Sound too loud in movie theaters

[Warren Kiefer]

I used the catchy title to get your attention with hopes we can as a group, by complaints, end a practice at the movie theaters. My wife and I viewed a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie at the Rialto. It was God's Not Dead. That said, I truly feel the audience was assaulted by the outragous volume coming out of the speakers. It actually hurt my ears. Myself and others could be seen covering their ears with their hands. The Villages theaters are all guilty of doing this and I would liken the volume as similiar to standing next to a passing train. There is no doubt that if this volume in decibels was in a factory, all employees would be required to wear hearing protection, yet we sit in movie theaters and get lamblasted for nearly two hours.:boom::MOJE_whot:

[borjo]

I agree. When in Virginia, my young grandson at the time could not stand the loudness. He wanted to leave. I spoke to management and they did knock the sound down a little but enough to be able to watch it. So, it's possible.

[2BNTV]

Solution is to bring earplugs. :D

Some of us are somewhat hard of hearing, so the extra volumn, might be a welcomed addition, to the movie. IMHO

[Villageswimmer]

How did management respond?

[kittygilchrist]

How did management respond?

good ?.

[Chi-Town]

When a movie kicks into surround sound it always seems to get louder. I assume it is for the full effect.

[pooh]

We agree on this, Warren. I have made it a practice to bring earplugs to the theaters as well as the Savanah Center.

[2BNTV]

We agree on this, Warren. I have made it a practice to bring earplugs to the theaters as well as the Savanah Center.

Women do hear better than men and that's why, "what" is a very big word, in our vocabulary. :D

[Topspinmo]

Actually for us that have hearing problems I agree movies are too loud. I rarely go to movie, it makes my ears ring and starts the cycle of migraine. People who don't have hearing problems (like tinnitus) don't understand until one day they can't understand what's being said due to ringing and tone loss. I only have one ear left and to me it's not worth it. As far as ear plugs I have to wear ear plug when ever I'm around noise above 100 decimals. Believe it or not Crowd noise is about the worse for me. Makes my ears ring in the ear I don't have hearing in. Only people with hearing problems understand that suffer from Migraine's.

[rdhdleo]

I used the catchy title to get your attention with hopes we can as a group, by complaints, end a practice at the movie theaters. My wife and I viewed a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie at the Rialto. It was God's Not Dead. That said, I truly feel the audience was assaulted by the outragous volume coming out of the speakers. It actually hurt my ears. Myself and others could be seen covering their ears with their hands. The Villages theaters are all guilty of doing this and I would liken the volume as similiar to standing next to a passing train. There is no doubt that if this volume in decibels was in a factory, all employees would be required to wear hearing protection, yet we sit in movie theaters and get lamblasted for nearly two hours.:boom::MOJE_whot:

I have to agree I would just speak to management or as others suggested bring ear plugs. As for your catchy subject line I can see where you sometimes need that hear to get peoples attention ;) and I am speaking as someone who many years ago was a victim. After all the loud sound was an assault on your ears and your ears are part of your body! Hope you can get some good results from management.

[kittygilchrist]

I'm curious, Warren, whether you left the movie due to being assaulted or you stayed for the film and did not protest, stuffed your ears or what?

[pooh]

Women do hear better than men and that's why, "what" is a very big word, in our vocabulary. :D

:1rotfl::1rotfl::clap2:

[graciegirl]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis

[Topspinmo]

this is not the place to complain about a loud movie. nobody here has anything to do with fixing that. I don't like being suckered by a catchy dishonest title to listen to someone venting.

__________________



Then Just Click on by.

[buggyone]

[QUOTE=Warren Kiefer;853881]I used the catchy title to get your attention with hopes we can as a group, by complaints, end a practice at the movie theaters. My wife and I viewed a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie at the Rialto. It was God's Not Dead. That said, I truly feel the audience was assaulted by the outragous volume coming out of the speakers. It actually hurt my ears. Myself and others could be seen covering their ears with their hands. The Villages theaters are all guilty of doing this and I would liken the volume as similiar to standing next to a passing train. There is no doubt that if this volume in decibels was in a factory, all employees would be required to wear hearing protection, yet we sit in movie theaters and get lamblasted for nearly two hours.:boom::MOJE_whot:[

So, for the two hours of the movie, did you sit there with hands over ears or did you ask that the volume be lowered or did you leave? You should have talked to the manager and left.

