Video Asylum

Posted by badman on March 04, 2001 at 03:51:34:

In Reply to: DVD sound vs VCR sound posted by Dave R on February 24, 2001 at 14:09:49:

It depends upon the particular devices. Sometimes dvds sound a lot louder or quieter based upon the analog output devices. If it's connected to the digital input on the receiver, it would be the receivers dac section which would be relevant. It's all very personal to the devices. Some players sound much quieter than vcrs due to the broad dynamic range lowering the level of much of the sound. Also, percieved volume is significantly increased for vcr, due to its high natural distortion compared with the digital formats. Human volume perception is significantly based upon distortion. Distortion is also much more damaging to our hearing, hence the brutal headaches after listening to a poor recording vs a good one at high volume. Take it easy though, for your hearing sake, don't turn up the dvd player too high, peaks of 95 dB can cause damage, and 85 cont. can too. The midnight listening mode on many players is a boon for certain widely dynamic dvds where high volume is required for speech, and then the peaks blow your head off!!! Certainly it's an extra filter in the digital domain, but your ears are sometimes worth it. Those tiny bones in there need to be pampered!