A good set of headphones and a solid playlist might serve as the ultimate focus tool for simple pleasure. However, it points out that the same thing you resort to headphones for “the sound” may be the thing that keeps you from hearing in the future.

There has always been a danger of noise-induced hearing loss in some occupations, such as the armed services and construction. Nearly one in four US individuals now exhibit symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss, and this number is rising among young people.

In this article, the main topic that will be discussed is: can headphones cause hearing loss? We will also look at simple measures to protect your hearing while still enjoying music through your favorite headphones.

Can Headphones Cause Hearing Loss

The World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed some concerning news about hearing loss. It is estimated that 1.1 billion young individuals are in danger of potentially permanent hearing damage as a result of excessive noise pollution.

According to WHO, noise-induced hearing loss is caused either by:

• Eight hours of continuous exposure to moderately strong noise – 85 dB.
• Short-term loud noise exposure – 15 minutes of listening to sounds exceeding 100 dB.

So why are youngsters so vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss? While the WHO lists risk factors such as pubs, clubs, and music venues as causes of hearing impairment, the most common concern is listening to loud music with earbuds on a smart device.

So, in light of these facts, the simple answer is yes, headphones can cause hearing loss. It can be permanent if you are not careful. But how does it happen? Read on to find out!

How Do Headphones Cause Hearing Loss?

Although your ear is a complex mechanism, the sound is produced as a sensory reaction in your brain as a result of the vibrating of small hairs within a chamber in the inner ear. Friction between different surfaces produces air movement, which forces these hairs to vibrate in various ways, producing varied sounds.

Loud music amplifies the power of these vibrations. If the vibrations are too strong for too long, the hairs cannot handle the load and cease operating correctly. Two things can happen based on how much you listened to music and how loud it was.

• The hairs might be damaged and lose sensitivity, but they can regenerate with time. That’s why you might find it extremely difficult to hear when exiting a noisy environment, but your hearing will gradually return to normal. The hairs are overburdened, but they will recover in time.
• If too much harm is caused, which can be the result of loud and constant music on your headphones, the hairs are well beyond restoration. They can lose their capacity to vibrate with noise and become worthless. This is when we suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. Your hearing is permanently damaged.

Next, we look at the signs of hearing loss.

Signs of Hearing Loss

If you or your kid exhibits any of the following symptoms, get medical attention immediately:

• In the ear, there is ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing.
• Trouble comprehending speech in loud or acoustically bad environments.
• Sounds that are muffled and the sensation that your ear is clogged.
• Listening to the radio or television at a larger quantity than usual.

Regrettably, the sort of hearing loss induced by excessive exposure to extremely loud noise is permanent. Thus, avoidance is essential.

Hearing aids and implants can assist in amplifying sounds and trying to make them easier to listen to, but they only compensate for damaged or non-working components of the ear. So what can you do to avoid this situation?

How to Prevent Hearing Loss Using Headphones?

When you are worried about hearing problems, you may take a few easy precautions to lessen your risk of hearing loss from headphones.

1. Turn Down the Volume

It’s really that simple: just turn down the volume on your headphones or earbuds.

Turning down the level on your gadgets is the single most important step you can make to safeguard your hearing.

Noise-induced hearing loss is generally caused by exposure to extremely loud noise. You can protect your hearing by limiting your exposure.

2. Set Controls on Phones

Many smartphones enable you to set a max capacity so that you don’t mistakenly exceed a safe level.

Search for this function in the settings menu, or seek it up online if you can’t locate it. An android user can simply press the volume up and down button and open the volume settings as shown below. Make sure the music limit is not in the red zone. Anything below the red zone is safe.

This is an excellent approach for parents to control how their child listens to music in general.

3. Use Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are all the fad nowadays. Most individuals use headphones at maximum volume to “drown out” other sounds. Noise-canceling headphones are an excellent method to reduce the volume on your gadgets while also protecting your ears.

These headphones shut out extraneous noise, allowing you to listen to music or watch movies at a reduced volume without being distracted.

4. Use Over-the-Ear Models

Over-the-ear headphones are usually recommended by audiologists and otologists over in-ear or earbud-style devices.

Over-the-ear headphones enhance the space between your eardrums and the speakers, reducing the possibility of hearing loss.

5. Take Listening Breaks

If either of the above options is not available to you, taking breaks from headphones can help avoid headphone-induced hearing loss.

The longer you listen to loud sounds, the more likely it is that your ears will be damaged. Consider taking a 5-minute or 10-minute break every 30 minutes or every 60 minutes.

Adopt the 60/60 rule to be extra safe: Hear at 60 percent of your device’s max volume for 60 min, and afterwards, take a rest.

Earbuds Are Especially Dangerous

Most folks persist in using wireless earbuds despite the harmful consequences because they find them to be convenient. The ability to listen to music or other sounds without bothering those around you is one of the key reasons why people wear earbuds.

Background noise can be reduced by wearing headphones. This implies that you might be able to identify specific instruments and pick out subtleties in the song.

However, earbuds are especially hazardous to your hearing. This is due to the speaker’s proximity to your eardrum. Furthermore, the wireless earbuds are often of lesser quality, imposing an increase in volume to hear the bass and make out the lyrics above the background sound.

Conclusion

Losing your sense of hearing from headphones and earbuds is a real thing. However, it is simple to avoid hearing impairment from headphone usage.

If you don’t want to permanently harm your hearing, all you have to do is to adopt the above prevention steps to make wise decisions and safeguard your ears.

Being aware is a tremendous tool. If you are always thinking about safe methods to appreciate music, you will avoid a lot of harm to your senses.

Should you ask any audiophile what they’re doing with a new set of headphones, they will almost certainly tell you to burn them in. Audiophiles are music enthusiasts who are dedicated to getting the highest sound quality from their headphones, earphones, speakers, and other audio equipment.

However, some audiophiles believe that headphone burn-in is a fallacy and a waste of effort. So, what does it mean to burn in headphones? Do your headphones need to be burned in? Or will you end up damaging your headphones? Read on to find out!

What Is Headphone Burn-In?

Burn-in, often known as ‘breaking in,’ is the practice of allowing a new set of headphones to play music for 1, 100, or even 1000 hours before you use them.

A new set of headphones straight out of the box (according to audiophiles who burn-in their headphones) may not sound as nice as a pair that has been in use for a longer period. Headphones are burn-in within the first several weeks of ownership to improve sound quality.

Burn-in is the technique of thoroughly checking a system or component before putting it into service by operating it for a lengthy period of time to identify any issues.

The audio version of breaking in a new pair of sneakers is headphone burn-in. You work the diaphragm, headphone drivers, magnets, and voice coils in by playing a variety of frequencies and tones before using new headphones to listen to music or otherwise.

These components are stiff when fresh and do not replicate correct sound waves. They acquire an ideal state for reproducing audio after many hours of break-in.

The goal of breaking in new headphones is to improve their performance by enhancing the audio. On the other hand, most individuals consider breaking in new headphones to be a placebo effect.

