[Anthrax]

when i was over in england( christmas holiday, i live in australia), i thought i buy myself a sony discman before i left as i havent had a portable in about 3yrs. i got a nice one with all the trimmings for 69pounds. i got on the plane and sat down opened it up, placed in some batterys, and popped in my favriote smashing pumpkins album(siamese dream)

i cryed, i was really annoyed about the volume, and i was looking forward to a 24hr trip with some decent music, but it was soo soft. i bought it cause i knew sonys had decent volume(my brother has one, and i think that 6 is to loud).

i thought that it must of been the model i bought, but when i got home, and searched on google, i found that it was some europe 1.5mW thing.

my question is, how come they do this ? 1.5 is terribly low, i have a panasonic md(4yrs old) and its 3.5mW and at full volume it just reaches my maximum.

 

[greenhorn]

That volume limitation must have been determined in some scientific way.

I guess it's determined for regular use of the earbuds (not during flights).

If you are trying to cover the plane's engines roam by increasing the volume in your earbuds (which, as opposed to canal phones) do not seal at all the external noise, your long-term hearing will be affected.

If you fly often, I would advise you to invest in a pair of canal phones. The cheapest ones (but still very good) are Shure E2.

 

[CSMR]

How about some capital letters here and there?

 

[John Reeves]

Hi,

The limitation is stupid. It was proposed by the French years ago when walkmans came out and was supposed to prevent people damaging their ears. It has only recently come into operation. As usual it's a total f--- up.

My Zen Xtra had EU software and would only just drive the crappy earbuds that came with it. Any decent cans and you couldn't hear a thing. I upgraded the firmware with the US version to overcome it.

In just bought a Karma in England - No volume limitation.

I think it's down to some manufacturers complying and others not bothering. I do not know of any checks being done by anyone official in England.

John

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Reeves The limitation is stupid.

Is it? Have you considered those stupid teenagers cranking the volume in their portables so that anybody can hear the "bzzz...gxxx...ksss" on a 10 meter radius around? What about their hearing 10 or 20 years from now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Reeves In just bought a Karma in England - No volume limitation. I think it's down to some manufacturers complying and others not bothering. I do not know of any checks being done by anyone official in England.

Strange, the UK is within the EU, it should abide to EU regulations...

 

[HiWire]

I think the manufacturers and portable audiophiles have to band together and petition the EU against this silly regulation. Obviously many headphones require more power than the 1.5 mW limitation.

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiWire I think the manufacturers and portable audiophiles have to band together and petition the EU against this silly regulation. Obviously many headphones require more power than the 1.5 mW limitation.

Portable audiophiles use portable amps.

 

[bangraman]

Quote:

Portable audiophiles use portable amps.

Not necessarily, and I for one think the volume limitation is a total waste of time. I know why Sony do it, but I for one can't imagine why they can't implement it in a way which would let the stupid wreck their hearing with the stock buds and the informed have a wider choice of headphones to use unamped. The AVLS function on all of their machines accomplishes this but in a volume-limited model, this is completely redundant. So why not set on AVLS as standard? Include instructions for switching off AVLS with appropriate warnings about hearling loss. That way if customers switch off AVLS, it's not Sony's responsibility anymore.

 

[Dweebgal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSMR How about some capital letters here and there?

wow, what a totally unecessary thread crap

 

[bangraman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dweebgal wow, what a totally unecessary thread crap

nuffink wrong wiv sumwun trying to get ppl 2 writ propa.

 

[Dweebgal]

don't get me wrong "txt spk" is one of my pet peeves, but i just don't see how capitalisation is a big deal when posting to a message board. it makes sense at least

 

[thewaka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn Is it? Have you considered those stupid teenagers cranking the volume in their portables so that anybody can hear the "bzzz...gxxx...ksss" on a 10 meter radius around? What about their hearing 10 or 20 years from now?

So should it be illegal to listen to music with headphones when others can hear it? Careful what you say, even quietly played it can often be heard, especially by those of us with very good hearing, therefore possibly making public headphone listening illegal period.

Why should anyone be protected from their own stupidity? Especially when that protection truly is limited to the individual? That deafness can't be passed down genetically (though stupidity can be--maybe that is what should be outlawed *rolling eyes*) and the deaf aren't considered lesser citizens with fewer rights and priviledges.

The EU should get its fingers out of everyone's ears.

Diana

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewaka Why should anyone be protected from their own stupidity?

The answer is in the question!

Think about:

- the laws which impose using the safety belts, or helmets on scooters or motorcycles;

- the plastic protections which prevent children to put nails into the electrical wall outlets;

- etc. etc.

 

[John Reeves]

Hi Greenhorn,

There are plenty of other ways to wreck your hearing and there is little legislation applied. Go to a night club, go to a concert, go see Formula 1, play in a band, go aircraft spotting at the end of the runway etc.

The instances you mentioned have lethal consequences. I don't argue with warnings, but this is a case of everyone suffering for a stupid minority.

Cigarettes cary a warning, they are lethal, but individuals are allowed to choose. They're not banned. You can't derive laws to make up for stupidity and to give common sense to morons. Maybe you'd like to live in a communist country were you are even told what to think.

I am against the so called "nanny" state when it goes to extremes and that includes some of the stupid political correctness.

John

 

[y0da]

this is what you get when you vote to create a monalithic socialist country smashing entity...goverment is not there to protect us from ourselves...seems like all over the world tho that is whats happening....this is just one moranic example of it rearing its ugly head