New standards to limit Apple iPod volume in Europe
The new safety standards were approved in an effort to limit hearing loss among users of MP3 players. The executive of the European Union said that the default setting is designed to discourage people from listening to devices at "dangerously high volumes."
A recent study that listening to music on players at high volume over a sustained period can lead to permanent hearing damage, and that 5 percent to 10 percent of listeners, or 10 million people, are at risk.
The rule states that listening at 80 decibels adjusted should not exceed 40 hours per week, while 89 decibels should be limited to 5 hours each week. Settings on devices like iPods will be based on those criteria.
"EU standards are not mandatory, however if the new standard is approved by the European Commission and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, it 'de facto' becomes the industry norm," the commission said. "Products meeting those standards are presumed safe -â otherwise manufacturers have to go through costly independent testing for products. The new safety standards will apply only to future products."
The commission sent a mandate to the European Union's standardization body Monday. It requires that the new technical safety standards be drawn up, and implement the standard "soon."
Under the new rules, higher exposure levels are permitted, but the user must willingly select them after being presented with a warning of the risks and ways to avoid them. How the warnings are provided would be up to the manufacturer, whether it's a label or something that displays on the device's screen. Currently only a warning in the instruction manual is required.
The commission said that most MP3 players have audio at a range of 60 dBA to 120 dBA. Scientists said that hearing loss is not likely below 80 dBA, which is equivalent to someone shouting or traffic noise.
In August, reports of "exploding" iPhones in Europe led the European Commission to weigh in on the matter, prompting an Apple-led investigation. Apple has reported the incidents to the union as "isolated," but will do tests to determine the possible cause.
103 Comments
Don't headphones and earbuds have varying levels of sensitivity? How will Apple know how much power to push to achieve the safe sound level?
Don't headphones and earbuds have varying levels of sensitivity? How will Apple know how much power to push to achieve the safe sound level?
I assume anything they do would be based on the stock headphones.
Not to mention the type of music being played. A Chopin nocturne is not going to have the same loudness at the same volume setting as death metal.
I thought all iPods have a volume limiter feature built in. You just need to activate and adjust it. If you failed to use it and damaged your hearing should that be Apple fault?
Not to mention the type of music being played. A Chopin nocturne is not going to have the same loudness at the same volume setting as death metal.
That has to do with how recordings are mastered. Most classical musics and jazz CDs/SACDs preserved the natural dynamics of the recordings to recreate the contrast between loud and quiet passages. This is perfect for home listening but quiet passages will be too soft for outdoor use. Most recordings from others genres have their dynamic compressed and loudness adjusted to higher level. Everything is loud and clear on all portable players and car stereos in a high background noise level.
This is dumb. Put a warning sticker on the headphones. If people can't make this connection on their own tough. When we start regulating every minor detail of life we lose the ability to make our own decisions.