So, how do you break in your headphones, and does it make a difference in the sound quality?

How to Burn-in Headphones?

There are a few methods for breaking in headphones. Playing a variety of music, such as white noise, pink noise, broadcast noise, frequency sweeps, and others, is one of the most prevalent. These days, a single search on YouTube will yield videos to burn into your headphones.

Additionally, you may utilize music from various genres to break in the headphones if you have one. Simply load the various audio files onto your music player, plug in your headphones, and listen.

It is advised that you listen to the audio files at a reasonably high volume during the burn-in period. Raising the volume excessively high risks damaging the headphone driver and, in the worst-case scenario, causing failure. When breaking in, it’s best to leave the headphones on, especially if you’re using pink noise or other inaudible audio files.

You don’t need to burn your headphones in for a set length of time. Specialists, audiophiles, and anyone in between have plenty of recommendations, but nothing is guaranteed to work. Headphone burn-in might take anywhere from four hours to 400 hours, depending on what you read.

Is Headphone Burn-In Effective?

Despite the fact that headphone burn-in has been documented for some time, there is no strong evidence to back it up. The majority of people who believe burn-in works do so based on personal experience with their gear.

Some users agree that headphone burn-in is effective. However, you don’t need to listen to pink noise or listen to music for numerous hours. Simply put on your headphones and start listening to music. Other elements, such as the earpads, will alter sound reproduction over time in addition to the relaxation of the headphone driver.

The AKG Q 701 is one of the highly regarded headphones that, according to most audiophiles, improves over a long burn-in time. According to the reviews available on the AKG K701, a break-in time of roughly 300 hours is usually advised.

Shure denied that headphone burn-in could considerably affect the sound quality of a headset in response to an inquiry concerning burn-in or break-in. Shure also indicated that no changes in performance between old (heavily used) and new earbuds had been measured.

The AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT 1770, Audeze LCD 2 Classic, and Etymotic HF5 were also put to the test by RTings. Their findings revealed no indication of headphone break-in.

According to the RTings’ guide, the changes they noticed were either too minor to notice or caused by system performance swings or external noise.

Other Factors Affect Headphone Sound Quality

It seems that the verdict is still out on whether headphone burn-in improves your audio experience.

One theory is that a series of tiny adjustments add up to a significant variation in hearing quality. Certainly, headphone parts change mechanically as you are using them. That is the fact that few would dispute.

However, headphones aren’t only mechanical devices. The earpads conform to the shape of your ears, allowing for a better sealing around your ear and clearer audio.

The headphones headband may give just that little, which will assist your convenience. Incorrect headphone fit may make a significant impact on carrier frequency and loudness detection.

Moreover, as you grow more familiar with the headphones, your perception of their range and tuning is likely to shift. Alternatively, if you’ve updated considerably, you’ll notice a considerable difference between your old and new cans.

Conclusion

There is no definitive response that can verify whether the headphone burn-in is genuine or not after reading numerous viewpoints on the subject. But there are minor changes in certain circumstances, and it might be a psychoacoustic effect brought on by a person’s gradual adaptation to new sounds. A placebo effect has also been documented.

Though many feel that headphone burn-in is effective, the improvement in audio quality is nearly imperceptible. The sound of a headphone may likely alter over time due to a variety of variables such as softening or the ear pads falling off.

However, without headphone drivers, you won’t be able to hear anything coming from your headphones. It is one of the essential components of a headphone since it translates electrical data into audible sound waves.

The sizes of the different types of drivers range from 8mm to 50mm. However, the effectiveness of a headphone driver is not only determined by its size.

Some drivers are better than others due to the technologies they utilize. Multiple drivers may be used in certain headphones to handle a wide range of frequencies.

Here, we’ll get through the terminology to explain everything you need to know about headphones driver, one of the most popular headphone components.

What is a Headphone Driver?

A basic speaker that moves air is a headphone driver. Pressure waves are formed as air is forced into the speaker, resulting in a sound that flows through the ear lobes.

A driver, which converts electrical energy to sound energy, is one of the most crucial components of a headphone or speaker. Drivers are usually referred to as transducers or motors and are an essential element of headphones and loudspeakers.

A driver is made up of three parts that work together to produce sound.

The Magnet

It is in charge of producing a magnetic field. The functioning of the magnet in the magnetic circuit can improve sound quality.

Magnets for Bluetooth headphone drivers are typically constructed of cobalt or ferrite. However, uncommon materials are occasionally employed to generate stronger magnets.

Voice Coils

The diaphragm is moved by an electric current passing through the voice coils, which generates the sound you hear.

The conversion of electrical impulses into sound is carried out by voice coils. For more outstanding sound quality, they are frequently built from a variety of materials rather than only copper wire.

The Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a muscular structure that vibrates to create sound waves. A diaphragm is a type of transducer that converts mechanical vibrations into sound waves.

It’s commonly formed of a thin membrane or a sheet of various materials with its edges hanging. When electricity vibrates a diaphragm, it generates sound waves by beating against the air.

Impact of Size On Sound Quality

A bigger Bluetooth headphone driver unit generates stronger bass in general. However, this does not imply that headphones with huge drivers provide excellent quality than those with smaller drivers.

Whenever it comes to the audio quality of headphones, there are a lot of variables to consider. The size of the driver in your headphones does affect things, but not in the way you may think.

The enclosure of the headphone driver unit, it’s tuning, and the ear cushioning are the three most critical factors to consider. Look for drivers built of high-quality, flexible material that won’t break under high-power conditions.

Remember that the type of cushioning utilized and the cup’s enclosure have a more considerable influence on sound quality than the driver’s size.

Types of Headphones Driver Units

Here are some of the most popular types of driver units found in earbuds and headphones.

Dynamic (Moving Coil) Drivers

These are the most prevalent form of Bluetooth headphone driver on the market, and they are relatively affordable. They make sound by utilizing the science of electromagnetic and magnetism to move things around.

A voice coil, a diaphragm linked to the voice coil, and a neodymium magnet are the three main components of a dynamic driver.

The voice coil is magnetized by the neodymium magnet, which turns it into an electromagnet. The voice coil generates a magnetic field when it receives electricity. The magnetic field flows in directions dictated by the current flow.

The voice coil moves back and forth fast due to the magnetic field. As a result, the sound is produced when the diaphragm linked to the voice coil moves and displaces its air. A significant air displacement is generally the source of a high volume.

Because of its high capacity to displace air, a dynamic driver is excellent at producing bass. It is also highly effective and does not take a lot of power to achieve significant volume because it has a primary mechanism.

On the other hand, a dynamic driver has one big drawback: it can distort the audio at high volumes (non-linear distortion). However, excellent engineering can correct this flaw. Dynamic drivers are used in some of the highest-end headphones on the market.

Electrostatic Drivers

These are incredibly rare and costly. Electrostatic drivers work on the principle that similar charges repel each other, but opposite charges attract.

The diaphragm pushes and pulls on two conductive plates, which can be positively or negatively charged or two electrodes, causing vibrations. The diaphragm then pushes air through the perforated walls, creating sound waves together with the continual fluctuation of the electrical signal.

