How Loud is too loud?

[Well Whoop De D]

How can you tell if the volume you are listening to is causing permanent hearing loss? I admit that I like playing my music as loud as I can, just about until it hurts my ears. Is this too loud? When I get out of the car I don't have a ringing in my ear but everything else seems a little numb for about a minute or so. What do you think?

[mattj]

even if the sound doesnt hurt your ears, you can still be causing damage.

youll lose high pitched sounds first...

NFPA recommends hearing protection after 110 but this isnt NFPA, this is car audio. 120db should be a good volume before you do any damage.

[Well Whoop De D]

How can I tell how loud the sound is int db? I am only turning the volume up to 33-45% max.

[mattj]

have it metered.

[f150_on_32s]

i bought a db meter from radio shack (the digital one) it measures up to 126db. i went to the parking lot metered my truck so i knew where 120db approx. was and then i returned it.

[Bavarian3]

hah like any of us worry about the damage of blasting music to our ears

[xjmadness]

Originally posted by capone28
hah like any of us worry about the damage of blasting music to our ears

i do...i don't feel like losing my hearing when i get older just b/c i was stupid w/ music when i was young

[Well Whoop De D]

^agreed. So you just returned it eh? Hehehe.

[eengrms]

Originally posted by mattj
even if the sound doesnt hurt your ears, you can still be causing damage.

youll lose high pitched sounds first...

NFPA recommends hearing protection after 110 but this isnt NFPA, this is car audio. 120db should be a good volume before you do any damage.

NFPA? National Fire Protection Association? They do have recommendations for hearing protection in loud mechanical situations, like pump rooms or generator rooms, but that's a completely different type of sound. 140db in your car would be like 100db in one of those rooms, as far as damaging frequencies go.

[hihoslva]

It also depends on the type of sound.

140 dB from subs is **** loud, but 140 dB from tweeters caould really do serious damage very quickly.

Human ears can safely take more SPL from bass than from high frequencies.

~HH

[mgaidica]

Sound Level (dB)..............Occupational.................... .......Non occupational
80...........................................--...............................................4 hr
85...........................................--...............................................2 hr
90...........................................8 hr...........................................1 hr
95...........................................4 hr..........................................30 min
100.........................................2 hr..........................................15 min
105.........................................1 hr...........................................8 min
110........................................30 min........................................4 min
115........................................15 min........................................2 min
120........................................ 0 min.........................................0 min

there you all go..

[mattj]

good post...