As a restaurant critic would say when someone complains AFTER consuming the whole meal - YOU ATE THE STEAK - How bad could it have been?

[Matzy]

I always wonder why movie theaters put the volume such high (loud). For me it doesn't make any sense, it doesn't make the film more interesting (again, my opinion).

[Barefoot]

We agree on this, Warren. I have made it a practice to bring earplugs to the theaters as well as the Savanah Center.

I also take earplugs if I go to a movie. I figure in a retirement community, there are some people who need the volume high. So I don't mind using earplugs.

[MikeV]

I kind of like the volume. Huh, what did you say dear I can't hear you. Eh?

[jnieman]

I too have a problem with the volume. I have sensitive ears because it doesn't bother my husband. It seems to me it is the previews of the action movies that have the highest volume. Sometimes the volume in the action movies is so high I can hear it booming in the theater next door. I bring ear plugs also.

[Bruiser1]

I used the catchy title to get your attention with hopes we can as a group, by complaints, end a practice at the movie theaters. My wife and I viewed a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie at the Rialto. It was God's Not Dead. That said, I truly feel the audience was assaulted by the outragous volume coming out of the speakers. It actually hurt my ears. Myself and others could be seen covering their ears with their hands. The Villages theaters are all guilty of doing this and I would liken the volume as similiar to standing next to a passing train. There is no doubt that if this volume in decibels was in a factory, all employees would be required to wear hearing protection, yet we sit in movie theaters and get lamblasted for nearly two hours.:boom::MOJE_whot:

I also went to the Rialto to see Need for Speed.
Great movie for car afficianos however the sound was way too high.
Maybe its the fact that the Rialto theater seating is half the size of the other two venues (sumter landing & Brownwood) and the sound could be sized for the room:Screen_of_Death:.

[Taltarzac725]

I know Old Mill Playhouse and Barnstorm Theater have Facebook pages. You may want to post your concerns on there. https://www.facebook.com/BarnstormTheater

https://www.facebook.com/OldMillPlayhouse

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Villages-Rialto-Theatre/218785261515917

[pleverich]

Maybe they could make available/sell disposable ear plugs?

[pleverich]

Maybe the theaters could make available or sell disposable ear plugs.

[Warren Kiefer]

solution is to bring earplugs. :d

some of us are somewhat hard of hearing, so the extra volumn, might be a welcomed addition, to the movie. Imho

how would one know beforehand they would be blasted with sound

[Warren Kiefer]

how did management respond?

said they would tell a manager, we were not able to speak to a manager

[Warren Kiefer]

i have to agree i would just speak to management or as others suggested bring ear plugs. As for your catchy subject line i can see where you sometimes need that hear to get peoples attention ;) and i am speaking as someone who many years ago was a victim. After all the loud sound was an assault on your ears and your ears are part of your body! Hope you can get some good results from management.

what happens when we are subjected to loud noise is that tiny hair receptors are destroyed and never regrow. The louder the noise, the more tiny hairs are lost. This is why people who worked in a noisy enviroment usually have hearing problems.
The volume i spoke was actually painful.

[Warren Kiefer]

i'm curious, warren, whether you left the movie due to being assaulted or you stayed for the film and did not protest, stuffed your ears or what?

i was wearing a jacket and actually pulled the collar upward over my ears. Lucky that i had the jacket, my wife and i had already discussed getting a rain check and leaving.

[graciegirl]

Dangerously loud? Monitoring movie theater volume | Austin News & Weather | Austin Texas, Round Rock, TX | kxan.com (http://kxan.com/2014/02/14/testing-movie-theater-volume-too-loud/)

[Warren Kiefer]

this is not the place to complain about a loud movie. Nobody here has anything to do with fixing that. I don't like being suckered by a catchy dishonest title to listen to someone venting.