These are drivers that need the use of specialized amplifiers in order to reach their full capacity. As a result, this sort of driver is typically found in high-end headphones with an open-back construction.

Planar Magnetic Drivers

Most open-back over-ear headphones have planar magnetic drivers. They’re usually found in high-end headphones, and they’re quite thin.

They use magnetic fields to generate sound, just as dynamic drivers. Unlike dynamic drivers, however, which trigger the voice coil, the magnetic field directly triggers the diaphragm to make a sound.

Because the entire diaphragm must be vibrated equally, larger or more magnets may be employed. However, this makes the headphones bulky and inconvenient to transport. Extra power from the audio source may be required, or you may need to purchase an external amplifier.

Headphones with planar magnetic drivers are more expensive, but the sound produced by the drivers is of more outstanding quality. It offers superb transient response and very little distortion. Since the diaphragm is broad and narrow, the electromagnetic force is powerful, a significant volume of air is displaced, the bass response is good.

Bone Conduction Drivers

These drivers employ bone conduction to transmit vibrations straight to the user’s inner ear bypassing the eardrum. Individuals who need to wear headphones in environments where they still need to hear surrounding noises or have hearing difficulties can benefit from headphones with this type of driver.

With bone conduction drivers, though, you’ll almost probably be sacrificing practicality for quality. When it comes to providing high-quality sound, this category currently falls short of other drivers.

Balanced Armature Drivers

These are relatively small drivers that are commonly found in in-ear monitors. Makers will place numerous drivers in a single earpiece because of their size. The majority of in-ear monitors include one to four drivers.

These earphones can replicate various frequencies with minimum distortions because of several drivers in a single earpiece. A single driver usually is in charge of the bass notes, while the remaining drivers are in charge of the remainder.

Spotify HiFi might be the Holy Grail for high-fidelity audiophiles. Spotify would offer some of your favorite music in lossless, CD-quality audio to compete with streaming services like Tidal.

High-quality music streaming, according to Spotify, is regularly one of the most requested new additions by its customers, who were previously restricted to 320kbps.

Apple and Amazon recently addressed higher-resolution music by making Apple Lossless Audio and Amazon Music HD free to Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited customers — which might be a clue that Spotify HiFi is on the way.

But what is lossless audio? How much better is it than the music you’re listening to now? Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know.

What is Lossless Audio?

Before we jump into the meaning of lossless audio, it’s necessary to understand the words bitrate and sample rate, which are often employed.

Bitrate: The amount of data encoded as audio every second is referred to as bitrate. Because data is expressed in bits, bitrate is usually expressed in kilobits per second (kbps).

Sample rate: The sample rate is the number of times the sound is transformed to data in a second. The sample rate is given in Kilo Hertz (kHz) since any value per second signifies frequency.

If you’re not sure what bitrate and sample rate means, remember that the greater the bitrate and sample rate, the better the audio quality you’ll hear.

The majority of audio files found online these days are in MP3 format. This format is common since it is extensively supported across an extensive range of devices with no compatibility concerns.

However, MP3 is a compressed audio file format, which means you may miss out on some of the data you’d get from a lossless audio file. Some audiophiles believe they can’t tell the difference between 320kbps MP3 and a lossless format like FLAC.

Audio streaming providers also utilize the AAC format, which is marginally better than MP3 but still compresses the audio.

Lossless refers to a form of compressed digital audio file that employs advanced data compression techniques to ensure that the audio track does not “lose” any detail during the compression process.

A compressed audio file, such as an MP3 or an AAC, is typically around 1/4 the size of the original recording. Lossless compressed audio files, such as FLAC or ALAC (Apple Lossless), are currently around half the size of their original recordings.

Apple Lossless Audio

Apple Lossless Audio Codec is Apple’s proprietary lossless audio compression technology (ALAC). Aside from AAC, Apple Music’s entire collection is now encoded in ALAC, with resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) to 24-bit/192 kHz.

They’re giving Apple Music members a choice to listen to music in lossless audio compression, despite the fact that the difference between AAC and lossless audio is nearly imperceptible.

Lossless audio streaming over a mobile or Wi-Fi network uses a lot more bandwidth. Furthermore, downloading lossless music takes up a lot more space on your device. Higher resolutions need the usage of more data than lesser resolutions.

Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec is used in AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones to provide superb audio quality. Bluetooth connections, on the other hand, are not lossless.

Simply erase the music you’ve previously downloaded from Apple Music and redownload it from the Apple Music collection to receive a lossless version.

How to Listen to Lossless Audio on iPhone

These are required to listen to lossless on an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 14.6 or later.

• A wired connection to either receivers, headphones, or powered speakers.
• Also, the built-in speakers.
• You’ll need an external digital-to-analog converter to listen to music with sample rates greater than 48 kHz.

How to Turn On/Off Lossless Compression?

• Step 1: Go to the Music section of the Settings menu.
• Step 2: Select Audio Quality from the menu.
• Step 3: Lossless Audio can be turned on or off by tapping it. You may select the audio quality for streaming and downloading music from this menu.
• For a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz, it’s lossless.
• For a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz, choose Hi-Res Lossless.

Anything Better Than Lossless Audio

Lossless audio simply implies that no data is missing during the compression process; the quality of a lossless file is thus determined by the original source being compressed.

Although lossless is commonly used to refer to digital audio files with the same quality as a CD (16-bit/44.1 kHz), many lossless streaming services provide even higher-quality digital audio files.

Tidal allows HiFi subscribers to listen to Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) certified recordings up to 24bit/96kHz. In contrast, Amazon Music HD allows users to listen to “Ultra HD” up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The problem is that most lossless streaming sites lack an extensive library of these very high-resolution audio tracks. And they’re not supported by every lossless streaming provider.

Is It Worth it to Pay For a Lossless Streaming Service?

Only when you’ve established that you can tell the difference between lossy and lossless audio. The fact is that most people don’t know the difference between a typical MP3 and a lossless FLAC or ALAC file.

Another thing to consider is that if you want to hear the superior audio quality that a lossless audio file can provide, you’ll need the correct speakers, headphones, and streaming devices to do so.

You must be streaming from a device that supports lossless tracks in order to get the most out of our lossless streaming service.

For example, if you have a MAC or iPhone, only a few lossless streaming services, such as Tidal HiFi and Qobuz, offer ALAC.

Furthermore, if you usually listen to music on your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, you won’t be able to get the most out of a lossless streaming service because it relies on a Bluetooth connection that can’t play real lossless audio.

Conclusion

If you’re a true audiophile, then you should be excited about lossless audio.

If you can’t detect the difference between lossy and lossless audio, which should represent a large percentage of the population, not much will change, except perhaps slightly greater data usage.

Unlike video content, where going from 480p to 1080p makes a significant difference, the lossless audio boost may not be as noticeable to many people.

As a result, many product descriptions resemble a technical spreadsheet. The wall of technical jargon might be perplexing, specifically if you don’t spend your time researching high-tech equipment.

