Whats the loudest system youve ever heard?

[AmIGrand]

Lot's of 160's being thrown around here, I wonder just how accurate some of these meters are. A lot of shops will raise the sensitivity of the mic to show people I higher number, it's pretty sad. Realise, please, that 130 is loud bass. 140 is uncomfortable. 150 is painful, and only fun for a few seconds usually - some people experience this as low as about 142. Anything over 155 just plain HURTS.

160 in a vehicle with little or no structural reinforcement is almost impossible. Door seals won't hold that, and glass will shatter very quickly at that level, or even close to it. 172? Not without the car weighing well over 6000 lbs.170 db translates to almost 500 psi. Stuff breaks at that pressure, and we're not talking about glass. Not to mention that the power required to make that kinda noise is equivelant to a small explosion. 170+ db vehicles weigh several tons, they're built like small tanks - literally. The team BS van from Treo Engineering hit 177 in '03, it weighs over 14,000 lbs and packs 64 (that's sixty-four) 1500 watt peak output amplfiers.

A few example with REAL numbers, a few systems I've done or had a part in....

I did a '97 Grand Am sedan with 9 Eclipse 12's in a wall, 3 Phoenix Gold Zero.5 amplifers, 7 batteries setup for 16 volts, and dual alternators. It hit high 150's before blowing the sunroof clear off the car.

A 1998 full size Chevy truck, x-cab, 12 15" Eclipse Aluminum 8800's, 7 Phoenix Gold Zero.5's, 15 batteries (again, 16 volt system), two HO alternators - also high 150's. Without structural reinforcement, the body flexes too much and causes cancelation.

A 2002 Dakota x-cab, ported downfire with 2 Treo SS 15's and an Xtant 800 watt amp to each. 154 db.

2001 S-10 with 2 15W3's in a bandpass port-through, 2500 watts worth of US Amps, 220 amp alternator, 2 batteries - 155 Db. Broke the spot welds that held the roof to the crossmembers.

7 JL 12 W7's in a wall in a Camaro, with an MTX 8100d to each. HO Alternator, 5 batteries. Hit 161 once, blew the windshield apart. Never got to 160 again, body was having issues, doors and windows weren't weathertight anymore. Customer cut the budget 1/2 way through the project, structural reinforecemtns and suspension upgrades were eliminated from teh deal t his request - he regreted that later, .

4 15W3's in a Monte Carlo, two MTX 8100d's, extra HUGE battery, 220 amp alternator. Customer had the rear 1/4 windows removed and sheetmetal welded in for a smooth look. After a few low 150 db runs, the welds for the new sheetmetal were popping apart. Could have been louder, but air was leaking behind the box (full backseat area install) and getting into the trunk no matter what we did, causing a little cancellation that cost us a couple db.

A single 18W3 in a Honda Odyssee with a 500/1 to each voicecoil. Stock charging system, extra battery. 152.3 db. What can I say? This was a freak, nobody expected it to be anywhere NEAR that loud. Retuned it to max out in the mid 140's after smoking several woofers (VERY hard to do with the big W3's, ).

Over 150, hearing protection must be worn. Over 160, you are NOT allowed to sit in the vehicle, period. 161 can be fatal, 165 should be, and 169 is. Aything over 170 could literally explode your skull.

[tbone]

Originally posted by AmIGrand
Lot's of 160's being thrown around here, I wonder just how accurate some of these meters are. A lot of shops will raise the sensitivity of the mic to show people I higher number, it's pretty sad. Realise, please, that 130 is loud bass. 140 is uncomfortable. 150 is painful, and only fun for a few seconds usually - some people experience this as low as about 142. Anything over 155 just plain HURTS.

....

Over 150, hearing protection must be worn. Over 160, you are NOT allowed to sit in the vehicle, period. 161 can be fatal, 165 should be, and 169 is. Aything over 170 could literally explode your skull.

how true

I think I remember reading some interesting Db and Freq. article in university. (Don’t quote these #s because I can't seem to find them again but...)
185Db at 22Hz will stop a mans heart from50 Ft
110Db at 3-6 Hz is a magical "Brown note” it resonates with the Human Sphincter (IE be wearing diapers) (pretty rare though you need a back to the future style 2 or 3 foot speaker to achieve the amplitude on the wave front).
110Db at 145Khz Induces Seizures in 30% of the population.

Funny that people would willingly submit them selves to these things to get scientific data

[matts]

isn't it somewhere around the mid 140s that can cause heart failure too.

i dont play my systems up to more than they are. the 18" i dont think will break the 150 barrier by much, if any, after talking to a couple people. i dont figure my truck will get into 140s. it's loud, but not all that loud.

the dude with the 4 15s in the blazer had the box starting behind the seat and it went all the way to the back and it was ported. and the port was tuned at like 70 or 80Hz. he paid some major money to have that truck made to where it would handle that much. he had 10 amps pushing them.

the guy in the tacoma had removed the back seat and the box took it's place. he had a 2400 watt amp on them and they were pointed right at the windshield.

[MattBatt]

From what I have heard the testing of the brown note and the heart stopping thing was done by Nazis who were trying to make a new weapon but as you could imagine it's not a very practical weapon.

[Aleromi]

Well i have to say the loudest was john henry and the Matts Van

Using juggernuts 15's... 12 i think anyway ..

I've installed 4 huge system in my car's and they hit on Ave 140+

its not the loudest but LOUD..

The biggest system was 2 18inch cerwin vega's strokers in a SUV and it was tested at 150+ the woofers were facing up... that what the custmer wanted...

Now i have 3 12inch and i havent really tested my yet by isca rules but in like out law steup i was at 139 on the floor.?!?

Guess from that i would be around 145+ at the windshield.
see pic