At what dB level do you begin to have hearing damage?

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bluegrassphile

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I've been checking the dB level (with a phone app) of my Pass INT 250 with the volume set to 30. Max indicated volume is 63 on the INT 250. I'm plugged into a dual power supply MSB Discrete DAC with it's volume disabled and a Roon Nucleus. My speakers are Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary models.

I'm currently streaming Frank Sinatra's "Nothing But The Best" album on Qobuz. AMAZING sound quality!!! The horns, string, and vocals are simply sublime. And that's with the INT 250 indicating just 30 on the volume control.

However, the "goose bump factor" increases proportionally as the volume is advanced. And for me, the sweet spot is between 45 and 48 on the loud control. Beyond 48 the volume starts to get gradually louder. But, I have to emphasize the word "gradually". I could certainly listen at higher levels, no problem. The INT 250 is just so crystal clean and distortion free sometimes you don't realize how loud you're listening.

Like I said, the "goose bump factor" increases with the volume. So, I love the sound at higher levels. OTOH, I can enjoy listening at lower levels just fine. The quality of the sound of my system at lower levels is pretty much as satisfying vs higher sound levels.

OK, all that said, I don't want to damage my hearing any more than it already is. I've played in bands on and off for 5+ decades. But I've been playing bluegrass music (all acoustic) for the last 10 years. It's much better for my hearing. I still have very noticeable tinnitus from many decades ago.

When I was listening yesterday to the Frank Sinatra album mentioned above, with the amp set at 48, my dB meter was registering an average dB reading of 80. When I decreased the amp's volume to 45 the dB meter was indicating an average of 73 dB.

So, is it relatively "safe" for me to listen with my volume set at 45 (73 dB average with peaks at 80 dB)? As I mentioned, I can listen at lower levels and be more than satisfied. Thirty eight to 40 on the volume still sounds great.
 
I think you have to be the one who determines what’s safe for you personally. If after a typical listening session you don’t experience any ringing, tinnitus or temporary threshold shift you are probably safe. I listen all day at levels that peak at 80dB ‘C’ weighted, fast response on my SPL meter. Sometimes I’ll go much louder but for short periods of time. If I notice any threshold shift after listening I’ll stop and do something else for awhile or really dial back the volume.
 
Thank you, Spock. VERY informative. I think I'm in pretty good shape if I can listen to 85 dB for 8 hours without experiencing permanent hearing damage. I rarely listen for more than 3-4 hours at a time. And it's much more often around 73-75 dB average with 80-83 dB peaks. I have tinnitus 24/7 no matter what I do.

Tom, it sounds like you and I are OK. I was thinking you ran the risk of permanent damage at around 70 dB. Evidently that's not accurate according to the info Spock posted.
 
I like to listen around average 90 dBA. No fatigue and no hearing loss as far as I know.
 
This is what my Apple watch with in-built sound measurement tells me:

80 db: long term exposure to below 80 db should not affect the hearing. Repeated long-term exposure above that can affect the hearing. Weekly limit at this level is 40 hours, daily limit 5:30 hours.

85 db: weekly limit 12:30 hours, daily limit 1:45.

90 db: weekly limit 4 hours, already 30 minutes at this level per day can cause temporary hearing loss.

95 db: weekly limit 1:15, just 10 minutes a day can cause temporary hearing loss.

100 db: weekly limit 20 minutes, even a few minutes a day can cause temporary hearing loss.

I’m listening to Green Day right now, nice but not too loud level in my own perception is 56 db, 62 db is nice rock’n roll level.


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Kuoppis said:
This is what my Apple watch with in-built sound measurement tells me:

80 db: long term exposure to below 80 db should not affect the hearing. Repeated long-term exposure above that can affect the hearing. Weekly limit at this level is 40 hours, daily limit 5:30 hours.

85 db: weekly limit 12:30 hours, daily limit 1:45.

90 db: weekly limit 4 hours, already 30 minutes at this level per day can cause temporary hearing loss.

95 db: weekly limit 1:15, just 10 minutes a day can cause temporary hearing loss.

100 db: weekly limit 20 minutes, even a few minutes a day can cause temporary hearing loss.

I’m listening to Green Day right now, nice but not too loud level in my own perception is 56 db, 62 db is nice rock’n roll level.


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This information is correct.

@Adyc: I don't know how old you are (younger people tend to underestimate the damage loud music can cause), but if 90 dB is your average listening level, you will soon be half deaf (like most musicians in classical orchestras!).
 
Adyc said:
I like to listen around average 90 dBA. No fatigue and no hearing loss as far as I know.
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You are kidding yourself if you do not believe that extended exposure to 90db is/will not have long term effects on your hearing.
 
Slightly off topic, but Measure the spl level next time you are in a plane or busy restaurant. I don’t understand how flight attendants don’t experience hearing loss over time.


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Hounddog said:
Slightly off topic, but Measure the spl level next time you are in a plane or busy restaurant. I don’t understand how flight attendants don’t experience hearing loss over time.
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They can use noise-reducing earplugs. You may not notice them if they're clear.
 
Hounddog said:
Slightly off topic, but Measure the spl level next time you are in a plane or busy restaurant. I don’t understand how flight attendants don’t experience hearing loss over time.


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Did just that on my last flight. Noise level was meandering in the high 50’s, sometimes low 60’s.


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Kuoppis said:
Did just that on my last flight. Noise level was meandering in the high 50’s, sometimes low 60’s.


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You must have been in a glider! :D

I have tested this with my iPhone.
Close to the window: 87-88 dB up to 90 dB.
In the middle row: 85-86 dB.

On airplanes, I wear earplugs that lower the noise by 18-20 dB.
 
bart said:
You must have been in a glider! :D

I have tested this with my iPhone.
Close to the window: 87-88 dB up to 90 dB.
In the middle row: 85-86 dB.
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That sounds more correct. I have measured similar with a dedicated SPL meter.


On airplanes, I wear earplugs that lower the noise by 18-20 dB.
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Good idea.
 
Kuoppis said:
Did just that on my last flight. Noise level was meandering in the high 50’s, sometimes low 60’s.


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That was a quiet flight! Mine are always in the 70s and 80s. I always wear ear plugs that remove at least 20 dB.


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Hounddog said:
That was a quiet flight! Mine are always in the 70s and 80s. I always wear ear plugs that remove at least 20 dB.


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Dreamliner [emoji3]

Pretty consistent with the chart.


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An interesting article https://thepointsguy.com/news/quietest-aircraft-in-the-sky/

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Nearly all my listening is done between 78 and 83-85 db. My room is only 10x12 and anything louder would run me out.
I agree the goose bump factor is decidedly better around 82 versus 75.
 
The Wrong frequency weighting for the situation can give wrong data. A-weighting Or C-weighting? Cus no way a plane was only in the 50’s.
 
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