[santtosz]

Hello head fiers, im kinda new in this community but im having a problem and i would like to hear your oppinions, I'm 20 years old and since my 15s i often wear headphones/earphones, i always hear them at 100% of volume straight from my ipod or my laptop (no amp or dac) im noticing that maybe i loss some hearing because SOMETIMEs, 100% doesnt seem loud enough and im a bit worried, i mostly hear ROCK, POP, EDM.
 
 
actually im using a sennheiser momentums and my iphone as my source (16 points of sound) 
 
how much do you think i should listen my music? i just LOVE to max out my volume and using a mid level of volume seems like i cant appreciate the quality of my headphones, but my health is first so, give me any recomendation please.
 
Santosz !

 

[Tangster]

If you have always been listening to music at full volume on what are fairly low impedence cans/IEMs with a moderate to high dB/W rating(90+) then you are quite likely to be harming your hearing.

 

[santtosz]

and how can i know at wich dB/w i listen my music? at wich volume is recommended to listen? 50%? thanks !

 

[Zowlyfon]

Momentums you don't want to be going over 7mW power. http://www.headphone-amplifier.com/calculator.htm I'm pretty sure ipod has more than 7mW power output. (More than 80Db will damage your hearing)
 
If you think you have damaged hearing, see a doctor and take a break from any loud noises, and pray it is temporary.

 

[mstark]

I've got permanent tinnitus since age 12 (I'm now 25) from listening too loud to the (infamously loud) sony Walkman cassette player, so yes, hearing damage is certainly something to take very seriously.
 
If you tend to max out your volume, unless you are very lucky, you may very well have damaged your hearing. My advice is to go have them tested by going to the doctor, I did. I had my tinnitus confirmed, but luckily I hadn't damaged my hearing and could hear the normal full range for a human of my age.
 
Nowadays I always wear earplugs to concerts & clubs, but I still tend to listen to very loud volumes from my portable players :/ not easy to lay off the habit... and my tinnitus has gotten worse.

 

[santtosz]

oh well, i dont know how to use or interpretate that calculator :/ sorry, im a noob could you explain me how can i know at wich dB or mW level i use them?

 

[gorboman]

I think your ears will adjust to lower volume listening once you change your listening habit. I know mine did.

 

[santtosz]

75% of my iphone would be good? or can i go 80%? or i need to hear at 50%? thanks ! i will limit myself

 

[mstark]

You should be OK at 75% with most cans, depending on how long you listen for.
 
Thing is, hearing damage is not only caused by loud volumes, but also by extended listening.
 
For example, if 100% would damage your hearing in 10min, 75% may start getting dangerous after 2 hours... you could use charts like these as a reference for "safe" listening:
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html. It's not impossible to imagine that at 100% you'll be around 115dB (loud rock concert, and 20dB over the level where hearing damage might happen) (you'll find recommended hours at x dB levels further down).
 
More on iPod specific dB/hearing loss: http://ipod.about.com/od/generalmaintenance/a/avoiding-ipod-hearing-loss.htm
 
Note that none of these sources should be taken as 100% correct, but they give good guidelines.
 
I personally don't follow any lists, but it's always good to have an idea.

 

[gorboman]

While I don't have the tools to measure how loud my headphone sounded, I rely on my hearings and of people around me. I set the initial listening volume and put my headphone on the table. If it sounds like a set of small speakers, then it's too loud and I lower the volume.

I know it's not scientific but it works for me.

 

[santtosz]

thanks to both of you really ! ill start to change my habits, hope isnt too late thanks !

 

[Sniping]

Quote:

thanks to both of you really ! ill start to change my habits, hope isnt too late thanks !

I believe trying to preserve hearing is a really good habit, just so we can all enjoy music until we get old, I'm glad that you're taking the time to make this change, it'll pay off in the end.

 

[Xida]

This is an extremely important issue in the world of audiophiles. Why spend $3000 on an audio set up when you don't have the ears to hear it?

 

[Bassheadspl]

Quote:

Hello head fiers, im kinda new in this community but im having a problem and i would like to hear your oppinions, I'm 20 years old and since my 15s i often wear headphones/earphones, i always hear them at 100% of volume straight from my ipod or my laptop (no amp or dac) im noticing that maybe i loss some hearing because SOMETIMEs, 100% doesnt seem loud enough and im a bit worried, i mostly hear ROCK, POP, EDM.
 
 
actually im using a sennheiser momentums and my iphone as my source (16 points of sound) 
 
how much do you think i should listen my music? i just LOVE to max out my volume and using a mid level of volume seems like i cant appreciate the quality of my headphones, but my health is first so, give me any recomendation please.
 
Santosz !

Overtime, listening off your ipod or laptop will not satisfy your needs and you will require more...........what you need is a amp.

 

[Thracian]

Don't your ears hurt at 100% out from your iPhone?? Mine hurts the minute I turn it above 60% ._.