Do higher quality cans lead to hearing loss faster?

What I think:

Most higher end headphones with higher impedance require amps to drive them to their full volume and full sound. I think the sound pressure level value of a certain headphone also shows whether they need amping to give them extra volume or whether they need amping to drive them to their maximum sound. 

What I know:

My HD438s can play very loud music without distorting, while my previous cheap Audio Technica ONTO distorted the sound when I turn the volume all the way up.

So I guess the higher the quality of the headphones you're wearing, the better it can play the music at very high volume without exposing too much noise or distortion but there is no relation between price/quality and the maximum volume it can play before burning out. That's my theory. 

I don't think the quality of your cans is going to matter, hearing loss should only be affected by the SPL and exposure time, however, I do find better equipment to be more enjoyable at higher volumes. 

In general higher quality headphones are able to reproduce sound at a higher volume without distorting, but that factor alone is obviously no reason to play music at unsafe levels.

Another common hall mark of higher quality headphones is their ability to resolve detail at lower listening levels. It's this characteristic which, in my view, means high quality headphones should be better for your hearing, because you don't need to play music as loud.

All of the above can be said for speakers too in my experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jr41 

 

Another common hall mark of higher quality headphones is their ability to resolve detail at lower listening levels. It's this characteristic which, in my view, means high quality headphones should be better for your hearing, because you don't need to play music as loud.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking.  If anything a higher-end headphone encourages me to turn the volume down, though I could certainly see it the other way too.