Sound check: LA Nightclubs

So, many of us have asked "How loud are clubs in LA?" Below are some results of an unnofficial sound check using a pocket-size Soundcheck sound level indicator from Sensorcom. There are 3 lights on the meter, green on the right, yellow center, and red on the left.

The noise levels are interpreted as follows*:

Green: Flickering = 55dB
Green: On continuously = 60dB
Yellow: Flickering = 75dB
Yellow: On continuously = 80dB onset of 1st action level
Red: Pulsing slowly = 100db beyond 2nd action level
Red: Pulsing rapidly = >100db (dangerous)
Red: On continuously = >105db (very dangerous)

*Soundcheck is accurate within 3dB


Rather than just list the results, I thought it would add some credibility to show the meter in action, so here goes:

Circus LA, 4/14/07:

Front of floor measured between 100-105db



Middle, back of the floor and the front right-hand side also measured 100-105db

Middle
Back
Right Front Side

Vanguard LA, 4/21/07:

Front, middle and back of floor also measured 100-105db, with the back sometimes going over 105db

Front
Middle
Back

Avalon LA, 4/28/07:

Front, middle and back of floor measured over 105db (keep in mind that this meter maxes out at 105db, so the actual level could be higher). All other areas in the club (lobby, upstairs chill-out area) showed over 100db.

Front
Middle
Back

Red (Arena) LA, 6/1/07:

Front of floor was approx. 105db, based on almost solid, but still very rapidly pulsing red LED. Middle and back measured 100-105db.

Front
Middle
Back


Read up to the chart above (page 1), and per the NIOSH and CDC, the permissable exposure time before possible hearing damage at these levels without any hearing protection is between 4-15 minutes. Avalon, the loudest of the clubs measured so far, is safe for less than 4 minutes.

Later in the night, I checked a few more times and the meter had gone solid red (above 105db) at all these clubs. That's the max it will measure, so without a professional SPL meter, it's difficult to know exactly how loud it was.

We're probably not gonna stop going out, so what's the best way to deal with this? Here are some suggestions:

• Wear earplugs (there's a number of options on the first page)
  
  
• Go outside for at least 5 minutes once an hour to give the ears a break (I've been doing this and a side-benefit is that I meet a lot of great people, talk with friends, find out the upcoming dj schedules for the next 3 months, get reviews of recent dj sets, etc.)
  
  
• Yelling into someone's ear over loud music can create sounds high as 140db, the best protection from that is earplugs
  
  
• Get the word out, visit some of the links on the first page and tell your friends
  
  
• If you notice a lot of distortion from the speakers, it's more important than ever to protect your ears
  
  
• If you leave a club with your ears ringing and your head split wide-open, ask the club manager to check into the situation or email them about it after you get home (especially if you were using earplugs the whole night)
  
  
• If you're not sure how loud a club or event is, get a pocket-size sound level meter and see for yourself
  
  
• Be aware of the facts, but have a good time!
  

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Last edited by in2muzikk on Jun-04-2007 at 05:53

so in saftey terms...

what is the safest club in LA?

Dunno, only two measured now far as I know, but I say we get some more meters and go check 'em all out!

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Last edited by in2muzikk on Apr-23-2007 at 03:50

SO much good info! Thanks for all of it! =)

Say the main room in Vanguard is 105 DB, how much would ear plugs cut the DB level down to?

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That would be cool if they could have a professional SPL meter at Vanguard. That place seems so LOUD. Great, clean sound from the Funktion-one system, but the amount of sound they put out is massive. I don't see how people can be on the main floor without any ear plugs. Even with the ER-20's, it still seems too loud for me. I know with the NRR 32-33 ones, you lose a lot of the clarity that the ER-20s have but for me they work better overall because I need that extra NR.

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Last edited by trance_seeker on Apr-24-2007 at 04:11

quote:

Originally posted by MoBreakz Say the main room in Vanguard is 105 DB, how much would ear plugs cut the DB level down to?

depends on what ear plugs you get. Most of the nice ones, will let you know how many db's they reduce. =)

this should be a sticky

I havent posted in a while but Im pretty sure clubbing f*cked up my hearing. My Girlfriend says I put everything way to loud plus I have problems hearing people with lots of background noise around (like the DJ said). It sucks I dont really want to think about it because there is nothing I can do, but its definitely pretty obvious to my friends.


It happens...take the time and get earplugs.

quote:

Originally posted by MoBreakz Say the main room in Vanguard is 105 DB, how much would ear plugs cut the DB level down to?

ER-20's:

lab results: 105db-20db=85db, now the sound is dangerous after about 8 hours.

"real world" results (80% of people get this much protection using them): 105db-14db=91db, now the sound is dangerous after a little over 2 hours.


Musician's Earplugs with 25db filter:

105db-25db=80db (if they fit really well), now the sound is dangerous after more than 8 hours.


HEARO's foam plugs (btw, I don't have any stock in Hearos, I just use 'em. Try a
sample pack to see what's fits best for you):

lab results: 105db-32db=73db, now the sound is dangerous after well over 8 hours.

"real world" results (less than 60% deep into ears): 105db-20db=80db, now the sound is dangerous after about 8 hours.


The key here that you can never assume the NRR shown on the earplug package is what you'll get. Studies have shown that "real world" results can vary greatly (see the first page for more on that).

Also, keep in mind that the Soundcheck meter used to take the above readings maxes out at 105db, so the sound could even be 110db, 115db, or possibly more. The only way I know of to check would be with a larger sound pressure level meter that goes higher (most measure up to 130db). Also keep in mind that each 3db the sound goes up, the permissible exposure time is cut in half...so if the sound was 108db, not 105db, then take all the times above and divide by two.

My custom-fitted Musician's Earplugs (with 25db filter) were not strong enough for me...tried them a year or so at Circus and after 15 minutes I was grabbing them out of my ears and putting in foam earplugs.

I just don't take any chances anymore, I always use foam earplugs and sometimes even have some ringing in my ears after leaving a club when I had them in the whole night, deep as I could get them in my ears! Yeah, it may cut some of the higher frequencies, but after awhile it seems normal, and we only get 2 ears for our whole lives (if we're lucky!)

The highest level of noise reduction without using earmuffs is about 32-33 NRR under the best lab conditions. If stronger earplugs were available, I'd buy them to cut about another 3-5db off. If the sound is extremely loud, then bone conduction hearing damage comes into play, and nothing can be done about that (but even in those extreme situations, wearing earplugs to prevent air conduction hearing damage still helps a lot).

So, why don't the clubs reduce the volume a bit? I've read over & over that they're giving us what we want. Well, they're not giving me what I want...I'm not going out as much because of the risk involved. No more Friday and Saturday nights out, for example. People seem to be embarrassed to ask a club to cut the sound below jackhammer levels for some reason. Speak up, be vocal and we could do a lot to save our own hearing, plus help out a lot of our friends!

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Last edited by in2muzikk on Apr-24-2007 at 06:16

quote:

Originally posted by rizen this should be a sticky

As author of this thread, I'm ok with it if mod agrees.

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My favorite song is the one that hasn't yet been written._____|_____fb_____|_____ myspace

i use these and i'm very pleased with their performance.

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"There are no barriers, only choices."