CD Playback Levels

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  • rdram
    Member
    • Mar 2005
    • 98
    #1

    CD Playback Levels

    Here's a question for you... I've noticed something a liitle odd. Has there been a change in the way CD's are recorded/produced since their introduction? I ask because I've noticed that when I pop in a newer CD, to get to a normal listening level I need to have the volume between 50-55 on my 1068. When I go back into the archives, and play a CD I purchased years ago...say circa mid to late 80's, I have to have the volume control up in the mid 60's to get the same volume. Seems like there's been a change in the ...what would you call it... "reference level" of the actual pressing? And quite honestly, some of them sound like dog dew...little to no bass response seems common to early CD's. Anybody else ever notice this? Just wondering..

    RD
    Tags: None
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    • littlesaint
      Senior Member
      • Jul 2007
      • 823
      #2
      Compression. Not bitrate compression, but audio compression. I've yet to hear a reason as to why studios apply it they way they do, but it certainly makes music sound louder. It also raises the noise floor and sucks the dynamics right out.
      Santino

      The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
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        • PewterTA
          Moderator
          • Nov 2004
          • 2901
          #3
          This is a pretty good video "basically" discribing it...

          The Loudness War
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ
          Spring 2016 - check out my updated course, Foundations of Digital Audio, at http://www.lynda.com/Acoustics-tutorials/Foundations-Digital-Audio/383529-2.htmlH...


          and another example

          - YouTube
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t40xBpqfE&feature=related
          Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
          Digital Audio makes me Happy.
          -Dan
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            • cug
              Senior Member
              • Jan 2008
              • 286
              #4
              Originally posted by littlesaint
              Compression. Not bitrate compression, but audio compression. I've yet to hear a reason as to why studios apply it they way they do, but it certainly makes music sound louder. It also raises the noise floor and sucks the dynamics right out.
              The reason is simple psychology: when two songs are played, the average listener will feel that the louder song is the better.

              Same applies to two radio stations: ask a thousand people which radio station is better between two and the majority will choose the louder of both. Same with comparable audio systems.
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                • rdram
                  Member
                  • Mar 2005
                  • 98
                  #5
                  That would explain what I'm hearing. I had no idea that's been happening and it sure doesn't seem to make any sense as to why the studios would take all the dynamic range out of a recording just to make it louder. Thats what a volume control is for. Thanks for the info.

                  RD
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