Shannon's Journal Discussion Thread, Vol. 5

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Shannon, when you say things like use volume 14/16 - does this relate to mobile phone speakers? what about connected to other speakers with amplification and volume?

for example, i have an android at 14/16 connected to power speakers using ultra sonic MIR 5.75
i would say its quite "loud", when i test it with hybrid for example for calibration.
when i sleep, Frequensee is showing -50db at my ears, which is about 3m from the speakers.

Are these the right settings? will these setting apply for other subs like OF 5.75?

When I say 13/15 I mean "playing from the onboard speaker of an Android phone.  14/16 on iPhone, or 26/30 on a Google phone (I think it was Google phone) is the equivalent.  Whatever the volume is at the speaker, that is the volume you want to use on whatever other player/external speakers if possible.  The exception is headphones or earbuds.  I don't use those, so I haven't figured out the optimal volume for them.  But it would be way too loud on headphones or earbuds at 13/15 I suspect, and you shouldn't use ultrasonic on them anyway.

It doesn't matter what the volume is at your ear, because volume falls off at the square of the distance from the source, and your ear moves around.  You need to match it at the source.

I use earbuds on an Android phone and set the volume of 10-11/15 (whatever is most comfortable.) Maybe try starting at that level. 

 I use the hybrid Triclikng Stream .flac format.

Hybrid includes ultrasonic.  That is not a wise thing to do on earbuds.  Especially on earbuds.  The volume from the speaker does not equate.  it is much higher, relatively, through earbuds.  It can potentially also damage your hearing to listen to ultrasonic that loud through earbuds.

My understanding of the volume calibration method you have advised in times past is to use the masked version, determine the listening volume where you can hear the most quiet part of the track,  and use that volume for listening to ultrasonic tracks. I applied that method to earbud use and have been doing it since the hybrid format was released. In other words, I listen to the hybrid track at the same volume that I would listen to a masked track. I understand that you recommend against using ultrasonic tracks with earbuds because a person could inadvertently change the volume and unknowingly blast their ears.  That makes total sense. But shouldn't the hybrid be okay as long as the listening volume is comfortable? I'm pretty sure I've seen a post of yours where you essentially answered that question in the affirmative. 

I run a fan at night while I sleep. Anything lower than than 10/15 and the trickling stream blends in. Maybe a lower volume of the hybrid track is effective even with the fan running? You have commented in the past that noise that drowns out the quiet part of the track can affect the subconscious' ability to understand the script from the masked portion of the track. To me, the volume always seems too low if less than 10 for that reason. 10/15 seems just right and is comfortable to listen to. 

I can still hear the frequencies when someone turns on a TV in another room. I can still hear the ultrasonic track playing from my laptop.  I've had no discernable loss in hearing. I avoid using the ultrasonic and masked tracks because they seem to have a noticeably weaker (less motivating) effect. 

In any case,  your concern/warning about potential hearing loss is noted.

EDIT: clarification of a few statements