How loud is too loud ?

[Erna]

Hello, does anybody knows the max volume user can use on rockbox for safety. Recently I was listening (sansa clip +) for an hour edm on -17 to -15 db and somehow my left ear just clogged and still feeling like couple weeks this symptom, doctors just looked and have found nothing my ear drum is healthy, no earwax and I can hear normaly, but I feel that plugged feeling. Is - 17 db very loud for hearing in general or affect ear nerve ?

Thanks for answers people

[saratoga]

The volume settings in Rockbox are relative to the maximum voltage for that player. To know how acoustic power is produced you will need to know the maximum voltage the player can produce and the sensitivity of your headphones. The former is hard to find but usually about 500-1000mV. The latter should be on the box your headphones came in.

[Erna]

Thanks for answer, I had usual earphones by maxell with max input 5mW and 100db sensivity. I am not so much into tech parameters, just wanted to warrant myself if something could affect it out of proportion in this situation whats related to my ear. Of course there can be many factors, but in general in short or long term listening between 85-110 is not recommended, in rockboxed version sound settings are from - 74 db to measure is confusing, so how to know what -17db is equal for, do I need to be concerned ?

[cela]

There is a really handy new volume capping feature that has been introduced into Rockbox, not sure if it's available on the clip+ as I am using a dev build on the Fuze+

I would suggest setting a volume cap soon after switching the player on as the player always seems louder at  first, because over time the ears might get used the volume and you could increase it to excessive levels without being aware of it.

I have mine capped at -26db, your setting of -17db to 15db would be certainly too loud for me on my player but it is a relative value and would vary from player to player.

Thank you very much to the dev that added the volume cap feature it has been much appreciated.

[saratoga]

100db per volt or 100db per mW?

If its volts then 0db in Rockbox would give a SPL of about 100db. If its mW then it depends on the impedance of the headphones but would be more like 110-120 db SPL.

[Erna]

Cela, I haven't noticed. I bought just to another person and rockboxed it. And you know when first time using you are very curious, sound is way powerful compared to OF. But in general I am listening dap for years and hadn't had no problem whats related with hearing.

Saratoga, there isn't written or per mW or per volt. If I can I will put a link with specifications http://bitelectronics.net/audio/maxell-pulze-earphones

If I am right you think the main factor is SPL ?

[saratoga]

That's annoying. I guess they assume that no one would want to calculate it for such inexpensive headphones.

[Erna]

Yes, they are very cheap. But I was surprised with sound what these one deliver.

[Erna]

I understood, I will find that, in order to know correctly. Lets say rockbox 0db gives a SPL of 120db. So how to calculate exactly, let say -74 db gives 1 db of SPL ? If I am right. So -15db would give accordingly appr 80 db.
Anyway thanks very much, you gave good information.

[saratoga]

They add/subtract.  So if 0 dB is 100 dB SPL, then -10dB would be 90 dB SPL. 

[Erna]

Earphones normally range between 92dB - 110dB, with a few exceptions. Coming back to the sensitivity, average earphone sensitivity is around 100dB SPL @ 1mW.  Maxell tech report just replied me. The preferred range for sensitivity in their market is between 99dB SPL @ 1mW and 105dB SPL @ 1mW. Any higher sensitivity may cause harm to ones’ ear. So there input power is defined in mW, more generally than volts. The 32ohm earphone impedance produce 100mV at peak, but usualy lower than <100mW with 10 percent bias about 50mW. So I would suggest, or you even mentioned the same, meaning 'add/subtract' , that there would be 100dB SPL (but no 120) db per mW no volts. Correct 0dB is 100 SPL, -20dB 80db SPL and so on. So generally in 1-2 hours duration I couldn't really hurt my ear on 85-90db.

[saratoga]

So I would suggest, or you even mentioned the same, meaning 'add/subtract' , that there would be 100dB SPL (but no 120) db per mW no volts. Correct 0dB is 100 SPL, -20dB 80db SPL and so on. So generally in 1-2 hours duration I couldn't really hurt my ear on 85-90db.

32 ohms gives about 10mW, so 0dB would be roughly 110dBSPL. 

[Erna]

What I remember now, I have used Creative EP-480 crappy earbuds, those are stock earphones for sansa clip +. And their sensitivity actually is 112db, I don't remember maybe I was listening for 30min, no more. Maybe they had some influence 110db + additional 12db is 122 dBPSL (32ohm) on 0 db. But thats a lot, and 8-10 db more than usual market earphones. -20db on rockbox would be appr 100dBSPL, thats damn a lot. Is this possible ? Probably many people had them in beginning who bought sansa clip +.

[saratoga]

I don't think those headphones ever came with the clip. 

[Erna]

Yes, I have noticed suddenly. Creative..yea. Thats misinformation. But sansa either nor manufacturing them nor selling them. They buy the cheapest possible analog from someone beneficial, its just interesting to find information, but probably for low end 10$ parameters are the same.