THE WHO’S guitarist Pete Townshend has warned the iPod generation to turn the volume down, after revealing that increasing deafness may force him into retirement.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-...1969293,00.html
Full Version: Headphones deafen you, Who star tells iPod fans
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i-Pods push out an alarming 125db. If mobiles pushed out that level, I think someone would be sueing us.
Headphones generally have long been known to cause hearing damage as the sound pressure level can be so very high without the wearer really realising it, as the physical manifestations such as vibration are absent.
I suffer from considerable hearing loss in the critical midrange area, plus bouts of tinnitus although this has abated somewhat in recent years. I put this down to loud headphone use more so than loudspeakers.
One issue which still concerns me is the sheer volume a DJ (well, me, anyhow...) has to have the headphones at to hear them properly above the main music. Again, the volume isn't so noticeable, but note the position of the gain control when doing a gig, and operate it at the same level at home - I'll bet you'll be surprised!
On a slightly lighter note, I remember doing a gig for a youth club where the average age was probably about 16, and the music was pretty darn loud, by request. One idiot was in front of one of the speakers with his ear right up to the midrange unit - pressed against the grille. He must have been experiencing pain but still objected bitterly to being moved. Doubt that did his hearing any good at all.
Anyone good at maths and the inverse square law? If the speaker was putting out 125dB at 1 metre, what would the sound pressure level be at 5 centimetres??
I suffer from considerable hearing loss in the critical midrange area, plus bouts of tinnitus although this has abated somewhat in recent years. I put this down to loud headphone use more so than loudspeakers.
One issue which still concerns me is the sheer volume a DJ (well, me, anyhow...) has to have the headphones at to hear them properly above the main music. Again, the volume isn't so noticeable, but note the position of the gain control when doing a gig, and operate it at the same level at home - I'll bet you'll be surprised!
On a slightly lighter note, I remember doing a gig for a youth club where the average age was probably about 16, and the music was pretty darn loud, by request. One idiot was in front of one of the speakers with his ear right up to the midrange unit - pressed against the grille. He must have been experiencing pain but still objected bitterly to being moved. Doubt that did his hearing any good at all.
Anyone good at maths and the inverse square law? If the speaker was putting out 125dB at 1 metre, what would the sound pressure level be at 5 centimetres??
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| Anyone good at maths and the inverse square law? If the speaker was putting out 125dB at 1 metre, what would the sound pressure level be at 5 centimetres?? |
Painful.
Indeed.
The kid must have been doped up or drunk, I think.
Anyhow, by my calculations, and assuming a speaker output of 120dB at 1 metre which was easily likely, he must have subjected himself to in excess of 132 decibels at that range.
The kid must have been doped up or drunk, I think.
Anyhow, by my calculations, and assuming a speaker output of 120dB at 1 metre which was easily likely, he must have subjected himself to in excess of 132 decibels at that range.
Have been lucky enough to meet mr t several times (owns house in Cornwall, brothers neighbour) and believe me he is seriously hard of hearing ,i think he has a good point.
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| One issue which still concerns me is the sheer volume a DJ (well, me, anyhow...) has to have the headphones at to hear them properly above the main music. |
this is because you use the wrong headphones, isloation is an imporant factor when deciding on what to use.
only a few types of headphones give good isolation and this means you don't need the levels so high.
now is your hearing worth £125 for some HD25's I think yes....
no other headphones offer the same protection and sound quality
That, actually, is a bloody good point, and one I rather stupidly hadn't thought of.
When I use 'phones, it is just one ear, to que up and select start points ( I don't mix ) and the volume does have to be quite high when used like this, albeit for short durations. Perhaps I should seriously look at buying decent headphones such as those suggested.
When I use 'phones, it is just one ear, to que up and select start points ( I don't mix ) and the volume does have to be quite high when used like this, albeit for short durations. Perhaps I should seriously look at buying decent headphones such as those suggested.
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| Headphones deafen you, Who star tells iPod fans |
Pretty Ironic Headline, The Who must have made more noise than anybody!
Yep - they hold the record for the loudest recorded concert
volume 120 dB at 40 m from the stage. Not sure how reliable
this is but it was mentioned on BBC online. They didnt mention
that Keith Moon set off some explosives hidden in his drum kit
during a US TV show. Townsend was standing in front of it and
he's supposed to have had hearing problems since then.
volume 120 dB at 40 m from the stage. Not sure how reliable
this is but it was mentioned on BBC online. They didnt mention
that Keith Moon set off some explosives hidden in his drum kit
during a US TV show. Townsend was standing in front of it and
he's supposed to have had hearing problems since then.
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