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The volume is too damn high on flights

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Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#151

Post by mixmastamyk »

aleh wrote: post #68
MichaelGG wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any indication the safety announcements are effective? The fact they dedicate so much time to taking about smoking makes me doubt they are evidence based. United's 787s have a no smoking sign built in to every single seat, at eye level. I suppose it's possible that they fly places that have such a strong smoking culture that this is an important and useful reminder, but that seems doubtful. Which makes me ca…

Some people are better at noticing visual signs, some react only to what they are being told. Smoking on board is really dangerous, so why to take risks?

Hard to believe but it was done heavily on flights until the 70's or 80's or so. Though disgusting, it is unlikely to be that dangerous.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#152

Post by quinndupont »

To take the edge off the sound (but only slightly... still able to carry on a conversation) and to prevent my ear drum from exploding I wear Ear Planes[1]. They aren't perfect, but I do find they help, say, maybe 40% of the pressure issue.

1] http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/EarPlanes-Adult-P49.aspx

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#153

Post by ctdonath »

Alupis wrote: post #143
ctdonath wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's mundane when everyone is keenly aware of the details.

You cannot assume everyone does. You certainly did not when it was your first time on a plane. Also if you get on a new model plane, things might be different.

I thought the point of the high volume was to get thru to the people who were ignoring it because they already know the message.

The point isn't to not do the presentation, the point is to acknowledge that most people ignoring it don't need it and hence there isn't a need to YELL IT SO LOUD OVER THE PA THAT EVERYONE IS AT RISK OF HEARING DAMAGE.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#154

Post by matwood »

sjm-lbm wrote: post #78
city41 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often take issue with the "pilot greeting". Many pilots just ramble on and on. Often on and off throughout the entire flight. I really don't care nor do I want that blaring in my ears. I don't understand why airlines think this is a good idea.

I would assume that a large amount of the public actually feels comforted knowing that there's a real human up in the room with all the buttons making sure the airplane stays in the air. Given, I'd doubt very many of those people are engineers, so I'd assume the HN crowd would mostly consist of people that just want to put on headphones and only be contacted if there's some sort of "exception" thrown at some point in…

I was delayed for 6 hours once because a part was broken and they were searching for a new one. They couldn't find a new one and 'cleaned' the old one and said we'll see how it works. Just what I wanted to hear. That we were going to see how it works over the Atlantic.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#155

Post by mixmastamyk »

I use a pair of sony extra-bass earbuds that are thicker and have a bit of extra foam around the earbud to reduce noise. The work great in the airplane, knocking off about 50% of the outside volume. I leave them in the whole flight as they cut out most of the engine vibration as well. Also wear them in a crowded office, at home with kids, or coffee shop etc when I need to focus.

Most of the time I'm not even playing music, but people assume so and will interrupt you a bit less often. Also helpful when making calls, etc.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#156

Post by omegant »

narag wrote: post #145
omegant wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A very good private party DJ(He plays for artist and actors) told me that if you want people to dance, the volume must be very high. As it was my party I told him to do it as he saw fit and indeed almost all the people (200) danced. Then one neighbour complained and he lowered the volume (just for a while ;) ) and most people stopped dancing almost immediately. When he boosted the volume again, they all jumped to dan…

former s.XIX coastal battery fortress Please could you tell the place? Menorca by chance?

Cap Rocat (https://www.caprocat.com), Mallorca. I was lucky and the hotel was still being build, so the party was relatively cheap. I knew the place from when it was still military and abandoned with empty ammunition cases lying around.

Now it's quite expensive as you have to rent all the rooms in the hotel to have a party. Even then is worth to visit it and have a coffee and see the arquitecture and views!

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#157

Post by gergles »

sokoloff wrote: post #108
mikeash wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't remember the last time I heard an in-flight announcement that I actually needed to hear. They're far from "usually important." 99% of flights could happily go from start to finish without a single use of the PA, if it were legal to do so, and if the airline could exercise self-control. The PA system should be reserved for actual important safety-related announcements. It's outrageous that the same system that…

There is a specific legal requirement for the passenger briefing. You'll notice that the briefing pretty much follows the script required by the law: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.519

> The oral briefing required by paragraph (a) of this section shall be given by the pilot in command or a member of the crew, but need not be given when the pilot in command determines that the passengers are familiar with the contents of the briefing.

Maybe the airlines could make you take a quiz on the ground to get early boarding, and if everyone passes, no briefing!

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#158

Post by mungoman2 »

Alupis wrote: post #138
GrinningFool wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the hearing protection I've used when shooting seemed designed to disrupt the sound wave move than actually reduce it. You can achieve reasonable short-term protection by holding your hands flat over your ears. It doesn't reduce the subjective volume, but it does [anecdotally] prevent subsequent symptoms that indicate temporary or long-term damage has occurred.

> You can achieve reasonable short-term protection by holding your hands flat over your ears. Not flat... that won't do much. They must be cupped... basically you make a letter "C" with your hands then old that up to your ear with your side of your palm (pinky side) resting on your temple. This will deflect the sound wave around your ear. Old-school artillery trick.

This is how the Brits do it http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01394/20030330-R...

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#159

Post by bashinator »

raldi wrote: post #20
nakedrobot2 wrote: post #7

The PA when heard over the headphones (when watching a movie, etc.) is even worse - I wouldn't be surprised if it was over 100dB. Sometimes a movie has quiet audio, or quiet moments requiring you to turn up the volume a lot. More than once I have been painfully ear-raped by the flight attendant PA system in my earphones for this reason. Just another instance of outrageously bad customer service in the airline industr…

The trick is to use an inline volume control, like this: http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Koss-In-Line-Headphone-Volume-C... Then turn the airplane's volume to max and adjust your inline volume to a comfortable level. In my experience, the announcements will then also be at a comfortable level.

In my experience, the announcements are always in the top 95% of the channel's dynamic range. Setting the volume such that the announcements are at a reasonable level renders everything else way too quiet.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#160

Post by gergles »

6stringmerc wrote: post #97
3pt14159 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude, I'm only 29 and I've flown in about 50 or 60 flights. I don't need to hear that I should put on my own oxygen mask before helping a toddler yet again . I get why they do it every flight, but I certainly don't need to pay attention.

Yeah, but do you pull out the airplane schematic to familiarize yourself with the layout of the airplane you're riding in? Serious question: Without looking it up on your travel itenerary, can you honestly tell me what make/model airplane you last flew on? I can, because I read the pamphlet, which gives me knowledge that could save my life, but if you don't want to live to see 30, that's your perogative...but it's th…

It's the law they have to talk. It's not the law you have to listen.
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