__________________



then just click on by.

i cannot understand when people attack a poster and with reasoning that is flawed. Wouldnt you think that if enough people became prompted by a post to jointly complain to the movie managment, that it wouldn't carry some weight. And in fact, i was in a sense assaulted, i certainly didn't expect to be subjected to such a loud noise that it hurt my ears. I usually don't read post thru it's entirety if the first sentence doesn't
tweek my interest. Anyway thanks to the many readers who agreed with me.

[Warren Kiefer]

[QUOTE=Warren Kiefer;853881]I used the catchy title to get your attention with hopes we can as a group, by complaints, end a practice at the movie theaters. My wife and I viewed a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie at the Rialto. It was God's Not Dead. That said, I truly feel the audience was assaulted by the outragous volume coming out of the speakers. It actually hurt my ears. Myself and others could be seen covering their ears with their hands. The Villages theaters are all guilty of doing this and I would liken the volume as similiar to standing next to a passing train. There is no doubt that if this volume in decibels was in a factory, all employees would be required to wear hearing protection, yet we sit in movie theaters and get lamblasted for nearly two hours.:boom::MOJE_whot:[

So, for the two hours of the movie, did you sit there with hands over ears or did you ask that the volume be lowered or did you leave? You should have talked to the manager and left.



As a restaurant critic would say when someone complains AFTER consuming the whole meal - YOU ATE THE STEAK - How bad could it have been?


OK, PICTURE THIS IS YOU CAN. I SPOKE TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO GAVE ME THAT "DUH" LOOK BUT DID SAY THE MANAGER WAS OUT AND HE WOULD GIVE HIM MY MESSAGE. I DID LOVE THE MOVIE AND I DID SIT FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS WITH MY JACKET PULLED UP OVER MY EARS TO DEADEN THE SOUND. I SUPPOSE I DIDN'T REALLY EAT THE WHOLE STEAK, I BURIED IT UNDER MY MASHED POTATOES.:loco::wave::rant-rave:

[Warren Kiefer]

i too have a problem with the volume. I have sensitive ears because it doesn't bother my husband. It seems to me it is the previews of the action movies that have the highest volume. Sometimes the volume in the action movies is so high i can hear it booming in the theater next door. I bring ear plugs also.

you are 100% correct. The previews are somewhat louder than the feature film but both are much too loud. I too have heard the sounds from the adjacent movie.

[Warren Kiefer]

dangerously loud? Monitoring movie theater volume | austin news & weather | austin texas, round rock, tx | kxan.com (http://kxan.com/2014/02/14/testing-movie-theater-volume-too-loud/)

thanks gracie, the facts are that the movie managers are contributing to our hearing loss. When your ears hurt from the volume, it is simply too loud.

[Villager Audio Video]

Movies are mixed and played back to a very specific standard called reference level. 85db average and 105db for low frequency effects. Maximum sound pressure levels are 105 and 115 for LFE. It's pretty loud but then again so are plane crashes. There is lots of dynamic range in movie soundtracks. The difference in sound pressure levels between a whisper and a gunshot is just like you would experience outside the theater. Many people who watch TV and movies at home through their TV speakers are shocked because there gear at home could never play the wide frequency response or dynamic range typically played back by high end audio systems.

[butterfly sue]

One time last year we went to the Rialto and the sound was way too high. I couldn't even hear my husband talking next to me. I sent him out to complain which he did. Nothing was done. So sent him out again and was told the sound was OK. He said no and hubby was so angry he called the guy nuts. This is out of the ordinary for my hubby. When next people arrived and noticed, we told them to complain as we had already with no results. I think it took two more people to complain and it was turned down. If it wasn't, we would have left because it was that bad. This is above the normal loudness of the movies. If we go to action movies, we take earplugs. With the speaker checks, the movie makers want you to "experience" the movies. It hasn't been that bad since that one time.