We won’t be able to answer all of your questions at once. But today, we’ll clarify one of the most frequently asked questions: what is aptX? We’ll go over everything in detail and explain all you need to know.

What is aptX?

AptX is an audio codec for compressing and decompressing music while streaming through Bluetooth at its most general level. It serves as the packing for your audio product, with Bluetooth A2DP (the most widely used Bluetooth profile) acting as the courier.

It was initially created in the 1980s and commercialized in the 1990s before being purchased by Qualcomm, a chipset maker, in 2015. aptX was first used in consumer devices in 2009, and hundreds of top audio companies have now embraced it.

It’s a step higher than the basic lossy SBC (Subband Coding) codec, which typically supports Bluetooth A2DP music delivery at 256kbps.

Even if your device sends out high-quality audio files, you won’t be able to hear anything higher than MP3 quality on the other end.

AptX was created as a response to this. It employs an enhanced custom compression to shrink the audio to a size similar to SBC but with more of the actual frequency range preserved.

This claims a “CD-like” transfer of your music. However, the compression it employs means it won’t quite match the 16-bit/44.1kHz quality.

However, as compared to SBC, it does help to reduce latency to a minimum. When watching a video, this is very important for maintaining speech in sync, and it also sounds better.

What is aptX Bluetooth?

To comprehend what aptX HD is, we must first define ‘classic’ aptX. It’s an audio-coding method developed in the late 1980s and is widely used by film studios and radio stations.

Steven Spielberg was an early user, working with others to use aptX to capture sound for 5.1 digital playbacks in movies.
aptX is now associated with Bluetooth, which may be found on a wide range of laptops, cellphones, AV receivers, and other contemporary electronics devices. Its main feature is the ability to broadcast full-bandwidth audio.

It’s also made to sound better than traditional Bluetooth. The compression ratio of classic aptX is 4:1, with a data rate of 352kbps.

What is aptX Low Latency?

Although aptX has always been somewhat lossless than the competition, it has always had a drawback. Earlier versions of the aptX codec took a lengthy time to decode, sometimes up to 100 milliseconds.

If you were a radio announcer, this wasn’t a huge problem. It was also not an issue for the entertainment industry. Nobody noticed if your audio track had a delay of 100 milliseconds? Things are always possible to correct in post-production.

aptX Low Latency is meant to have a maximum delay of 40 milliseconds. If you recall what we mentioned before, this is a small delay that is barely apparent. It’s somewhat more lossless than normal aptX, but only the most ardent music lovers will notice.

Qualcomm launched aptX Adaptive in 2018, a third new codec. When the connection is steady enough, aptX Adaptive assures minimal latency but changes to more miniature lossy versions of the codec. We haven’t yet seen any earphones with this functionality, but it’s coming.

The Future of aptX Technology

Updated versions of aptX are beginning to appear in devices, and they have the capacity to be much more exciting.

While using Bluetooth headphones, you may have observed a lip-sync issue when the sounds don’t line up with vocal inflection. The additional processing necessary to send the audio to your ears through Bluetooth causes this. Low Latency lowers the duration from 200-300 milliseconds in SBC to about 40 milliseconds in Low Latency.

Lip-sync problems should be resolved as a result of this. The aptX Adaptive codec will have a comparable delay of about 80 milliseconds.

Another thing to keep in mind is that iPhones do not yet support the aptX codec. Instead, they’ve been concentrating on W1, their own proprietary codec. As a consequence, using aptX Low Latency earphones with iOS devices will not improve your experience.

You’ve probably heard people talk about bandwidths and compression, as well as more specialized terminology like lossless.

This may be a challenge for the ordinary customer who simply wants to buy a set of headphones with a codec that ensures outstanding audio quality and a quick, reliable connection.

Several Bluetooth audio codecs comparisons are made, notably A2DP vs. aptX, LDAC vs. aptX, LDAC vs. AAC, and aptX vs. AAC. Here are several Bluetooth audio codecs to keep an eye out for.

What is aptX?

The aptX audio codec for Bluetooth has been around since the late 1980s. The goal was to offer CD-quality music through a Bluetooth connection at the time.

AptX is a lossy compressed format that supports 16-bit/48-kHz LCPM audio data at up to 352 kbps. AptX utilizes compression to transmit this quantity of data wirelessly, which helps to minimize latency. As a result, the file sizes are quite tiny.

This is the most widely used consumer Bluetooth codec for MP3s today. The majority of Android handsets support this Bluetooth audio codec.

What is LDAC?

Sony’s custom audio codec is called LDAC. The variable bit rate is the star of the show here, with the industry’s most significant bit-rate transfer figures. Anything up to 990 kbps is on the cards here.

However, LDAC isn’t commonly utilized, so if your device supports it, you’ll have to dive into the developer options to enable it.

Even so, once it’s up and running, LDAC will allow you to transmit three times the quantity of data in the same amount of time as a regular SBC.

LDAC, once a Sony exclusive, has been available on Android since Android 8.0 Oreo and is now part of the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP).

The LDAC Bluetooth audio codec is supported by smartphones, including the LG V40 ThinQ and the Samsung Galaxy S9+.

What is SBS?

Sub-band coding (SBC) is the preset Bluetooth audio codec. It hence represents the low-quality audio via Bluetooth that you should accept.

Support for SBC isn’t exactly a selling feature for smartphones or headphones, but it’s a need for most of them. It is required for all A2DP-capable devices. The maximum transfer rate is around 320 kbps.

What is A2DP?

Advanced Music Distribution Profile stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile. It means that it doesn’t signify anything in the context of something which is currently streaming audio.

A2DP is more or less the default for streaming music over Bluetooth because it is one of the earliest parts of the unified Bluetooth specification.

Any Bluetooth audio equipment you buy—headphones, speakers, phones, and laptops—will at the very least support A2DP, regardless of whether it can also operate with aptX.

The A2DP standard is stereo and supports the majority of common audio compression codecs. At 48 kilohertz, the suggested sub-band coding (SBC) codec allows up to 345 kilobits per second.

That’s about a third of the quality of regular CD audio, or about the same as a high-quality MP3 recording. The audio quality is far worse in actuality, at around 256kbit/s, due to the SBC codec’s extreme “lossless” compression.

The system also supports other popular ways of encoding and compressing audio, such as MP3. The audio source does not need to be re-encoded in SBC if it is already compressed in a format like MP3, AAC, or ATRAC. With A2DP’s maximum audio bandwidth of 728kbit/s, it’s feasible to get high-quality audio.

However, few hardware manufacturers appear to be using this feature, and most A2DP-only products re-encode audio to SBC before decoding on the receiver end. This complicates the entire process, resulting in worse audio quality.

What is AAC?

If you purchase an Apple iPhone, you will receive advanced audio coding (AAC). It’s also the accessible version of YouTube’s default compression standard.

AAC produces a sound comparable to MP3 rather than CD quality, although the transmission rate is limited to 250 kbps.
AAC uses a lot of power, which might shorten the battery life of smartphones and Bluetooth headphones.

