Is loud bass/systems bad for your ears?

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
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There are so many people that i swear just spend hours and hours driving around "pounding". Surely that can't be good for your ears??
 

CaesarX

Banned
Nov 19, 2002
520
0
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My parents always told me it is, but for all i know, that could be just another myth. If someone can post a link to a medical site that says it is, i'll believe it. Otherwise, i won't.
 

Placer14

Platinum Member
Sep 17, 2001
2,225
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Originally posted by: sandigga
no its not.

Don't know if it's sarcasm or not, but yes it is. There's a threshold at which your ear hear sound optimally without damage to the tissue. I don't know where it is, but I know approx 20dB above that point is where you start getting permanent damage from the sound. Between optimal sound and 20 above is temporary damage.

Also, if you're listening to headphones and you can't hear sound outside the headphone for longer than an hour or so, i heard it's bad for ears as well. Your ears weren't made to handle the direct channeling of sound and it causes damage. Granted, I've seen no research to support this, this is hearsay from professors of Audio Engineering. (At the University of Miami)
 

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,780
265
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I'm sure they will think that (bad for your ears) when they get to be 45 and the tinnitus will be so bad that are going to hate to be in a room silent with no sounds whatsoever in the back ground. There are always minuses with the pluses in life don't ya know. :)
 

KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
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Yup... extended exposure to anything loud will damage your hearing... I'm living proof... beefcake! :)
 

cjchaps

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,013
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I've heard that excess treble is actually worse for your ears than excess bass :Q
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
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Of course it's bad for your ears. I thought this was general knowledge, but you never know in the USA, do you?
 

Doodoo

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2000
1,423
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Yeah its definatly bad for ur ears....ive had a system in my car for about 6 years and i find myself always asking people to repeat themselves. I heard somehwere that bass reduces ur ability to hear highs, while loud levels of high impairs ur ability to hear bass?
 

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
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There was a thing on the Discovery channel I caught the other day. It was a show produced in the UK where they had some kid who had a thumping system in his Golf have his hearing checked. The results showed his hearing was impaired in certain ranges. His solution was to tweak his amplifer so it was louder in that range.

Keep those systems thumping kids. I'm telling my children to keep the music at a managable level and to invest in hearing aid companies.
 

cmdavid

Diamond Member
May 23, 2001
4,114
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Originally posted by: Placer14
Originally posted by: sandigga
no its not.

Don't know if it's sarcasm or not, but yes it is. There's a threshold at which your ear hear sound optimally without damage to the tissue. I don't know where it is, but I know approx 20dB above that point is where you start getting permanent damage from the sound. Between optimal sound and 20 above is temporary damage.

Also, if you're listening to headphones and you can't hear sound outside the headphone for longer than an hour or so, i heard it's bad for ears as well. Your ears weren't made to handle the direct channeling of sound and it causes damage. Granted, I've seen no research to support this, this is hearsay from professors of Audio Engineering. (At the University of Miami)
thanks... i was being sarcastic..
;)

I think it improves your hearing.
thats what i thought...
 

nitrousninja

Golden Member
Jun 21, 2000
1,095
0
76
In a car stereo you can actually develop respiratory problems if the pressure is high enough over a long period of time. I knew a guy in high school who had a system for years that hit over 140db and drove it cranked up all the time and his lungs were constantly competing with the system for air. Not good.
 

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,869
1
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i used to have phenominal hearing before i got into car audio. I got nervous and went to the doctor to have my hearing checked knowing it was directly related to high music volumes. My hearing is, in fact, substantially less than it was three years ago. I wish i didn't have to play it so loud...it's annoying always asking people, "I'm sorry...could you repeat that" or "i'm sorry...i still can't hear you". I'll still play an old jam at high volumes, and i'll find that i also have a short-term hearing loss. :(

-=bmacd=-
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Yea, but it hasn't harmed me yet, I DJ'ed for over 2 years, I've always had a kickin system of some sort in my car, and I go to clubs down here in philly...I'll probably be deaf by 30 :D
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
Originally posted by: Deeko
Yea, but it hasn't harmed me yet, I DJ'ed for over 2 years, I've always had a kickin system of some sort in my car, and I go to clubs down here in philly...I'll probably be deaf by 30 :D

doh...i went to a club ...i couldn't hear jack afterwards..why do they play so loud!! so mad.....useless to play that loudly...aha..
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Originally posted by: Deeko
Yea, but it hasn't harmed me yet, I DJ'ed for over 2 years, I've always had a kickin system of some sort in my car, and I go to clubs down here in philly...I'll probably be deaf by 30 :D

doh...i went to a club ...i couldn't hear jack afterwards..why do they play so loud!! so mad.....useless to play that loudly...aha..

lol, I love it man, Egypt has the dance floor lined with 10 15" JBL subs, its so sweet.
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,880
523
126
My parents always told me it is, but for all i know, that could be just another myth.
Yes, your parents are just telling you all of this stuff, not because they're concerned about the risks, but because they hate to see you having any fun. Crack, heroin, amphetamines, marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol, LSD, poor academic performance, breaking the law, speeding, maxing out your credit cards, dropping out of school, hanging around losers, there are no serious risks to any of those. Its all a conspiracy by fun-hating parents.

Does Bass Damage Hearing?