"Andy Evans" wrote in message
oups.com...
I think it was Peter Walker who pointed this out: that for each
recording
there is just one "right" volume setting where the audio level and the
spatial perspective match to create a realistic image.

this is an interesting subject. One could argue that the "right" volume
level is the exact level at which the instruments were recorded. But
most of the time the playback situation - listening room - is smaller
than the recording venue, so that's not realistic anyway. Maybe a
string quartet could sound realistic at natural volume, but an
orchestra certainly wouldn't. So the whole thing is pretty debatable.

Could you explain how the "spatial perspective" works? Is this really
an illusion of reality or is there anything tangible in it? Nothing
wrong with an illusion of reality - this is something we're all after,
but knowing Peter Walker's technical stance I wondered if he had
something tangible in mind.



I also found this interesting and I even have the odd LP with 'empty dials'
printed on the sleeve for Volume, Bass, Treble so you can mark your
preferred settings on them. But this would only work if the listening
environment was static (room, seating position in relation to the speakers)
and of course different room sizes/amplifier power/speaker
sensitivity/cartridge output voltage &c.will all require that the derived
'standard' volume setting be changed to achieve the 'correct' sound level of
the music.

Then everybody's ears are that little bit different and so it goes on....