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MP3 players face noise limits recommended by EU

post #1 of 9
12/13/09 at 7:53am
Thread Starter 
BBC News - MP3 players face noise limits recommended by EU

The European Commission is calling for a suggested maximum volume to be set on MP3 players, to protect users' hearing.

The commission wants all MP3 players sold in the EU, including iPods, to share the same volume limits.

EU experts want the default maximum setting to be 85 decibels, according to BBC One's Politics Show.

Bummer or what!
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post #2 of 9
12/13/09 at 9:48am
It's odd how these reports hardly ever mention the European standard EN 50332, which has been around since 2000 (with an addition in 2004), and which already imposes a volume limit on mp3-players - though not quite as low as 85dB. Still, people in the EU have been looking for ways around this limit for years, be it by using 3rd party software like GoPod for the older iPods, by hacking into service menus, or re-flashing with non-EU firmware, or simply importing players from outside Europe.

As such I'm not too afraid of the nanny state in this regard, they have not been all that successful in the last decade. Enforcement seems to be pretty lax anyway: look at them complaining about those 120dB players in the article, technically these have been illegal in the EU for years already, but still they exist.
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post #3 of 9
12/13/09 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 
Now if only I could rid my 4th gen Nano if it's EU cap, I'd be a happy person - LOL.

No luck so far however.....
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post #4 of 9
12/13/09 at 1:30pm
I don't understand how you can apply a "cap" when its completely dependant on the headphones you are plugging into the device
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post #5 of 9
12/13/09 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 
Buckster, All EU iPods are already volume 'capped', this setting is enforced in the firmware of the iPod. I.E. the EU firmware limits the max volume / loudness of my iPod compared to an American model.

It totally sucks, I can't use it outside or commuting with earbuds, it's that pathetically quite - Thankfully my EU Purchased Sansa Clip isn't yet volume capped !
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post #6 of 9
12/13/09 at 2:49pm
I thought you can still go past the limit, but that it just warns you?
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post #7 of 9
12/13/09 at 2:50pm
Just buy a LOD to a headphone amp and listen to 130dB ;-)
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post #8 of 9
12/13/09 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriverdude View Post
Just buy a LOD to a headphone amp and listen to 130dB ;-)
Roll on Christmas day, hopefully the other half has listened to my hints - LOL
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post #9 of 9
12/13/09 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by maporter View Post
BBC News - MP3 players face noise limits recommended by EU

The European Commission is calling for a suggested maximum volume to be set on MP3 players, to protect users' hearing.

The commission wants all MP3 players sold in the EU, including iPods, to share the same volume limits.

EU experts want the default maximum setting to be 85 decibels, according to BBC One's Politics Show.

Bummer or what!
Get an amp, and you can have whatever volume you want.

ED: I see I was a bit late on this one.

ED ED: If you're just needing volume, you could get away with just a Fiio E5 (you know, if your better half forgets).
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