Lawmakers look to control MP3 player volume levels

27 Sep 09 23:45 by Randomus in category MP3 players

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The European Commission is looking into creating new legislation that will force MP3 manufacturers to restrict the maximum sound volume of their products in an effort to better protect owner hearing.

Exact details related to the legislation haven’t been released by lawmakers, but it’s likely the EC wants product manufacturers to create standards — which must be independently approved — related to hearing and sound volume.

There have been numerous reports written by researchers who note an increase in hearing loss due to MP3 player and portable music player (PMP) use. Specifically, there has been additional scrutiny for hearing loss related to the use of the stock ear buds sold with Apple iPod MP3 players. The criticism has led the company to create newer versions of ear buds to better protect against hearing loss, though purchasing a new pair is still advisable.

ipod-headphones_77761t

According to research compiled by the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, about 5 to 10 percent of MP3 player listeners face permanent hearing issues related to sound volume. The European Parliament is expected to create at least one — if not more — pieces of legislation related to volume control, hoping to drop that number below 5 percent.

The problem has become so wide spread that some reviewers are now warning readers that it’d be a good idea to consider purchasing a pair of ear buds to use instead of the stock ones shipped with their new gadget.

I’m normally against direct government involvement in the tech industry, except related to antitrust issues, but I’m actually looking forward to seeing how manufacturers make adjustments to control maximum volume levels.

16 Comments on Lawmakers look to control MP3 player volume levels

Hemispasm: Posts: 5493; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 12:35

There's a process called evolution of the species... Organisms that are weaker, can not cope with the environmental changes etc do not survive in the long run and are left behind... People that dont have the common sense to protect themselves from harm, and cause permanent acoustic damage by listening to music too loud, probably need to be left behind too..

DrageMester: Posts: 19885; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 13:44

What about people like me who applied Replay Gain on all their mp3 files? The maximum volume mandated by our EU overlords would mean that my tracks will sound too low.

We really should put those lawmakers on the first spaceship destined for the sun...

Seán: Posts: 9654; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 14:53

I came across a little more info on PC Pro not mentioned in the above story.

The maximum volume on MP3 players will be restricted to 80dB, down from the current 100dB. However, manufacturers can provide the ability to let users override the restriction, but only if they present the user with an on-screen warning about the danger of continuous listening to load music, which the user must accept to override the restriction.

So this basically means that users can still turn up the volume if they really want, but only after over-riding the restriction and accepting the health warning.

In my opinion, if they did force the limit at 80dB without the ability to override it, this would only encourage users to buy MP3 players from abroad where the restriction is not in effect or worse still, purchase a headphones amplifier, which can push the audio volume well beyond the current 100dB limitation.

DrageMester: Posts: 19885; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 15:09

Another thing: Not all headphones are equally loud.

If you attach "real" quality external headphones to an mp3 player that maxes out at 80 dB on in-ear headphones, the maximum volume will probably be very low.

I really wish lawmakers would stay out of such things and leave it to the consumers to decide such things, but I guess politicians by nature think that everyone else must be treated like children or idiots and cannot be trusted to make any decisions for themselves.

shaolin007: Posts: 883; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 15:37

"I really wish lawmakers would stay out of such things and leave it to the consumers to decide such things,..."

I really wish music companies would stop jacking up the loudness on any music and then dynamically compressing it. Talking about taking the volume control out of your hands.

DrageMester: Posts: 19885; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaolin007

I really wish music companies would stop jacking up the loudness on any music and then dynamically compressing it. Talking about taking the volume control out of your hands.

Yep, me too - we are all victims in the loudness wars!

auldyin: Posts: 8; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 16:47

Bloody hell!!!

I'm 66 years old and Governments are telling me what volume I can listen to music at!!!

auldyin

Icy Mt.: Posts: 633; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 17:01

Just great...how are we supposed to get rid of all the morons if the governments of the world continue to protect them? Seat belts, air bags, check valves on propane tanks, it's all great if you are in the safety device manufacturing business. I need to invest in Boostaroo (http://www.boostaroo.com). I already bought one since my Zune output is already pathetic at driving anything other than a pair of cheap earbuds.

steveo119: Posts: 291; Posted on: 28 Sep 09 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemispasm

Eh? can't hear you mate!

samlar: Posts: 3231; Posted on: 29 Sep 09 04:16

Remember the 50s when they told you not to set to close to TVs it would hurt your eyes.

DrageMester: Posts: 19885; Posted on: 29 Sep 09 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by samlar

Remember the 50s when they told you not to set to close to TVs it would hurt your eyes.

These days it's more likely to hurt your brain...regardless of how close you sit.

redk9258: Posts: 68; Posted on: 29 Sep 09 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaolin007

I've pretty much stopped buying music because of this nonsense. I stay clear of "remastered" CDs and look for non remastered when I do buy one. It's really a shame that any gain from remastering get ruined by all of the compression they use. No wonder people think vinyl sounds better than CD.

Hemispasm: Posts: 5493; Posted on: 30 Sep 09 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveo119

Eh? can't hear you mate!

LoL

Zathros: Posts: 1593; Posted on: 30 Sep 09 01:13

Really good vinyl sounds better on a high end system than mediocre CD's. I recently compiled a collection of Brahms MP3's I collected. Half of the CD is at on volume and the other half is at another volume. Maybe the standard should be on the way the volume is encoded on the CD. You should be able to play it as loud as you want. Who knows, you could be outside at a picnic or headphones that need a little voltage to make them audible.

Mr. Belvedere: Posts: 18838; Posted on: 06 Oct 09 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zathros

Really good vinyl sounds better on a high end system than mediocre CD's.

Kinda depens on the original source or how close digital media can reach that. The Beatles were never in a sound studio that used digital systems, but nevertheless their latest cd box sounds pretty great. If Mozart could record a SACD, i think he would.

metalman67: Posts: 1; Posted on: 08 Nov 09 18:11

Good high quality amplification would help alot.... its the distortion that causes hearing damage... soooo..... give us HIGH quality products to buy an quit shoving low end devices down our throats .... You cant get something for nothing...lol

Lawmakers look to control MP3 player volume levels

16 Comments on Lawmakers look to control MP3 player volume levels

Lawmakers look to control MP3 player volume levels

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