudness rarely with my Penta's due to the shape and design of the room they are located (1900's build) and the supplied source.
Vinyl it works well on but when I use Loudness on FM radio I can't cope with the booming especially as some stations use a constant underlying bass sound when DJ's talk or adverts run....
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
Loudness? Never - it's the work of Satan!
And nothing to do with playing "vinyls", whatever they are...
I don't ever use the loudness function on my Beosystem 2500. I've always found it to be a very obtrusive function (not just with B&O) and always prefer to leave the treble, bass and loudness features flat. I also believe that since B&O aim to make their speakers present the music as the artist intended, it would indeed be a shame to manipulate the sound by using these functions.
I guess it's down to personal taste though
All the best
Rasmus
In the 'old' thread this link was posted:
http://www.tonmeister.ca/wordpress/2014/06/07/bo-tech-what-is-loudness/
So it is just meant as a reminder - before the discussion gets 'too hot'.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Without loudness youll miss out all the good and expensive bits
No telephone quality sound for me please
Want natural sound go to live venues and only unplugged ones
Minuscat: .........Want natural sound go to live venues and only unplugged ones
.........Want natural sound go to live venues and only unplugged ones
thought .... couldn't B&O do a real living room tour and have say the artist plug straight into your home system and jam... oh naturale living room sounds
BeoGreg:Can't live without loudness on my beolab 8000. Each time I read that I have to switch loudness off I test and switch it on immediatly. Too flat without.
Each time I read that I have to switch loudness off I test and switch it on immediatly.
Too flat without.
Exactly the same for me with the Beolab 5000 system that Frede restored for me. Much better to my ears with loudness on. If I switch it off to test/remind myself, I too switch it straight back on.
In my opinion, any control on an audio device is simply there to make the sound of the system more enjoyable for you. It's like the salt and pepper on the table of a restaurant. If you like it, use it - and use it without shame. If you don't like it, you don't have to.
What I don't understand is people who automatically put salt and/or pepper on their food before they taste it. It appears that, for these people, the food is just a transportation device for condiments...
Caveat: on SOME B&O devices like the BV11, you can tweak the Loudness - so if you don't like it, it might be your own fault.
Cheers
-geoff
Another lesson in common sense direct from the man in Struer I suppose!
Lee
PS - I always turn loudness on, and come to think of it I automatically put Salt and Pepper on my food without even thinking..
PPS - I do love Salt and Pepper though, so maybe my meal is just an excuse to eat it.
The alternative to loudness is to play the music loud!
Peter
IMO it depends on the loudspeakers.
I have had a lot of different music systems and speakers over the years. Some speakers needed loudness to sound good - while on others the bass became 'muddled' or 'wobbly' (too much), when using loudness.
My experience says, that most of B&O's active speakers have enough bass without loudness. (even at low volume)
In the systems i use most today, I don't use loudness. (only exception is my beovox 4500, which at low volume can sound 'tiny')
Beocenter 9500 with Beolab 5000's - no loudness (sounds awful with loudness -muddled bass) And it can play LOTS of bass at high volume anyway.
Beosystem 6500 with Beoxox Pentas - no loudness. (same reasons as above)
BeoSound 3000 with Beolab 4000's - no loudness.
Beomaster 4500 with Beolab 4500's - no loudness.
Beomaster 3000 (80's) with Beovox 4500 - no loudness button on this - but I sometimes turn up the bass..
- but I once had a pair of Beolab 6000. They needed loudness.
Not for me.
Too long to list....