Most of us understand the dangers of hearing loss, yet it seems every new headphone model keeps pushing the maximum decibel level. I can barely stand to listen to headphones on my iPhone on max volume, let alone my MacBook Pro which can drive a decent pair of headphones at about twice the volume. This obsession with loudness is only going to lead to sonic paralysis and hearing loss.
Furthermore, the issue with higher decibel headphones is listeners that push the volume to the max will be susceptible to more hearing loss. Frankly it isn't as widely-accepted that listening to headphones at a high volume can cause tinnitus or the loss of the ability to hear high frequencies. After all, the logic to non-believers is if headphones can pushed to be so loud, then why would listening at that volume cause issues? It's not like they suddenly become a speaker on max volume. I've heard quite commonly that hearing loss from listening to headphones too loudly is a myth.
So, are headphone manufacturers complicit in encouraging hearing loss by continuously increasing the maximum decibel sensitivity of their headphones or simply giving consumers what they want? I've seen reviews of some very loud headphones being compared on the merit of another headphone being louder, which baffles me because I definitely couldn't listen to many headphones properly amped, or even wireless headphones, at max volume without immediate pain.
Is there even any merit to headphones becoming so loud? I suppose for those that really enjoy it they can max out the volume for a single song at over 100 decibels, but beyond that it's incredible to imagine the type of damage that could occur doing that an hour a day for years.
I have been considering the reason why hearing loss even occurs, and it's apparent that it's because the human body hasn't adapted and isn't made to constantly listen to loud noises. Loud noises typically signal some type of imminent danger up until headphones/earphones were invented under a century ago. (Wow, it's incredible to think that good headphones have barely existed for a few decades.)
Furthermore, the issue with higher decibel headphones is listeners that push the volume to the max will be susceptible to more hearing loss. Frankly it isn't as widely-accepted that listening to headphones at a high volume can cause tinnitus or the loss of the ability to hear high frequencies. After all, the logic to non-believers is if headphones can pushed to be so loud, then why would listening at that volume cause issues? It's not like they suddenly become a speaker on max volume. I've heard quite commonly that hearing loss from listening to headphones too loudly is a myth.
So, are headphone manufacturers complicit in encouraging hearing loss by continuously increasing the maximum decibel sensitivity of their headphones or simply giving consumers what they want? I've seen reviews of some very loud headphones being compared on the merit of another headphone being louder, which baffles me because I definitely couldn't listen to many headphones properly amped, or even wireless headphones, at max volume without immediate pain.
Is there even any merit to headphones becoming so loud? I suppose for those that really enjoy it they can max out the volume for a single song at over 100 decibels, but beyond that it's incredible to imagine the type of damage that could occur doing that an hour a day for years.
I have been considering the reason why hearing loss even occurs, and it's apparent that it's because the human body hasn't adapted and isn't made to constantly listen to loud noises. Loud noises typically signal some type of imminent danger up until headphones/earphones were invented under a century ago. (Wow, it's incredible to think that good headphones have barely existed for a few decades.)