abitdeef
Formerly known as ihatepopupads
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2003
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They're bad for your wallet.
Originally Posted by Ihatepopupads /img/forum/go_quote.gif They're bad for your wallet. |
Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif MalOs, I've read debates about the proximity of a sound source to your ear not/being a factor. Most tend to agree with you that the extra proximity for IEMs in negligible. However, I don't really see how that makes sense. If you're standing 10 feet away from a guy that shoots a gun vs. 2 feet away, your ears can definitely tell the difference. Sorry for getting technical here, but I'm assuming the proximity to a sound source vs. the impact it has on the ear would be an almost inverse log relationship. That is, if the sound source is super close to your ear drum, a movement of 1/8th of an inch will cause a higher difference in decibels vs. if it were far away and the sound source moved 1/8th of an inch. When I'm listening to my PX100, simply pressing them against my ears with my hands causes a significant increase in volume versus a speaker across the room that's moved 2 feet closer to me. |
Originally Posted by Calexico /img/forum/go_quote.gif While IEMs are closer, they also encourage quieter listening. Since there is a significant increase in volume when the PX100 are closer to you, then wouldn't you turn down the volume? |
Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif A foreign object in your ear will cause wax to build up. It's an innate immune defense. Wax is used primarily to create an unideal environment for bacteria and viruses to grow. Depending on the type of person you are, you may react with more than the average person in terms of wax production. I have friends that never use IEMs but still get impacted wax. Whereas some IEM users never get impacted wax. Audiologists and ENTs sell custom molds because they make money off of them. Putting something in your ear is unnatural and should only be recommended for people who have hearing disorders or other ear complications. IMHO, if you don't have any of those aforementioned problems there is no medical reason to place a foreign object up your ear. |
Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif So ultimately the question is yes I am turning down the volume on my IEMs because they are blocking out the sound but is this being negated by the fact that I'm bringing a set of phones even closer to my eardrum? I'm hoping someone will give me some proof that despite the closer proximity, the isolation and hence lower volume make a much safer listening experience than a set of cans resting on your ears. My previous posts would suggest I am anti-IEM but that is not the case. I want to be proven wrong because I love the sound IEMs produce and the isolation they have but I'm very scared of permanent hearing loss. Also, I exercise and eat very well and based on my genetic background will probably live to a ripe old age. Losing my hearing even as a senior would really suck. |
Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif So ultimately the question is yes I am turning down the volume on my IEMs because they are blocking out the sound but is this being negated by the fact that I'm bringing a set of phones even closer to my eardrum? I'm hoping someone will give me some proof that despite the closer proximity, the isolation and hence lower volume make a much safer listening experience than a set of cans resting on your ears. My previous posts would suggest I am anti-IEM but that is not the case. I want to be proven wrong because I love the sound IEMs produce and the isolation they have but I'm very scared of permanent hearing loss. Also, I exercise and eat very well and based on my genetic background will probably live to a ripe old age. Losing my hearing even as a senior would really suck. |
Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif MalOs, I've read debates about the proximity of a sound source to your ear not/being a factor. Most tend to agree with you that the extra proximity for IEMs in negligible. However, I don't really see how that makes sense. If you're standing 10 feet away from a guy that shoots a gun vs. 2 feet away, your ears can definitely tell the difference. Sorry for getting technical here, but I'm assuming the proximity to a sound source vs. the impact it has on the ear would be an almost inverse log relationship. That is, if the sound source is super close to your ear drum, a movement of 1/8th of an inch will cause a higher difference in decibels vs. if it were far away and the sound source moved 1/8th of an inch. When I'm listening to my PX100, simply pressing them against my ears with my hands causes a significant increase in volume versus a speaker across the room that's moved 2 feet closer to me. |