Re-listening

No. I didn't know that you bought some new speakers.

Also, at 0dB, the signal will benefit from not having additional gubbins thrust into the electrical circuit, and the speakers will work as the designer intended, rather than as the marketing department insisted!

From your previous posts, it appears that you often listen at very high levels. If this is the case, it is possible that you have blunted your high-frequency hearing. Setting the tweeter to 0 dB may have simply compensated for the loss in hearing sensitivity.

At what levels do you listen (measured in dBA, on a slow setting) and for how long on average per day ?

Jeez Minh

If those are real measured levels I'm not sure your ears are warning you in time. Be careful and reconsider those levels. They're high!

Yes and speaking as a sufferer who never listened at high volumes tinnitus isn't pleasant...it's there 24 hours a day and there's no cure!!! I can tune mine out during the day but it's literally a real pain at night.

Precisely. At those levels, you're pummelling your ears and brain into submission. By the time your ears warn you (ringing) or your brain (listening fatigue) the temporary hearing loss is already there (metabolic fatigue of the hearing cells, or physical damage to them). Repeating the exposure without a sufficient rest period (14 to 16 hours at less than 70 dB) will render the temporary loss permanent.

As a guide, daily listening time to avoid long-term loss (assuming no other overexposure) is 8 hours at an average 85 dBA (not dBC or dB Lin). Since sound intensity doubles at every 3 dB, exposure time should be reduced by half accordingly. So :

85 dBA : 8 h

88 dBA : 4 h

91 dBA : 2 h

94 dBA : 1 h

97 dBA : 30 min

100 dBA : 15 min

103 dBA : 7.5 min

... and so on until zero exposure above 115 dBA.

Hearing loss is pernicious, permanent and preventable. Worse though is permanent tinnitus, often caused by high-frequency hearing loss. It can destroy your life.

On the other hand, you may be one of the lucky ones who are genetically resistant to noise-induced hearing loss (some people are harder to deafen). The only way to know is to have your hearing sensitivity checked by an audiologist.

Jan (with Erik in agreement)

That's around my average listening level as well. Only occasionally will I go higher, but for short periods only. Minh, take heed of what Jan-Erik and Ravenswood are saying. You're young and will want to listen to music for many years to come.

Feedback from recent forum visitors indicate I listen too loud. Measuring it with my App. decibel meter shows about 94dB on average, so they're probably right. 

94?  Blimey that puts some context to 105dB!

Hi Steve, hope you caught lots of fish and enjoyed your time with your brother. Just out of interest what sort of volume did you play the system when I visited last year as I don't recall any listening fatigue or discomfort at all in what must have been a good six hrs + of wonderful listening.

Regards G.

Hi Minh

As someone who did a lot of engine testing as a young engineer, I was fortunate to be warned early about the dangers of hearing damage & tinnitus.

Naturally, as a young man, I knew that I was immune to such effects.

As a result, I have suffered from mild tinnitus for circa 20 years.

Eric's advice is very good advice.  

The alternative is to follow the dubious advice of Lemme (of Motorhead fame).  When asked if he was concerned that Motorhead's loud concerts would damage his hearing, he replied that he was making so much money that he would simply buy new ears when he hit the age of 40.  He is now much older than 40 and struggles with his hearing.

To the best of my knowledge, new ears are not yet a commercially viable option.

Happy listening and do look after your ears so that you may continue to enjoy music.

Best regards, FT

Are the various db Sound Ap's for the iPhone accurate or is it worth buying a dedicated meter?

What are people using for what they are quoting?

Well said FT. I hope you are well, and life is being good to you.

About the same Graham, maybe a dB or two higher.

Fishing last week wasn't great because of the easterly winds but I had a good time thanks. Whilst I was there in Devon I looked at some houses to buy for my impending early retirement. I took my wife back this weekend to view them and there is one house we both like very much. Of course I viewed the house with eyes for a good listening room and this one doesn't disappoint. 

ATB

Steve

Sounds nice!

I've found the best all-round app to be the SPL Meter by Studio Six Digital ($0.99), fine for checking listening levels. Just set it to A weighting and 'Slow' response. I also like the retro look :

(on iPhone)

(on iPad)

Did you do the clapping test Steve?  ATB Peter

It's a solid house which is beautifully carpeted throughout and passes the clapping test with easy Peter.

I use the same one. Very useful.

... but the best (and for only $20) is SoundMeter Pro by Faber Acoustics, which "turns your iOS device into a handheld data-logging sound level meter (SLM), data-logging noise dosimeter, and real-time analyzer (RTA)".

In dosimeter mode you could set it up in the listening room and it'll tell you when it's time to quit (dose at 100 %).

In the image below, the criterion level (daily 8-h exposure limit) is set to 80 dBA. Normally this would be set at 85 dBA for an 8-h exposure. 

I remember this post from a (ahem) few years back:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-do-you-replay-music

G