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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

#51

Post by sukilot »

djb_hackernews wrote: post #32
rottyguy wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why bars crank up the music so high to the extent you're yelling to convey conversation to the person next to you. One of my friends hypothesized that it was done to focus patrons on drinking and not chatter, but socializing is a big part of the bar scene... Anyone know?

It's the same reason most bars are set up to be cramped spaces, it forces people to be closer together which makes people uncomfortable which makes them drink more.

They are cramped because a lot of people want to be there. If people were uncomfortable they would stop going.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#52

Post by 3pt14159 »

6stringmerc wrote: post #37

Having many, many years of travel experience leads me to one Occam's Razor type observation: If people would actually pay attention to a safety briefing instead of playing with their gadgets / not taking off their headphones, then the flight crew wouldn't be trying so hard to get the attention of the passengers. With this unpopular opinion, I'll see myself out the nearest exit, which is actually located behind me.

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.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#53

Post by davb »

MichaelGG wrote: post #43
ZoFreX wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've stopped using the in-flight systems because of this. I use in-ear earphones on flights, as the design of them (basically ear plugs with speakers in the middle) blocks out sound and as a result I can have the volume lower, with the idea of preserving what's left of my hearing. Because of that design I not only _can_ have the volume low, but _have_ to have the volume low - and when the PA announcements override th…

I'm sorta curious why anyone is using in in flight systems in the first place. Doesn't nearly everyone own personal devices capable of playing hours of music or videos? Even with 32 GB of storage, total, I'm able to hold more video than I can watch in a day.

Not all seats come equipped with power sockets. Watching movies on long-haul (transatlantic) flights, after using your device while waiting to board, had a good chance of running the battery flat before the trip is complete.

Economy seats sometimes have a pitch so narrow that it's difficult to get a tablet sitting at a comfortable viewing angle.

Additionally, it's sometimes convenient to use the in-flight entertainment systems when travelling with someone else. My girlfriend and I can watch the same movie, at the same time, without awkwardly balancing a tablet between us and having to use a headphone splitter.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#54

Post by marcosdumay »

guelo wrote: post #41
6stringmerc wrote: post #37

Having many, many years of travel experience leads me to one Occam's Razor type observation: If people would actually pay attention to a safety briefing instead of playing with their gadgets / not taking off their headphones, then the flight crew wouldn't be trying so hard to get the attention of the passengers. With this unpopular opinion, I'll see myself out the nearest exit, which is actually located behind me.

Except the safety briefings are a useless bureaucratic formality. We don't need to hear them.

They may save your life.

But yeah, fligh companies do not think they are important enough to bother their customers over them. They do the bare minimum required, and if you don't want to pay attention, they don't care.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#55

Post by chadgeidel »

joshuaheard wrote: post #28

They probably do it because no one pays attention to the announcements anymore. It's the same reason they (used to) turn up the volume on TV commercials. Has the author tried asking the flight attendants to turn the volume down?

The volume is not "turned up" on TV commercials. The perceived increase in volume is due to dynamic range compression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression#Broad...

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#56

Post by Alupis »

Few thoughts:

> and opened the decibel meter on my iPhone

These are notoriously inaccurate. To get accurate decibel readings, the mic must be calibrated to absolute known levels (something your App can't do). The App's are basically just comparing relative sounds (this sound is more prominent than this other one, and therefore must be louder... after establishing some relative baseline). Real decibel measuring equipment is very expensive and requires re-calibration routinely. So, measuring 80db could easily be in a swing of +/- 10db's (or more).

> 150dB: Jet take-off at 25 meters (eardrum rupture)

That's not quite accurate. Long term exposure could lead to damage over time, but for comparison a shotgun is typically measured at 165db when it's up against your shoulder and face. Yes, you wear hearing protection (nick-named "ears" if you are a frequent shooter) but your eardrumps aren't rupturing immediately if you take them off.

> What shocked me was the volume of the PA system

Yes, it's loud -- by design. The PA system is not there just to provide something to listen to in case you are bored. In a best case scenario, it's there for the usual "buckle-up" talk and for the pilot to give a greeting. In the worst case scenario, it's there for emergency instructions (a time when panic and passenger noises are likely to get quite loud on their own).

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#57

Post by azth »

nate_meurer wrote: post #46

My comment from another thread on this subject: --- Earplugs! I bought a box of foam earplugs that has supplied me for years now. I cut them in half; half an earplug is the perfect length for unobtrusive everyday wear. I have quantities of half-earplugs stashed in all my pants pockets, in my car, my work bag, and in a little container on my keychain. I wear them in the car, on planes, at the shooting range, when grin…

> I wear them in the car

Hopefully not while driving though :)

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#58

Post by tricky »

alextgordon wrote: post #14
SunShiranui wrote: post #8

I've always wanted to buy some good earplugs to protect my hearing from noisy environments (es. near public transport in the city). Does anyone have a product they recommend?

Get a case that you can put on your keyring. The best earplugs are the ones you have with you.

This is the best advice in the thread. $5 will get you 20 pairs (they're required to put the noise reduction on the package, so check that to be sure you're getting good ones) and just take them with you everywhere.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#59

Post by ashark »

rottyguy wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why bars crank up the music so high to the extent you're yelling to convey conversation to the person next to you. One of my friends hypothesized that it was done to focus patrons on drinking and not chatter, but socializing is a big part of the bar scene... Anyone know?

Relatedly, does anyone know why so many bars with live acts crank the volume up so high that it becomes extremely loud white noise with thumping bass under it? It really sucks if you want to hear the music, and the point at which it's ears-ringing-the-next-day and clothes-vibrating loud but you can still at least tell when a key change happens is usually well under where they set it.

I love small venues, but I hate how bad the music sounds at so many of them. Does anyone actually prefer this?

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#60

Post by lil_cain »

mschip wrote: post #33

I used to work for a major jet engine manufacturer. Noise reduction is right up there with fuel consumption in consideration with new model development. Not because of complaining passengers though.. A lot of the push comes from certain airports that aren't far enough outside of major cities (I can't remember which ones exactly, I think it was mostly a few major asian cities). They actually restrict certain models fr…

London City, and even Heathrow have major issues with neighbours.
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