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I have the volume here set to what I think is reasonable; anyone who doesn't like it is welcome to go to another theatre.

. . .

Maybe other theatres do play their stuff too loud -- once again, I haven't watched a movie in any theatre other than my own for several years. I have the volume here set to what I think is reasonable; anyone who doesn't like it is welcome to go to another theatre.

The topic of this conversation is mainly how irresponsibly loud to the point of inducing hearing damage movie theaters often are.

To be honest ... and since I started this thread, I posted because of my lack of enjoyment.

The film I just saw ... and the reason for my rant ... the sound level in this instance was just a tad too loud.

The damage to ears is secondary for me in this discussion, I just want to enjoy myself when I go out ... and I can't do that if the sound level is too loud or even just a bit too loud.

Yes but you cannot please everyone. If one person is complaining that it is too loud or too quiet and everyone else in the cinema / gig are happy or at least not distressed enough to complain, what is the management to do? Cater to the taste of one person at the expense of others?

Maybe every seat should have too loud / too quiet buttons in the arm rest and the actual volume is the mean value chosen by the audience. An expensive solution but a democratic one.

I'm curious, have you ... or anyone for that matter, ever experience sound levels at your local cinema that were too quiet?

I've never had that experience, never. Adopting your solution, I'm fairly certain we could eliminate that Too quiet button.

Yes but you cannot please everyone. If one person is complaining that it is too loud or too quiet and everyone else in the cinema / gig are happy or at least not distressed enough to complain, what is the management to do? Cater to the taste of one person at the expense of others?

Maybe every seat should have too loud / too quiet buttons in the arm rest and the actual volume is the mean value chosen by the audience. An expensive solution but a democratic one.

I really think the best solution is that those of us who don't like the high volume levels in theaters, simply not go. Leave the theaters to those who want big volume, big screen, big experience.

Tony

Tony, I disagree strongly with your comments. FrankCox has come in here defending his own cinema and describing how fastidious he is with the calibration of his sound system. That's great that he is, however most cinemas are not doing this. The volume in typical multiplex cinemas is literally random. Every time I go, the volume is different to the last time. And the most recent time I went, I found it head-splittingly loud. So I went to complain. They checked it out and agreed that it was ridiculously loud and turned it down to a sensible level. I have never heard a cinema that was too quiet though - just different levels between sensible and jet-aircraft.

Going by your comments, you would have me just give up on going to the cinema because I should just blindly trust that the cinema operator has put more thought into their volume levels than anyone else could - that they have determined the optimal level and found the right compromise for the majority of the movie-going public. You would put me in the category of "people who just shouldn't go to the movies because I have sensitive hearing".

Only problem with that theory is that none of it is true! The cinema was set too loud, they agreed, they fixed it after I drew it to their attention. I think different films come with different sound levels, and each time a film is shown, the volume should be checked by the projectionist. Unfortunately it isn't. They run skeleton staff in these centres and they typically neglect things unless they have to fix them. I have no doubt they just didn't check the sound after the last movie. They just have it set at some default setting and sometimes it's too loud on certain movies.

It takes people to speak up to get change. We can't all shrink in the background - much as that might fly in the face of today's confrontation averse society. I didn't demand it be turned down. I asked politely if they could, and they sent somebody to check on it. It turned out I was right, so they did turn it down. If they hadn't agreed, they probably would have not changed it.

When did we become so chicken? Afraid to speak and just assume others have made the best decisions? It's just as likely that the majority also feel the movie is too loud - but they are too scared to speak up. So they should all give up on movies and stay home? This is crazy talk! Speak up, people!

Wow! Just wow! I think it is great that you were able to get a theater manager to turn down the volume, just as it sounds as if Frank Cox is doing a wonderful thing with how he has his theater set up.

You sound like you are itching for a fight here. Sorry, I am not interested.

Tony

Your response just now explains why you would advocate people just go home and give up on the movies. You are confrontation averse. That's ok, you can do what you like. I am respectful when I talk to people. I didn't start a fight - and they turned the movie down. Everybody wins.

I would suggest that just maybe you might ask what I meant in my post instead of firing of a long-winded diatribe. You don't know me or my history, nor do I know you yours. You assume that I am a certain way, when the context of my post was limited to what I had quoted. I was ONLY addressing the idea of buttons to control sound on the seat.

Also, I have asked management in restaurants to turn down the sound and in every case, they have done so. I did it in a non-confrontational manner.

If you are questioning my "fear", please consider that I am a Vietnam combat veteran. I served with many of your countrymen, and they were certainly fine people, whom I greatly respect. That may mean nothing to you, but I don't think your description of me fits my history. I do speak up for what I believe, despite your insinuations to the contrary. However, I try to do so in such a manner as to leave the other person some room to not feel s/he is being attacked and therefore find it necessary to fight.

I find your posts to and about me to be in very poor taste, and suggest that in the future, you ignore my posts if that is how you wish to conduct yourself in these forums. I am much more interested in civility and making sure that I understand where another is coming from before firing of such a diatribe as yours.

As I said, I am not interested in fighting. So please get hold of your emotions and conduct yourself with some civility from here on.

Tony

To be honest, Tony, I think you're being overly sensitive here. I didn't read anything wrong or confrontational on the part of the other poster. Sounds like you took his comments the wrong way. It's happened to all of us at one point or another.

It's true that most people would rather avoid a face-to-face conversation where somebody communications their displeasure so I have to agree with his comments pertaining tat society in general tends to be comprised of people who'd rather avoid those awkward exchanges.

Personally, the reason I don't go anymore (in regards to how loud the volume is) is simply due to the fact that I'm aware I'm in the minority. Most people LIKE it loud and WANT it loud. They believe that this creates ambiance or the feeling that you're in a giant theater. I disagree but since I know I'm one of the few, I don't even bother going anymore.

It's the same with loud restaurants. I went to a place that started out fine and then began to blast obnoxious loud Sean Paul reggae rapping nonsense. The place had a young clientele who seemed to enjoy that. I didn't. Instead of complaining fully being aware that the people who enjoy this outnumber me, and instead of being "that guy" who wants the world to adapt to HIM, I decided that I simply won't go there anymore. Their business likely won't suffer from my refusal to set foot there anymore but that is not the point. I simply vote with my wallet where to spend time. And that time should be a lovely experience.

I agree that there's no real point to complain at this point. Noise pollution is everywhere and it's next to impossible to find quiet enjoyable places. Most people I know even need the radio or TV to be playing in the background. Don't know why the majority of people are so afraid of not having some type of pointless noise filling the air but this is where we are at, now. Since I know the world won't change for me, I decide to avoid those places, one of which is the movie theater. I've recreated a much better experience at home, IMHO.