Greetings all.

I did a search and glanced through topics, but didn't see my specific question addressed.

I have a new Mazda 3 '08 (aurora blue) love it. This is my first new car and was curious approx what volume lv do you guys use when listening to radio, CDs, Ipod (through the built in aux port in the console)?

Was curious how far I could push the speakers safely (they are stock)

Usually a comfortable lv of radio is 15-18. But when I use my Ipod I usually have to crank the ipod volume up, and push the car volume to about 20-24. I guess some of that could be the compression used to copy the songs to the ipod, but I usually use 320k when converting.

Anyway, just curious what others had to use for settings.

Thanks!

 

when listening to CD's I usually have it somewhere around 10.... much louder than that and it's a bit too loud. If I have a Mp3 player plugged into my Aux Mod (I don't have the ACI like the '07+ models) then it's dependant on the Mp3 player's volume.

Bear in mind that there's a separate volume setting for the ACI. If you leave it at 20 and then switch to CD/FM/etc then the CD should be at whatever level you left it at before.

 

ive been listening to my MP3 player alot in my car (thru the aux in), and i usually listen to the music around 25 ish.
and i find it gets distorted after 30.
and my front speakers are still fine.

my guess would be that you can blow ur speakers with the stock deck, and that the stock deck probably underpowers the speakers.

 

I like the feature that each audio source has its own vol level stored and tracked.
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DOMINANTRIX cam

 

I've been listening to CDs at 20-25...25 beingrespectfullyloudbut notdistorting... I haven't pushed it past 25 yet. I'm all stock btw. 10, IcespotS? Man, that seems a bit low for casual listening, but maybe you don't like it loud? Or our systems are different... do you have the Bose system?

 

No I have the regular system. Really I can understand everything and enjoy it around 10 easily. Maybe the levels are different between the '05 and newer models? If I have it on 10 then I can almost comfortably speak with person next to me without raising my voice. If the windows and sunroof are open then I turn it up obviously.

 

Depends on what I am listening to, but I have seen MAX many times.

 

Note that the iPod output into the AUX might be lower than the radio output; there's no rigid standard as to what corresponds to max level on the signal sources.

The type of compression on the iPod is a space-saving (lossy) data compression, not the dynamic range (volume) compression which afflicts radio signals and the music stored on CDs. Though if you rip a song to an iPod, you'll actually have both. [sm=smiley17.gif]

Also, the radio output is surely more level-compressed than the iPod, which is why it "sounds" louder at a similar gain setting. Radio stations have been squishing the dynamic range for years in order to provide an apparently louder signal than their competitors. TV commercials are big offenders as well.

 

with cds radio (FM) its around 20- 25. but with my ipod in the aux input with the mp3 at full volume it works at like 17-19 depending on the song.. if i turn it up too like 25 ish it gets distorted. its all about basically testing it out figuring which works best for what device you use.. i have another mp3 player that doesnt get as loud so i turn up the volume in the car higher. just basically trial and error to figure it out.. thats what i did. although i got like hundreds of cds in my car so yea.

 

Great replies, really appreciated. I agree on 10 being too low for me as well, but as pointed out, there may be a difference internally on my 08, and the 05 that I am not aware of. Just wanted to guage others listening preferences, and habits.

I seem to be right on course with the ones that are 18-25 depending on Ipod volume, CD, or radio.

I just like to jam out alot and have always been afraid to blow my speakers.