AAC is supported by top brand headphones such as the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, in addition to Apple iPhones.

The discussion over whether AAC vs. aptX HD is better has been overshadowed by the Android vs. iPhone controversy. Not only for sound quality but also dependability, most people prefer aptX HD.

Best Bluetooth Audio Codec

Quality is subjective, as it is with all audio and music in general. We all desire high-definition audio with negligible latency. Still, there are compromises to be made, such as battery consumption and connection reliability.

The fact is that it is a matter of personal choice. Qualcomm’s aptx HD has become a de facto industry standard for Android HD audio. Still, any Apple fanatic will tell you that AAC is just as excellent.

The source of the sound and the external device, such as your headphones, must support the same Bluetooth audio codec. Picking the appropriate goods becomes more of a game of matching pairings than pursuing the most desired audio codec support.

You can use your smartphone with various Bluetooth audio output devices, such as headphones and wireless speakers. The goal is typically to achieve parity across all of your devices rather than a single perfect match.

While listening to music through headphones is a fun way to pass the time while these activities, they can isolate you from your surroundings and constitute a considerable safety risk, especially with busy traffic and possible hazards all around. Thankfully, advances in hearing tech can assist.

Bone-conduction headphones employ an acoustic method to offer a novel way to listen to music while remaining aware of one’s surroundings.

The majority of people hear in two ways. One is air conduction, sound moving through the air into the ear canal. The other way is bone conduction sound traveling through the bone into the ear canal (in the head).

Both kinds of hearing assist us in gathering sound from the environment and transmitting it to the brain for interpretation.

In this post, we will find out about what exactly is bone conduction technology, and how it works! Let’s dive straight into it!

What is Bone Conduction?

If we talk about its definition, the transmission of sound vibrations to the skull’s inner ear (Cochlea) bones, allowing you to sense sound without blocking the ear canal, is known as bone conduction.

To put it in a simple way, it’s a sound that is sent straight to the inner ear without passing through the eardrum. Consider bone conduction to be a sound-hearing shortcut.

Have you ever closed your ears while singing a song during a shower or workout and wondered how you managed to hear the melody? Have you ever heard the noises made by brushing your teeth or eating potato chips?

That’s bone conduction at its finest, and your ears have been carrying sound that way all along, along with the more often employed air conduction.

How does Bone Conduction Technology Work?

Both our bones are bone-conducted or bone-transmitted, and our eardrums are used to hear sounds (air-conducted or air-transmitted). Our eardrums pick up the majority of noises.

Sound waves are converted to vibrations by the eardrum, which is then sent to the Cochlea (or inner ear). However, vibrations can sometimes be heard directly through the inner ear, bypassing the eardrums. This is how whales hear as well.

Bone Conduction was discovered by Ludwig van Beethoven, a prominent 18th-century musician who was almost completely deaf.

By attaching a rod to his piano and clenching it between his teeth, Beethoven was able to hear the music of the piano through his jawbone (albeit in a different manner to the one we are accustomed to). When vibrations from the piano reached his jaw, he was able to perceive the sound.

This has shown that sound may enter our auditory system through a media other than our eardrums, and that medium is our bones.

Unlike standard in-ear or on-ear headphones, AfterShokz has mastered the natural phenomena of bone conduction by adapting it to consumer electronics, and it’s now the secret behind their open-ear product line’s success.

Here’s how they have put bone conduction technology to good use in their products:

• The Audio enters the Transducer: There are two transducers on either side of every AfterShokz audio gadget. These transducers, which are placed near the cheekbone, convert audio impulses into mechanical energy (vibrations), which is subsequently transmitted to the cheekbones.
• Conduction is made easier with titanium: Titanium is used in the frame of all AfterShokz products because of its lightweight and flexible features and because it is a great metal for conducting sound waves properly and efficiently.
• The audible sound is generated from vibrations: Thanks to advancements in bone conduction technology, we can now make devices that reduce the sense of vibrations on the temple while still delivering high-quality music.

Normal Hearing vs Bone Conduction

Normal sound waves are made up of small air vibrations. Our eardrums pick up the vibrations as they pass through the air.

The eardrums then vibrate, decoding the sound waves into a distinct sort of vibration that the Cochlea, commonly known as the inner ear, receives. The Cochlea is linked to our auditory nerve, which sends sound signals to our brain.

The eardrums are bypassed via Bone Conduction. The bone conduction equipment (such as headphones) takes the place of your eardrums in bone conduction listening.

The eardrum is never engaged since these gadgets decode sound waves and turn them into vibrations that may be received directly by the Cochlea. Vibrations in the bones (or skull) and skin carry the sound to the ears.

What Are the Benefits of Bone Conduction?

Eardrum injury is the most common cause of hearing loss. People with hearing impairments would be able to hear clearly again with bone conduction because it does not involve the eardrums. This is provided that their Cochlea is healthy and normal.

Hearing loss can be classified into three categories in general. Conduction hearing loss, perceptive hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss are the three types of hearing loss.

• Conductive hearing loss is caused by poor sound transmission and is most commonly caused by eardrum damage. Because a bone conduction device takes the place of the eardrums, it can help those with conduction hearing loss.
• Perceptive hearing loss is linked to the auditory nerves’ inability to detect vibrations in the Cochlea. For perceptive hearing loss, bone conduction is less effective.
• When it comes to mixed hearing loss, it’s better to advise a trial ahead of time to see if bone conduction can help because it varies from person to person.

Conclusion

Sound waves can’t reach the inner ear by air conduction if there’s a problem with the outer or middle ear. Bypassing these injured, clogged, or missing portions of the ear, bone conduction can transport sound waves directly to the inner ear.

Bone conduction solutions have had a significant impact on people’s lives all around the world for the past 40 years by utilizing the body’s inherent ability to transmit sound. However, the technology was very niche and ineffective until recently. Thankfully, there are some top-quality bone conduction headphones available in the market today at good prices.

For years, the argument between Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS has perplexed millions of users. Many customers usually opt for one over the other; it isn’t because they know better, but mostly because they can’t understand the difference.

It’s critical to think about surround sound capabilities if you want to get the most out of your movies and games. However, there are a variety of spatial sound systems accessible today. It’s also difficult to figure out which one is the best for your setup.

This post is for those who are interested in the differences between the Windows Sonic vs. Dolby Atmos.

What Is Windows Sonic for Headphones?

Microsoft’s bid to recreate the spatial sound experience for everyone on the Xbox One and Windows 10 is called Windows Sonic for Headphones. It does not require any special physical equipment or hardware to function. Instead, it operates through software.

You may listen to spatial audio with any pair of earbuds or regular stereo headphones. As a result, sound may seem to have more depth and be three-dimensional, allowing you to hear everything that is going on around you.

With the Creators Update, Microsoft added Windows Sonic spatial sound to Windows 10. The option, which is completely free, is turned off by default but may easily be enabled.

How to Activate it?

The simplest way to turn it on is to go to your audio settings in the taskbar’s bottom right corner and select Spatial Sound.

