Digital headroom led cinema sound to destructive loudness levels

Evidence

However, as unambiguously laid out by Newell et al. (2016), a related problem already exists. Present day cinema sound systems are being driven very hard because the undistorted headroom provided by digital delivery formats has been filled with program. Playback sound levels are higher than were possible in analog days. Marginal loudspeaker systems distort or are damaged. Audience members complain of excessive loudness and/or distortion and walk out in sufficient numbers that there are threats of sound level limits being imposed by local authorities. Some of the limits being discussed are based on misunderstandings about hearing loss (occupational vs. recreational exposure) and a lack of sensitivity for preserving the art that is in the soundtracks, especially intelligible dialog. Some sounds need to be loud, but there are suspicions that sustained loudness is sometimes being used as a substitute for a good plot. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1340

Categorization

• CANDY: The observation that sustained loudness is sometimes used as a substitute for a good plot is an amusing, quotable aside.