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Re:Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years? by _carbyau_ on Thursday May 20, 2021 @08:18PM (#27229102)
Disclosure: I don't get "loud live concerts" really.

But your last sentence makes me wonder WTH is going on. Why would so many people want this experience?

Re:Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years? by dsr_ on Friday May 21, 2021 @08:39AM (#27233253)
It's a complex answer, but I'll see what I can do to simplify it.

First, humans associate louder sound levels with higher quality, up to a point. Frequencies which can't be heard at lower levels become audible at higher levels.

Second, human ears adapt to a reasonably large range of sounds.

Third, sound levels decay with distance, which is why in ear phones use tiny amounts of power (a few milliwatts) and speaker systems for arena concerts can use megawatts. They also decay unevenly by frequency.

A classical Western concert with a full orchestra, unamplified, often has peak levels around 90 dB in the first few rows of seating. An amplified rock concert is trying to provide body-stirring levels of sound for people a hundred meters or more away from the stage.

That's the technical why. The personal why? Loud music literally moves you. It's not something I want every day, but it's fun on occasion.

Re:Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years? by _carbyau_ on Monday May 24, 2021 @01:09AM (#27261247)
While I understand the other parts it is your last sentence that explains it really. People will go to great lengths for a moving/fun experience.

Thank you.