Now all you have to do is select Windows Sonic for Headphones, and you’re ready to go. You can read the step-by-step guide for Windows 10 here.

Alternatively, you can use the control panel to access the sound menu and then pick the audio device. Then go to properties, select the spatial sound tab, and then Windows Sonic for Headphones.

Pros and Cons of Windows Sonic for Headphones

Using Windows Sonic for Headphones has a lot of pros. Some of them are listed below:

• You may enjoy spatial sound at the bargain price of $0 as it is free. You also don’t need to worry about spending a lot of money on equipment because any set of stereo headphones would suffice.
• Its setup is easy. You simply need to toggle the function on your computer or Xbox One. That is all there is to it.
• There’s no need to download it manually. Every Windows 10 and Xbox One comes with Windows Sonic for Headphones pre-installed.

Despite the pros of Windows Sonic for Headphones, there are certain cons that you should know. Here are some of them listed:

• This spatial sound software only works effectively in specific situations; therefore, it can be inaccurate. Although it might cause audio to seem incorrect when utilised primarily for music, it works great for gaming and movies.
• Windows Sonic for Headphones, as expected, only works with headphones and not with speakers. With this software active and no headphones hooked in, using external/laptop speakers can create audio distortions.

What Is Dolby Atmos for Headphones?

Dolby Atmos is a spatial sound software technique developed by Dolby Laboratories that is accessible on a variety of platforms, including Windows 10 and Xbox One. It works with any TV, soundbar, or home theater system.

Dolby Atmos is slightly more effective than Windows Sonic since it adds height to spatial sound, making for a more realistic and better surround sound experience.

How to Activate it?

On a PC, activating Dolby Atmos is relatively simple. While accessing the settings, Dolby Atmos should be used instead of the Window Sonic for Headphones option.

If you have the Creators Update installed on your Windows 10 PC, it should support Dolby Atmos. If you have a good surround sound speaker system, the choice is clear: Dolby Atmos is the route to go.

Dolby Atmos demands a unique setup that includes a hardware receiver and specially calibrated speakers for sound positioning. The Dolby speaker may have ceiling-mounted speakers above you in some circumstances.

Download and run the Dolby Access app from the Windows Store to enable Dolby Atmos on Windows 10. To set it up, follow the on-screen guidelines. However, you will have to spend $14.99 to obtain a license for the software from the Microsoft store.

You have a choice of two options: a home theater system or headphones.

Pros and Cons of Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos has a number of pros that make it a viable option for spatial audio software. Take the following into consideration:

• Some people believe that Dolby Atmos gives a more immersive hearing experience than Windows Sonic. It is mostly due to enhanced spatial sound height, which gives a more realistic sound experience.
• This software is not just about headphones; it can also be used for home theater. It can be used with any other sound system, such as your home theater system. However, to get the most out of your experience, you’ll need the correct speakers and gear.
• More platforms and devices are supported: Dolby Atmos is supported by several major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Music, etc. It also works with a variety of devices/brands, including smartphones.

However, there are several pitfalls to Dolby Atmos that you should know. Here are some things you should think about before buying it.

• Although Dolby Atmos comes with a 30-day free trial, you’ll have to pay $14.99 to purchase a license and continue using the software after that.
• For a better experience, use headphones with built-in Dolby Atmos support. Although Dolby Atmos can function with any standard pair of headphones by downloading the software, you can get a better experience by using headphones with built-in Dolby Atmos compatibility. Multi-drivers that simulate the Dolby home theater experience are commonly used.
• Dolby Atmos is a lot more difficult to set up than Windows Sonic. To get it operating properly, a lot of tweaking is required, from installing the software to customizing the PC settings.

Windows Sonic vs. Dolby Atmos: What Should You Choose?

Both Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos are spatial sound technologies that are remotely similar. When it comes to sound quality, Dolby Atmos has the edge, but it comes at a cost.

Much of your selection should be based on whether you want to spend $14.99 for the Dolby Atmos app or if you want to remain with Windows Sonic’s plug-and-play style.

Although the variations between the two technologies are small for many people, it’s worth trying the Dolby Atmos 30-day trial to see if your ears can pick up on them. When you’re not on a tight budget, Dolby Atmos makes sense for the added benefit.

Suppose you are delivering the highest possible source material to the components. In that case, it makes little difference whether someone uses DTS or Dolby Atmos to get an exciting home cinema experience.

Despite the fact that Dolby has more efficient codecs than DTS, which means better and clearer sound, both offer a great home cinema experience. That said, DTS is not the only technology that Atmos has to compete against.

As such, here’s everything you need to know about Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos

Dolby Digital Plus is a digital audio compression method. Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, is the name of a surround sound system.

Because of Dolby Atmos’ restricted bandwidth and processing power, it is not reproduced in the same way in home theatres as it is in cinemas.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos: Channels

On Dolby Digital Plus, a spatially coded sub-stream represents an effective depiction of the full, unique object-based mix features. The sub-stream is not a matrix-encoded channel, which is important to know.

Dolby Atmos can support 24.1.10 channels in home theatres. Furthermore, it has a spatially encoded digital signal, including panning metadata. It mixes the audio presentation using the spatially encoded sub-stream to fit the installed speaker’s configuration.

In the event of horizontally oriented speakers, Dolby Digital assigns 2.0 to 5.1 or more channels. Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, and Dolby Digital Plus are the different types of Dolby Digital. The next level is Dolby TrueHD, but the speakers are arranged horizontally.

Speakers in the Dolby Atmos system are arranged horizontally as well as vertically. 3.1.2, 5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, and so forth. The first number indicates the number of horizontal speakers. The second indicates the number of subwoofers, and the third indicates the number of vertical speakers.

Vertical speakers, for example, may offer to dangle from the ceiling or point up from the top of horizontal speakers. Suppose you have a Dolby Atmos Blu-ray, and your receiver does not support Dolby Atmos decoding. In that case, Dolby Atmos supports encoding within a Dolby True HD signal.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos: Sound Creation

Since Dolby Digital Plus is a speaker-based system, when a sound illusion needs to be created behind the audience, the sound is tossed to one speaker.

Dolby Atmos is a 3D technology that sends sound to the entire 3D space rather than a single speaker. This setup creates a more realistic and powerful sound illusion, similar to that of a flying helicopter.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos: Support

Blue Ray discs employ the Dolby Digital Plus audio format. HDMI compatibility is also available. The majority of tablets and cellphones also support this digital audio compression method.

Dolby Atmos is available on a variety of media, including Blu-ray discs, movies, and home theatres. It offers object-based sound since it supports additional channels and can be powered with Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus. Just remember that Dolby Digital Plus will use a lossy 5.1 track encoding and an upgraded version of AC3.

Dolby Digital Plus adds up to 20 more channels, with the kicker appearing as a DD+ soundtrack and hence Atmos as well. Atmos height channel sounds are created by applying Atmos metadata to a 5.1 channel stream and mixing it over the top.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos: Sound Quality

These audio technologies employs sound augmentation software to deliver a high-quality sound experience.