[Warren Kiefer]

movies are mixed and played back to a very specific standard called reference level. 85db average and 105db for low frequency effects. Maximum sound pressure levels are 105 and 115 for lfe. It's pretty loud but then again so are plane crashes. There is lots of dynamic range in movie soundtracks. The difference in sound pressure levels between a whisper and a gunshot is just like you would experience outside the theater. Many people who watch tv and movies at home through their tv speakers are shocked because there gear at home could never play the wide frequency response or dynamic range typically played back by high end audio systems.

are movie owners and managers advised what a safe volume level should be. I sincerely believe that if a person was exposed to the volume level i experienced at the rialto yesterday, it would cause a severe loss of hearing.

[Warren Kiefer]

Movies are mixed and played back to a very specific standard called reference level. 85db average and 105db for low frequency effects. Maximum sound pressure levels are 105 and 115 for LFE. It's pretty loud but then again so are plane crashes. There is lots of dynamic range in movie soundtracks. The difference in sound pressure levels between a whisper and a gunshot is just like you would experience outside the theater. Many people who watch TV and movies at home through their TV speakers are shocked because there gear at home could never play the wide frequency response or dynamic range typically played back by high end audio systems.

I CHECKED SEVERAL MEDICAL REFERENCES FOR SAFE SOUND LEVELS. HERE IS WHAT I FOUND. ANYTHING ABOVE 85 DECIBELS, EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. YOUR COMMENT VERIFIES THAT EVEN THE AVERAGE SOUND LEVEL OF 85Db'S WE ARE EXPOSED TO WHEN ATTENDING MOVIES, CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. SO WHY DO MOVIE THEATERS DO THIS TO US ?????? IN ADDITION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR "PLANE CRASHES" EXAMPLE. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS EXPOSED TO PLANE CRASHES FOR TWO HOURS AT A TIME??? THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT..

[Villager Audio Video]

OSHA allows 90db, 8 hours a day unprotected.

I have a sound pressure meter, if someone wants to measure the peak volume in these movie theaters, I'll be happy to let you borrow it.

I calibrate multi channel audio systems to reference level standards daily. Ever wonder what the negative volume numbers values (ie -20) on a reciever means? 0db is reference. So - 20 is 20 dB down from reference meaning 65db averaged and peaks to 85db. With that said, you never get near theoretical peak volume with most recordings. They are generally much lower.

[CassieInVa]

I agree. Im 57 and have no hearing problem, but Ive been miserable in a few movies lately. The last time at TV. DH went to tell the Mgr., but volume wasn't lowered. It is one of the reasons Ive started waiting until they are available to watch from home. It just isn't fun when it hurts your ears. I wonder why movies are getting louder - they didn't used to be.

[Warren Kiefer]

osha allows 90db, 8 hours a day unprotected.

I have a sound pressure meter, if someone wants to measure the peak volume in these movie theaters, i'll be happy to let you borrow it.

I calibrate multi channel audio systems to reference level standards daily. Ever wonder what the negative volume numbers values (ie -20) on a reciever means? 0db is reference. So - 20 is 20 db down from reference meaning 65db averaged and peaks to 85db. With that said, you never get near theoretical peak volume with most recordings. They are generally much lower.

i filly realize you are someone who has experience in audio systems and i appreciate your input. I have no information as to how high the decibels were in that movie. I wish i would have had the means to measure the sound level. I would not be surprised if it was well above athe level considered safe. Let me end by saying the sound level actually was painful to the ear. I was sitting in the far back of the theater and was able to observe others who were placing their hands over their ears. This tells me it was just to loud for comfort. God bless !!

[Villager Audio Video]

Alot of times that has more to do with inadequate playback equipment than actual sound pressure level. If you run out of amplifier power and clip the signal, the distortion can be painful. Reference level is LOUD! I never listen up there @ Home for more that a minute or two and that's just for demo purposes. 10-12db below reference is more volume than most need.