Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

I've noticed the same thing, so I don't think it's your particular disc player.
I attribute it to the dynamic range, but I don't have any scientific findings
to back that up; it's just what I mumble to myself as I turn up the gain.
Since I set the volume for the "usual" sound level, and I note that the loud
sections are louder than I would nomally listen to, the range explanation
seemed reasonable to me.  
						>>>==>PStJTT

I would concur.

I have also read somewhere, that because of the cleaner sound you tend to
turn up the volume a little more. Also, as it says on some of the CD's
something to the effect of "turn the volume up and you will here new
sounds and greater dimension and depth, etc etc". Again, probably related
to the increased dynamic range as well.

What complex explanations!  I think it's more that the output level of the
CD player is lower than what the receiver expects as a "standard" line
input.  That's why more expensive CD players (and cassette decks, etc.) have
line output level controls.
				Steve

I believe that it is a combination of both explanations. That is because
the dynamic range is greater and the output should be limited to prevent
overdriving the line input of the next stage, the "average" must be set
lower in the CD player! I have certainly noticed the affect and agree
also with the improved "tolerance" of higher levels do to the purity of
CD output.

Jerry

Well, I think the whole thing can be attributed to perturbations in the energy
fields of the music waves caused by the combined psyches of the ancient
astronauts, but then, I could be wrong.

re .4 regarding line output level controls...

My husband got into an argument with a salesman at Tweeter in the Mall of
NH about line output level controls.  We were asking if one of the Yamaha
CD players had one and the salesman said that he couldn't imagine why anyone
would want one and that we were pretty stupid for wanting such a thing.

Needless to say we didn't buy a CD player there.
(Although we did buy one from the Tweeter in Nashua.)

re .0
I noticed shortly after we got our CD player that I was playing CDs at a
louder volume than I play records or cassettes because I found I had to shout
over the music if I wanted to talk to someone when I was playing a CD.

I assumed that the reason that I listen to CDs at a louder volume was due
to the lack of background noise and distortion.

					Laura
                                             

I too noticed that I tended to turn up the volume more, which may be related
to another phenomenon.  One of the "analog-phile's" arguments against CD's
was that listening to CD's caused headaches after a while. I noticed this
too; after a few hours of listening I would sometimes get "audio fatigue"
or whatever you want to call it.  I believe this was actually caused by
the higher than usual sound levels, and not the "distortion" as claimed by
the anti-CD elements. I guess that great S/N ratio tempts me to turn
Mahler up to something like 0.8 or 0.9 Soltis (for those of you who don't
know, a "solti" is the prefered unit of sound volume when refering to
Mahler  :-)   )

Re: .8

OK.  I'll bite.  Why is a "solti" the prefered unit of sound volume when
refering to Mahler?

	- Barry (Into Pop, but willing to learn)

The unit "solti" is named after (sir) Georg Solti, a Hungarian expatriate
and for many years (and still) the Music Director of the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra.  He is famous for his Mahler (as well as other things).  I 
prefer his recordings without the CSO, but it's a matter of personal taste,
not quality.