The distinction is that Dolby Digital Plus produces sound using your existing speaker setup, and Dolby Atmos uses both software and compatible hardware to create a richer sound experience.

As a result of the usage of specialized technology, Dolby Atmos performs somewhat better than Dolby Digital Plus in terms of sound quality.

Dolby Digital Plus vs. Dolby Atmos: Compression Rates

Another important factor in separating the two is compression rates. To compress 5.1 digital audio for Blu-ray discs, Dolby Digital uses a bit rate of 640 Kb/s. It compresses DVDs, however, at a slightly lower bit rate of 448 Kb/s.

Compared to Dolby Digital, DTS compresses audios at greater bit rates of up to 1.5 Mb/s for Blu-ray discs. It compresses DVDs at a rate of up to 768 Kb/s.

The compression gap widens as one progresses to rival HD formats. DTS-HD High Resolution can use up to 6 Mb/s, whereas Dolby Digital Plus can use up to 1.7 Mb/s. Theoretically, suppose the compression was lower during encoding. In that case, more detailed audio will be provided with a track that is practically identical to what was intended.

Conclusion

Dolby Atmos provides a surround sound experience in home theatres by utilizing surround sound signals such as Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital Plus.

When combined with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos delivers the best audio experience. Because Dolby Digital Plus is the only version compatible with HDMI Arc, it’s also used by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.

Suppose a product or gadget states it supports Dolby Atmos. In that case, it indicates it can give a full Dolby Atmos experience when utilized with another Atmos compatible device. It means that the movie should be converted in Dolby Atmos using Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby True HD and that the app, hardware, and soundbar/TV/AV receiver you’re using all support Dolby Atmos.

In comparison to Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos is a better version of presenting surround sound since it uses an object-based system that permits many channels and different arrangements.

These are the two of the most popular surround sound formats in surround sound technologies. Both provide immersive surround sound effects that are realistically positioned.

Sound files, like video files, come in a variety of resolutions, bit rates, and codecs.

These are surround sound systems that promise to make movies and television shows more immersive than ever before.

Some of these technologies may be familiar to you because of their use in Home Theatre Systems. But do you truly understand what they signify, how they work, and how they differ?

Because the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound codecs have various surround sound capabilities and support different types of hardware, let us define them first before comparing Dolby Atmos vs DTS:X to discover which one is better.

What Is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound standard aimed at creating a three-dimensional (3D) audio experience. As a result, the sounds originate from the front, rear, and sides -in relation to the person who listens to them- and from above, giving the listening stage the third dimension.

Atmos debuted in theatres before making its way into home theatre devices like speakers and sound systems. Both Atmos and DTS:X are object-based surround sound systems. Still, Atmos places a greater focus on height, to the point where Dolby recommends installing ceiling speakers to get the most out of the technology.

Obviously, that isn’t feasible for the majority of individuals. However, Dolby Atmos-certified speakers, Televisions, and soundbars/sound systems with upward-firing drivers to rebound sound off the roof are available.

So, what is the end result here? A bubble of sound will surround you, making movements like a helicopter flying overhead or gunshots rushing past your ears feel more realistic than ever before.

Atmos speakers are also included in your sound system’s nomenclature.

5.1.4 refers to a 5.1 system with four Dolby Atmos speakers made up of five satellites and one subwoofer.

7.1.4 is the reference set-up for Dolby Atmos — in other words, the technology functions natively on a set-up consisting of seven satellites, one sub, and four Atmos speakers.

Dolby Atmos describes the audio tracks that are compatible with Dolby Atmos systems in addition to indicating the speaker and the standard. As a result, Dolby Atmos audio is the codec that works with Dolby Atmos speakers.

What is DTS:X?

DTS:X, like its competing product Dolby Atmos, is an object-based audio technology that allows sound to be placed in more precise positions around the room than standard surround sound. Unlike its competitor, though, it began life in home theatre systems back in 2015 before making its way into theatres.

DTS:X does not have a specific sound system base; therefore, it can run on any combination of speakers.

While Atmos uses proprietary technology, it uses the royalty-free Multi-Dimensional Audio (MDA) framework. It makes DTS:X a somewhat more open system than Atmos, but this has not historically had much of an impact on a standard’s eventual success.

The idea is the same as with Dolby Atmos: to allow sound to move around the room more realistically to accompany the action onscreen, resulting in more immersive cinematic sequences. The way it operates, though, is different.

It works with standard surround sound systems rather than requiring additional speakers as Dolby Atmos does.

Therefore, chances are, your home set-up — whether 5.1 or 7.1 – is compatible. DTS:X, on the other hand, can accommodate significantly larger systems, with up to 32 speaker placements and an 11.2-channel system.

DTS:X is a Multi-Dimensional Audio platform that is open source. As a result, exactly like Android, any manufacturer can design a system that is DTS:X compatible without requiring any specific authorization.

DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos. Which is Preferable?

DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos is often compared. On paper, DTS:X offers a sound quality advantage because it enables greater bit rates.

Dolby says that its codecs are more efficient than DTS’ and sound similar or even better at lower bit rates. However, it isn’t that straightforward. Regardless, there is a lot more to think about than just audio quality.

Dolby Atmos is almost universally used in movie theatres. DTS:X is not being adopted at the same rate in theatres. It could be due to the standard’s second-place finish in the market for three-dimensional sound. Dolby’s existing market relationships made selling Atmos to theatres a breeze.

DTS:X allows you to alter sound objects manually, such as the volume of voice. That will make it easier to understand quiet dialogue, which is something many of us have wished for when watching a Hollywood blockbuster.

DTS:X also has no specific speaker requirements, so as long as yours are appropriate, for instance, portable speakers with built-in batteries aren’t required, you can arrange them as you want. However, many people find Dolby Atmos’ criteria to be a helpful guide for getting the most out of the technology.

Despite the fact that DTS:X is supported by about 90% of the home AV market, Dolby Atmos is more widely available. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as some TV broadcast channels like BT Sport Ultimate, support Atmos rather than DTS:X.

If you are watching on a 4K Blu-ray TV or a player, both Atmos and DTS:X are available on a variety of DVDs and Blu-rays.

As a result, there is no clear winner in the debate between DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. The best part is that you don’t have to pick between the two. Both technologies are supported by a large number of AV receivers and surround sound systems, so as long as you have the correct source content, you may listen to high-quality audio regardless of which codec is utilized.

Conclusion

It is a lot to take in if you are just getting started with the 3D sound world.

With technology improving at a rapid pace, the best way to enhance your movie night is to make sure you have high-quality components, are correctly set up, and are fed the most amazing available source content.

You will be treated to spectacular home cinema entertainment, whether it’s DTS:X or Dolby Atmos.

However, if you listen to music or play games at a loud volume for a long period, then you might compromise your hearing ability in the process.

Whichever type of headphones you own, whether they are open-back or closed-back, over-ear or on-ear, you need to tune their volume at all times.

In our guide below, we will get you up to speed with all that you need to know about safe volume levels for your headphones.

