Sound volume - again!

[Jayboy]

They had 35 years to test it... jeeze...

Jayboy

[stans lad]

I have had no complaints about the volume in the last 35 years so what has changed or been changed to cause this problem?
FYI still not had anything back about my complaint.
As for the players liking it loud so we can't hear them, I can't hear the people at the side of me so zero chance of being able to hear them.

[ginger]

Is it a new PA? Or new speakers? Have they been regularly serviced and maintained?

I'm not saying that it isn't too loud in places, but again, there's loads of things that can cause sound and audio equipment generally to behave weirdly - and arenas in general are nightmares to get sound levels consistent in.

What I'm trying to say is that there may be limitations on what is achievable, and what we have currently is the best possible overall, whilst not being perfect.

[Jayboy]

And yet when they basically turn it down I am pretty sure everyone can still hear it.. and any new systems they use over the years all got tuned to previously accepted parameters.. and set tolerance limits... like I said they have got 35 years of data to work with... its certainly not an issue that's a fabrication! Its a real problem... one yound lad above us last week was crying and holding his hands over his ears.. also adults now have taken to bringing in ear projection.. How can that be right!

Jayboy

[ginger]

And yet you also have plenty who seem to not have an issue. Unfortunately sound equipment isn't as easy as saying 'this level and EQ worked on the old one, let's do the same for the new one'

Again, I've not said it's not an issue in some areas of the arena. My comments are more than it's not a black and white easy thing to fix. Because if you just 'turn it down' do you get areas that are too quiet and PA safety announcements are not clear? I don't know the answer, but again it's just all in support of the point that it's not necessarily an easy fix

[Jayboy]

It doesn't have to be an easy fix... they just have to fix it.. it doesn't concern me or anyone else how easy to fix the issue is, and neither should it.. isn't it their responsibility either way..?
More importantly it then falls to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to enforce the rules, while local authorities handle nuisance noise (EnvironmentalHealth Department) the HSE covers the health and safety of workers in the arena (and implicitly the audiences) regarding noise exposure, recommending levels do not exceed 107 dB. Which it most certainly looks like it is doing. Granted measurements made on un calibrated amateur sound level devices can not be trusted as an accurate reading, but those readings and anecdotal evidence sent to the arena in form of written complaints should be enough for the arena management to be concerned enoughto want to solve the issue..
Even if some customers are saying its not bothering me.. so its not a problem I care about..



Jayboy

[ginger]

Again, all I'm saying is PA sound in an arena is a nightmare, and not necessarily always possible to get perfect, even if you have managed to get it that way previously. That's why I mentioned about new/condition/servicing of equipment. Crikey, even a couple of speakers being a couple of inches rotated from previous positions can change the sound.

In an ideal world of course it would be perfect for everybody, all of the time in every part of the arena. To me it's no louder than it was 5, 10, 20 years ago. That could be because my hearing has got worse, or I've not reached an age yet where noise bothers me more, or I've been lucky and sat in areas where the sound feels balanced.

The H&S point, I doubt comes in to play, since it's probably covered by T&C's - otherwise every nightclub in existence would be getting shutdown

[Jayboy]

I defer to you... if only to preserve my own sanity...

[BrianC]

Quite a few years ago, I was in working men’s club when the group’s equipment lost power because the sound was too loud. I am sure in this day and age similar equipment is available.
Can’t they just turn the volume down, or is that too simple? Also, if the announcer didn’t shout at the microphone it would help.

[mark]

Quite a few years ago, I was in working men’s club when the group’s equipment lost power because the sound was too loud. I am sure in this day and age similar equipment is available.
Can’t they just turn the volume down, or is that too simple? Also, if the announcer didn’t shout at the microphone it would help.

Yes some venues still have this limiter in place. They can turn the volume down of course, but they want it as loud as they can for the "atmosphere", unless they either get made to turn it down or recognise themselves that it's too loud it will not change. Personally Simms could be whispering and I'd want it quieter but there you go..