Just trying to get some feedback on this issue. I recently had a hearing test done and the lady that gave it to me really go on my case if you know what I mean. I work in a noisy enviornment. (Cement Plant - Full process: Mills, Coolers, Rock breakers etc) I did not do very well on the test. I still have normal hearing for my age but I dont want to loose my hearing. I do listen to my system very loud when I catch a song I like. To get to the point, is it the higher frequencies that will damage my hearing or the SPL? My current setup includes 4 Alpine type R subs. They are split in pairs running off of two amps at 2 ohms. This should give me around 1500w to the two pair (Two HiFonics Z1000d's). Think I should give them up and go for a SQ system? My front stage or Hi end involves a Kicker 600.4 running a pair on Kicker 6X9's (3-way), a set on Kicker Tweeters (R19's) and a pair of Kicker 6.5's (Two way). I had to get something to off-set the 4 12vs. I am running everything off of a clarion cd player (cant remember the model number). I want to upgrade to one of the Touch Screen DVD player models from Pioneer or Clairon so I could do away with my SPL system. I have been following the post "Subs comparable to JL 12w6v2's w/o all the dough?!?!?" very closley for you quys reccomendations. I would hate to loose my hearing over sometihing I enjoy so much? Any reply's woul be appreciated.
Thanks
Replies (8)
Munchiesyumm on 11/9/2003 00:47:39
thats a pretty nice system.. Do you do compitions or is this just for "personal enjoyment" You must be pretty serious with 4 subs. But i'd say if your worried about losing your hearing turn the bass down on your amp. or amps I didn't fallow you way too much nice stuff on there for me to comprehend.
Getting a new one is just going to make you want to play it even LOUDER ya u know "test it out!"
compvr15s on 11/9/2003 11:12:53
i had a drug and hearing test the other day for a new job im going to be starting tonight, and the lady kind of did the same thing to me, i could tell if i missed a tone becuase she would look up at me, she was only doing really high frequencies but oh well, mabye in a few years my hearing will be so bad i wont need tweeters lol, saves me money. just kiddin, but if i was you id stick with what you have and maybe just turn the gains down, and then if you want to get loud everyonce and a while you will be fine. good luck
CrashMechanic on 11/9/2003 14:28:13
I think the question here is how often do you catch a song that you like in order for you to play your system loudly. Now, I think its a safe bet to say that the low bass is not what going to mess up your hearing. I am in the Air Force and I work around jet engines, and diesel engines running at around 2000rpm, its what you would call a very high noise environment. According to regulations we are required to wear ear muffs when within like 50ft or something like that( don't exactly know cause I just wear them all the time to be on the safe side) when we are around high noise generating equipment.. I have been in this environment for appox. 2 yrs. and every day after work I get in my car and jam my system out all they way home, I have no idea what kind of decibals dut I know its extremely loud, and to this day my hearing is still fine, no drop in my test scores since day one. But anyways, besides all that what keys me in to the fact that it is the higher frequencies is that we are required to wear double ear protection(ear plugs and ear muffs) when around jet engines. That tells me high frequency noise(15KHz and up) at even medium decibal levels(100 -120 dbs) is more harmful than low frequency(500 Hz) high decibals(140-160 dbs). So basically I think that if you listen to your system at high levels like you say you do, which is when you here a good song, then you'll be alright. Your job environment is more than likely what causes your hearing to degrade. Because like I said it depends on how often you turn your system up. Another thing is how long you leave your system turned up while listening.
Crash USFLAG
Munchiesyumm on 11/9/2003 17:39:44
150db will cause hearing loss
Swez on 11/9/2003 20:29:48
110 dB over 15 mins., is enough to create permanent hearing loss over time. OSHA published a noise guidelines for employers and there are time tables for what the allowable amout of noise for a given shift period.
When young, we can hear high/low very well. (20 -20Khz.) As we get older... the mids/highs drop off and it becomes harder to hear speech frequencies. (~1.5 - 8.0 Khz.) If we work in foundries, factories and other high SPL environments, hearing protection is a must !!! Same with high SPL Car Audio.
We can ruin our hearing "PERMANENTLY" in a matter of months when exposed to High SPL levels of any kind. Once the process starts... it's all down hill from there.
SPL Chart: (approximations)
Quiet Library: ~60 dB SPL (no danger)
Normal restaurant: ~80 dB (no danger)
Lawnmower: ~90 dB (hearing protection suggested)
Rock Concert: ~120 dB (Pain theshold levels... High Danger)
Heavy factory noise: ~120-130 dB (Ear protection a must)
Jet take off: ~150 dB (Ear protection a must)
Shuttle Launch: ~180 dB (Ear protection a must)
Hope that helps folks,
Swez THINK
Munchiesyumm on 11/10/2003 00:40:13
I got the 150db from the JL site but I guess I miss read it it says the subs can go over 100db
here is the warning label for the 12w6v2 subs:
"Prolonged exposure to sound pressure
levels in excess of 100dB can cause
permanent hearing loss. This highperformance
speaker can exceed this level.
Please exercise restraint in its operation in
order to preserve your ability to enjoy
its fidelity."
That is one way to sell some subwoofers put warning labels on them saying they are extremely loud, but than again not many can afford these subs.
Munchiesyumm on 11/10/2003 00:57:38
I still don't see how a lawn mower is 90 db sense the warning label says 100db can damage your ears. Man these ears suck I want to get some new high performance..
Time to go to mexico for surgery!