How Loud is Too Loud?

Image source: Widex

The unit that we use to measure the volume is decibels (dB). The basic rule of adjustment of the volume of your headphones is that the longer the duration of usage, the lower should be the volume.

According to the scientists, for prolonged utilization of headphones, the volume should be strictly within 60 to 85 decibels while for shorter usage, say 15 minutes, it should be kept within the 100 decibels mark. However, it varies from one age group to the other.

For instance, since young people are more sensitive to higher volumes than older ones, the maximum threshold of their headphones’ volume should be around 82 to 83 decibels for longer use.

Aside from this, there are other ways to determine the safe volume of your headphones. Some experts believe that for 60 minutes of usage, your headphones’ volume should be kept up to 60% of the maximum volume of the device.

On the contrary, some experts recommend the 80/90 rule which says that for usage within one and a half hour, the maximum volume that you should adhere to should be no more than 80% of the device.

Most of the MP3 devices, phones, laptops, and other gadgets can reach up to a volume of around 105 decibels. As mentioned above, if you’re listening at this level, you need to keep the usage of your headphones within 15 minutes.

How to Determine if Your Headphones are Too Loud?

It is important to look out for the volume level of your headphones to protect your ears.

For that, you can take decibel measurements of your headphones, but since you will need professional equipment for that, this method is not very feasible.

Another way is that you check the details of your headphones’ manufacturer. You might find the maximum volume of your headphones there. However, you cannot rely on that completely.

Thankfully, there are more reliable ways through which you can find out whether or not your headphones are too loud.

1. The Ringing Test

For this test, you need to suspend the use of your headphones for 2-3 days. After that period, go to a quiet room and put on the headphones.

Try to concentrate on your hearing. You’ll be able to hear a slight ringing sound in your ears during the silence. This sound determines your basic volume level.

On the next day, resume your headphones usage as normal and repeat the same test in the evening. If the ringing sound feels louder than during the first test, then it means that the volume of your headphones is too loud.

2. Hold Your Headphones Out in Front of You

Switch the volume of your headphones to your preferred level and place them at an arm’s distance from yourself.

If you are unable to hear any sound coming from them, then you are fine. Otherwise, you need to turn down the volume accordingly.

However, this test varies according to the type of headphones you are using.

For example, in some cases, while performing this test, you will hear a pretty loud sound coming from your headphones.

This is probably because you are using a pair of open-back headphones. Their closed-back counterpart won’t produce nearly as much noise when held at an arm’s length.

3. Adjust the Volume Control

All you have to do is navigate to the volume control of your device and see whether or not the volume of your headphone is over 60% of the total volume.

If so, then try lowering it down to no more than 60%. Keep a regular check on your headphones’ volume control and you’ll get used to a safe level of volume.

4. Take Help from Your Friends/Family

If any of your friends or family members can listen to the sound of your headphones while beside you, then it probably means that your headphones’ volume is above the safe threshold.

This test works best with closed-back headphones since they don’t usually cause any leakage of sound.

5. Look for Signs of Hearing Loss

If you’re a regular headphones user, there is a good chance that you might already be experiencing hearing loss symptoms.

If you are hearing muffled sounds or having difficulty hearing sounds in noisy places, or if you keep feeling the urge to raise the volume, then you must go and get medical attention immediately.

6. Make Use of Volume Limiters

There are also some applications that you can install in your operating system to oversee the volume level of your headphones and keep them within the safe range.

In iPhone Operating System (IOS), the pre-programmed Health app warns you when your volume level reaches the danger zone. If an app like Volume Sanity is installed, this volume level will get regulated to a safe level automatically.

Android also has apps like Volume Limiter that warn and limit your volume level automatically.

Safe Headphones’ Volume for Kids

Since children are in the growing stage, their hearing loss can occur in fewer decibels of volume as compared to the adults.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for prolonged use of headphones, the maximum safe volume for adults is 82 dB as discussed while for children, it’s around 80% of that i.e. roughly 70 dB.

The best way for you to ensure your children’s safety is to buy them headphones suitable for kids. These headphones come packed with a volume limiter which you can set yourself.

Why is this? Well, for one, a turntable doesn’t work like other plug and play devices can. This means you can’t just connect your turntable into speakers or audio output devices like you’d be able to do with your phone, iPod, or an MP3 player. A vinyl playback setup needs something to amplify the very low signal that comes out of it.

What Is A Phono Preamp?

The audio signal coming from even the best record player turntables is around 1000 times lower than one coming from streaming devices or a CD player. The signal needs boosting in order to enjoy or just hear the music or sound from the turntable. This is what a phono preamp does. The cartridge on the turntable finds the sound signal amplified with the help of the phono preamp.

If ever you’ve plugged in the turntable directly into an amp (the input is usually named aux or TAPE), you’ll have heard that the sound is incredibly tinny, and the signal is weak.

In fact, in most cases, a turntable isn’t even directly ready to be plugged into an amplifier. A phono preamp (also known as a phono stage, turntable preamp, or RIAA preamp) is the audio component that is required.

Phono preamps were, in fact, built-in to receivers and amps back when vinyl was the only format sound was played on (or the most popular). Amplifiers removed these when CDs became popular and overtook vinyl, leading to, ironically, an increased spotlight on the importance of phono preamps today.

What Is A Phono Preamp’s Function?

A phono preamp does two things: the signal is amplified to a level that suits the amplifier’s standard AUX input, and it also equalizes the standard frequency adjustment that the vinyl cutting process employs by inverting it.

To understand the first point (about the signal) better, consider that the signal that the record cartridge produces is 1 mV – the required signal that the amp needs is 100 mV. A boost of ~50 dB is needed, which the phono preamp provides. It also equalizes the signal because a record is cut with the high frequencies boosted and the bass reduced, allowing for better sound quality, more durability, and longer playing times on the vinyl record. The equalization curve process equalizes the signal to bring it back to the frequency response of the master recording, as close as it can cut it, no pun intended.

Internal VS External Preamps

Some of the best phono preamps can be of either type: internal, or external.

Most turntables (or phonographs, hence the name phono preamp, where this preamp handles the pre-tuning before the signal is sent out by the amplifier) come with an internal phono preamp.

However, the ease of use and the reduced cost (of purchasing an external phono preamp and wiring it) is made up for by the lack of control that the user has over the music quality.

External phono preamps also protect you from interference and electrical noise, since they don’t share their power supply with the amplifier, shielding them from the noise that can potentially come from the power transformer.

However, the same thing can be considered a disadvantage, as you need an external power supply and cables and wiring.

This makes this a case of deciding between what you want and what your needs are. The trade-off will determine what product you buy.

What Is A Phono Preamp’s Required Quantity Level?

This is a vital point to note and an important clarification to close on. A higher-quality phono preamp will always work better than a cheaper one because the phono preamp not only amplifies the thin PHONO signals to LINE-level ones but also adjusts the turntable cartridge signal to minimize any distortion in the sound playback.

Thus, the quality of the phono preamp directly determines the quality of the sound you hear.