MP3 Players Too Loud? EU Acts

The European Union commission wants a set limit on the maximum volume on all MP4 & MP3 players which are sold within the EU. This will apply to the iPod by Apple

These recommendations come after a shocking report released within the last months which warned that up to 10 million people within the EU risk permanent hearing loss as a result of listening to loud music for prolonged periods

Experts at the EU Commission want the default maximum volume to be at 85 decibels. However users would be able to override this set limit and boost the volume to a maximum limit of 100 decibels.

In January 2010, an eight week consultation of all EU standardization groups started on these proposals to limit volume. The commission hopes that a final agreement could be reached within 12 weeks

Perturbing results were brought to light at research facilities where some MP3 players were tested by researchers. A number of of the MP3 players had a maximum volume level of 120 decibels, which is equal to a jet aircraft taking off. This is the issue that the EU intends to tackle, as currently no set safety default volume level applies.

However personal media player manufacturers are required to publish information about risks in their player instruction manuals. For all practical purposes though, users do not reads these, and it doesn’t prevent the consumer from increasing the volume to maximum. What’s more,a study has shown that hearing loss amongst younger people is increasing as a result of the use of listing to loud music on earphones.

MP3 players are perceived as being more dangerous than CD players or the ‘Walkman’ because they can store many hours of music and have a long battery life, which allows users to listen to them continuously for long periods without a break. Often while driving when the volume is very high to drown out outside noise. Over time the resulting injury to hearing can be similar that seen in previous years caused by industrial noise.

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