*yes that was a joke...* bad I know
Swez on 11/10/2003 12:45:34
Yeah... maybe someday there will be a surgical procedure for "tinitus" loss of hearing but even todays' best hearing aids have limitations.
Once the eardrum and connective tissue in the ear is damaged, not much that can be done short of "harvesting parts" (from a corpse) and hoping for a good outcome. Sounds goolish perhaps to some, but that may be a new tehnology in the future for those who have damaged their hearing.
Swez
PS Yes, an average lawnmower is ~90 dB. Big riders may be less s they have better mufflers.. but the cheapo walk behind is pretty loud. But I think weed wackers and chain saws may be a tad louder still. Ever notice that Pro tree cutters always wear ear muffs?
Thanks
Replies (8)
Munchiesyumm on 11/9/2003 00:47:39
thats a pretty nice system.. Do you do compitions or is this just for "personal enjoyment" You must be pretty serious with 4 subs. But i'd say if your worried about losing your hearing turn the bass down on your amp. or amps I didn't fallow you way too much nice stuff on there for me to comprehend.
Getting a new one is just going to make you want to play it even LOUDER ya u know "test it out!"
compvr15s on 11/9/2003 11:12:53
i had a drug and hearing test the other day for a new job im going to be starting tonight, and the lady kind of did the same thing to me, i could tell if i missed a tone becuase she would look up at me, she was only doing really high frequencies but oh well, mabye in a few years my hearing will be so bad i wont need tweeters lol, saves me money. just kiddin, but if i was you id stick with what you have and maybe just turn the gains down, and then if you want to get loud everyonce and a while you will be fine. good luck
CrashMechanic on 11/9/2003 14:28:13
I think the question here is how often do you catch a song that you like in order for you to play your system loudly. Now, I think its a safe bet to say that the low bass is not what going to mess up your hearing. I am in the Air Force and I work around jet engines, and diesel engines running at around 2000rpm, its what you would call a very high noise environment. According to regulations we are required to wear ear muffs when within like 50ft or something like that( don't exactly know cause I just wear them all the time to be on the safe side) when we are around high noise generating equipment.. I have been in this environment for appox. 2 yrs. and every day after work I get in my car and jam my system out all they way home, I have no idea what kind of decibals dut I know its extremely loud, and to this day my hearing is still fine, no drop in my test scores since day one. But anyways, besides all that what keys me in to the fact that it is the higher frequencies is that we are required to wear double ear protection(ear plugs and ear muffs) when around jet engines. That tells me high frequency noise(15KHz and up) at even medium decibal levels(100 -120 dbs) is more harmful than low frequency(500 Hz) high decibals(140-160 dbs). So basically I think that if you listen to your system at high levels like you say you do, which is when you here a good song, then you'll be alright. Your job environment is more than likely what causes your hearing to degrade. Because like I said it depends on how often you turn your system up. Another thing is how long you leave your system turned up while listening.
Crash USFLAG
Munchiesyumm on 11/9/2003 17:39:44
150db will cause hearing loss
Swez on 11/9/2003 20:29:48
110 dB over 15 mins., is enough to create permanent hearing loss over time. OSHA published a noise guidelines for employers and there are time tables for what the allowable amout of noise for a given shift period.
When young, we can hear high/low very well. (20 -20Khz.) As we get older... the mids/highs drop off and it becomes harder to hear speech frequencies. (~1.5 - 8.0 Khz.) If we work in foundries, factories and other high SPL environments, hearing protection is a must !!! Same with high SPL Car Audio.
We can ruin our hearing "PERMANENTLY" in a matter of months when exposed to High SPL levels of any kind. Once the process starts... it's all down hill from there.
SPL Chart: (approximations)
Quiet Library: ~60 dB SPL (no danger)
Normal restaurant: ~80 dB (no danger)
Lawnmower: ~90 dB (hearing protection suggested)
Rock Concert: ~120 dB (Pain theshold levels... High Danger)
Heavy factory noise: ~120-130 dB (Ear protection a must)
Jet take off: ~150 dB (Ear protection a must)
Shuttle Launch: ~180 dB (Ear protection a must)
Hope that helps folks,
Swez THINK
Munchiesyumm on 11/10/2003 00:40:13
I got the 150db from the JL site but I guess I miss read it it says the subs can go over 100db
here is the warning label for the 12w6v2 subs:
"Prolonged exposure to sound pressure
levels in excess of 100dB can cause
permanent hearing loss. This highperformance
speaker can exceed this level.
Please exercise restraint in its operation in
order to preserve your ability to enjoy
its fidelity."
That is one way to sell some subwoofers put warning labels on them saying they are extremely loud, but than again not many can afford these subs.
Munchiesyumm on 11/10/2003 00:57:38
I still don't see how a lawn mower is 90 db sense the warning label says 100db can damage your ears. Man these ears suck I want to get some new high performance..
Time to go to mexico for surgery!
*yes that was a joke...* bad I know
Swez on 11/10/2003 12:45:34
Yeah... maybe someday there will be a surgical procedure for "tinitus" loss of hearing but even todays' best hearing aids have limitations.
Once the eardrum and connective tissue in the ear is damaged, not much that can be done short of "harvesting parts" (from a corpse) and hoping for a good outcome. Sounds goolish perhaps to some, but that may be a new tehnology in the future for those who have damaged their hearing.
Swez
PS Yes, an average lawnmower is ~90 dB. Big riders may be less s they have better mufflers.. but the cheapo walk behind is pretty loud. But I think weed wackers and chain saws may be a tad louder still. Ever notice that Pro tree cutters always wear ear muffs?
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
