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Safe Volume for Ear Canal Phones on iPod

  • 26-03-2009 9:34pm
    #1
    Blisterman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,466 ✭✭✭


    I spent about 10 years listening to my earphones at top volume, from age about 8-18, until I realised that my hearing was becoming worse, so I've been careful the last couple of years to not have the volume up too loud. I've read that standard iPod earphones are fine, as long as you keep the volume below 80% of max.

    Now I have a pair of Creative Labs Ear Canal Phones, which go right inside the ear, which are much louder at lower volume settings than the standard ones, and was wondering if anyone knew what approximate percentage of max volume, on an iPod would be safe to listen to for long periods of time. I don't want my hearing to get any worse.

    And don't go quoting decibels, cause I have no way of measuring that.


Comments

  • #2
    Creamy Goodness
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,584 ✭✭✭✭Creamy Goodness


    depends where your ipod was bought.

    all EU ipods have a decibel limiter in them whereas american/asian ones don't.

    when i had my ipod and shure E3g's (which are IEM's) i never had the volume up passed 50% on an american ipod.


  • #3
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Its probably impossible to put a % level on it, its not that simple an issue. Different different headphones will have different driver efficiencies, some tracks will have a higher volume than others, etc

    So instead of trying to pick a % volume setting on your iPod and sticking to it, I would just use a common sense approach. I mean, you should have a gut instinct as to what is too loud and what isn't.

    The in-ear canal style should be better for your hearing, as they block outside noise better, meaning you don't need to turn it up as loud. Of course, the onus is on the listener to actually make that adjustment and turn down.


  • #4
    Blisterman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,466 ✭✭✭Blisterman


    Fair point, Voodoo Child
    The problem with just basing it on whether or not it sounds loud is, when I sit in bed at night, it sounds pretty loud at about 20%, whereas, on a busy street, it needs to be about 70% to sound the same volume.

    EDIT: I just dug out the old iPod headphones, and on 80%, it sounds loud enough that it actually hurts so I think the level I've been using (25% or so), should be fine. And if I can lower the volume, and still hear it alright, I will.


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