Do DT-990s leak too much or am I listening too loud?

[Ymer]

Everytime I take my headphones off I can go to the bathroom and still listen to my music. That's somewhat impressive.

I'm using a Headfive to power them, and the volume pot is usually at 50% (12 o'clock).

Am I on my way to being deaf?

Thanks

 

[Penchum]

Try this little trick, and see if it helps you determine loudness better:

Turn on your stuff, put on your headphones and only turn it up far enough to just barely hear everything. Lay back and listen for 10 minutes. During the 10 minutes, you will notice the volume increases all by itself and that the loudness at the end of the 10 minutes is quite good, compared to when you started. Then, while it is still playing, take the headphones off and notice how much you can hear of the music coming from the headphones. This little exercise will help you understand just how much you are "over driving" your headphones during "normal" listening. It can really be a shocker to find out just how much excess volume you have been using!

It sure was for me!

 

[tk3]

Or buy a cheap SPL meter and get a closer estimate.
The DT990 are open but don't leak terribly as far as I know, although I don't have any open phones to compare them to currently.

Depending on where your bathroom is, that does sound it's ungodly loud.

 

[biph911]

In college, I found myself listening to my first set of Grado's way too loud, just because I was trying to overcome a noisy environment. Sometimes, open cans aren't well suited for a particular environment but you can help by eliminating as much outside noise as possible. I'm actually replacing the hard drives in my mac pro with samsung f1s for the sake of silence.

Penchum's suggested exercise is a good one. I found it especially true with IEMs and closed cans which required about 1/3 of what I was previously giving them.

 

[Ymer]

Actually, this is not a noisy ambient at all. Very silent.

The funny thing is, I've been using open phones for well over 10 years and I had never had this doubt before. Grados used to pierce my ears, but that was ok because that's what Grados do.

Now, the DT-990 sound SO loud from the outside. I don't think any other of my headphones ever leaked anything like this. And the ones I've used for the longest period of time were HD580/600.

I'm really unsure about this situation.

 

[Penchum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by biph911 /img/forum/go_quote.gif In college, I found myself listening to my first set of Grado's way too loud, just because I was trying to overcome a noisy environment. Sometimes, open cans aren't well suited for a particular environment but you can help by eliminating as much outside noise as possible. I'm actually replacing the hard drives in my mac pro with samsung f1s for the sake of silence. Penchum's suggested exercise is a good one. I found it especially true with IEMs and closed cans which required about 1/3 of what I was previously giving them.

Thanks! The "hidden" property to the exercise, is that everyones ears will adjust to the lower volume and it will appear to you like someone bumped up the volume a little during the 10 minutes. One of the few times in life where less seems like more!

 

[Penchum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ymer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Actually, this is not a noisy ambient at all. Very silent. The funny thing is, I've been using open phones for well over 10 years and I had never had this doubt before. Grados used to pierce my ears, but that was ok because that's what Grados do. Now, the DT-990 sound SO loud from the outside. I don't think any other of my headphones ever leaked anything like this. And the ones I've used for the longest period of time were HD580/600. I'm really unsure about this situation.

Seriously, try the exercise. It will establish a low end for you and you'll have a better feel for just how much volume you have been using. Then, adjust levels accordingly.

 

[GotNoRice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk3 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or buy a cheap SPL meter and get a closer estimate.

That's really the best idea. I found that my normal listening level with my DT770s is 80-85dBA, with peaks of 98dBC when using the C scale (A scale doesn't measure Bass, only frequencies around the voice range).

 

[mathmanx]

Wow... when I measured my average spl it was 72 in my noisey work environment, and 65 in my quiet room at home. Anything over 75 hurt my ears...

 

[mchang]

If you're using the DT-990 (newer '05 edition, 250-ohm) with the HeadFive at 12:00, I would say you are listening too loud.

I had that setup (sourced out of iPod line-out), and 10:00 was my max volume. Most of the time, it was on 9:00.

I'm 34-years-old, and have excellent hearing (I am blind as a bat, though).

 

[Shahrose]

you're listening too loud my friend. i turned up the dt990s to the max volume i can listen to enjoyably. and they don't leak too much. i can hear the song, but it's faint.

 

[E.B.M.Head]

If you can hear them in another room then you are definitely listening a much too high level. Thats realy not good for your hearing. I would consult an audiologist and let him check if your hearing is damaged or if there is some wax build up.

 

[Ymer]

It's funny, I've been using open phone for years and I've never had this problem.

I guess it has something to do with the DT-990 presentation, it never feels satisfying or engaging unless it is too loud. And even when it is too loud, it doesn't feel loud enough.

Weird. :X

BTW, this is just a room with a bathroom, so it's not faraway. But still...

I've had an audiology test my hearing recently, the results were fine, I even hear more than expected in the super high frequencies...

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[silencewithin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penchum /img/forum/go_quote.gif Try this little trick, and see if it helps you determine loudness better: Turn on your stuff, put on your headphones and only turn it up far enough to just barely hear everything. Lay back and listen for 10 minutes. During the 10 minutes, you will notice the volume increases all by itself and that the loudness at the end of the 10 minutes is quite good, compared to when you started. Then, while it is still playing, take the headphones off and notice how much you can hear of the music coming from the headphones. This little exercise will help you understand just how much you are "over driving" your headphones during "normal" listening. It can really be a shocker to find out just how much excess volume you have been using! It sure was for me!

This is the same method I use to determine listening volume

Ymer, I think your finding that it is the dt990's sound signature and presentation is spot on. This goes for any number of headphones, some just sound better up loud. I wouldn't turn them up that loud though, I'd just get headphones that sound more favourable at lower volume, or just listen to them softer. Respect your hearing, you don't want it to deteriorate prematurely later on