The volume is too damn high on flights • Hacker News Board

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#91

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:38 PM UTC

dikaiosune wrote: post #82

Alupis wrote: post #56

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 equipm…

Probably worth noting that shooting without "ears" can still leave you basically unable to hear anything for a good while depending on the firearm, shooting environment, etc. It's not an instant ear-bleeding rupture but it's still VERY loud and will cause significant hearing loss with little repetition. Side note: I'm always curious how soldiers/SWAT/HRT/etc. are able to hold normal volume conversations. If they're w…

[deleted]

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#92

Post by barrkel » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:43 PM UTC

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.

In flight systems typically have fairly recent movies, that sometimes haven't even come out on consumer media yet.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#93

Post by logfromblammo » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:43 PM UTC

dikaiosune wrote: post #82

Alupis wrote: post #56

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 equipm…

Probably worth noting that shooting without "ears" can still leave you basically unable to hear anything for a good while depending on the firearm, shooting environment, etc. It's not an instant ear-bleeding rupture but it's still VERY loud and will cause significant hearing loss with little repetition. Side note: I'm always curious how soldiers/SWAT/HRT/etc. are able to hold normal volume conversations. If they're w…

I would guess that they use more expensive hearing protection systems with an active electronic system to pass through sounds at a comfortable level, attenuate louder and potentially damaging noises, and possibly even amplify quiet sounds.

The technology would be similar to that used in hearing aids and noise-cancelling headphones. But it is also probably an order of magnitude or two more expensive just because the primary customers are tax-funded.

Without electronics, I could also conceive of an earplug with a winding channel bored through it, past flaps that can block the channel by moving too far in either direction and forming a seal with the outer wall of the channel. Sound energy above a certain level would push the flaps closed as the air vibrated, and would thus attenuate louder sounds to a greater extent than quieter ones. If the flaps were tuned to different sound energies, the loudest sounds would push closed the most flaps.

That would require some precise machining to fit inside the outer ear canal. The electronic filter might actually be cheaper.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#94

Post by omegant » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:47 PM UTC

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?

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 dance.

It was amazing.

Edit: Typo.

Reply to the comment below: I understand your comment, but the party was in a former s.XIX coastal battery fortress,(now an environmental Hotel). This fortress is excavated on the stone , below the ground level (You don´t see it till you are literally falling in the ditch). The place where the Party took place was 10 meters below the ground level, behind a fortress wall, a 6m high ditch and 1.5 km away from the nearest buildings, separated by rolling hills and Mediterranean woods.

No, sorry but I certainly was not that worried of the volume and the neighbours.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#95

Post by Dylan16807 » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:49 PM UTC

azth wrote: post #57

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 :)

Why not? Attenuating all sound doesn't have a huge impact on what you're able to hear.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#96

Post by lfam » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:50 PM UTC

This is a pet peeve of mine that I developed while doing video production in the live event industry. Unfortunately almost nobody cares about protecting their hearing.

Pretty much everyone in food service in the US exposes themselves to dangerous audio levels throughout their work shifts. My coworkers with SPL meters routinely measured sound pressure levels above 105 dB for hours at a time. But try wearing earplugs as a waiter or bartender... you will be treated like a lunatic.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#97

Post by 6stringmerc » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 5:58 PM UTC

3pt14159 wrote: post #52

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.

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 the law you have to listen to flight crew, even if you don't want to interrupt your Instagram surfing.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#98

Post by toothbrush » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:00 PM UTC

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?

I recently saw this pop by in the news: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20080718/l... -- the bottom line is either what you suggest, or that loud music intrinsically motivates drinking. The authors don't know.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#99

Post by 6stringmerc » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:00 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #48

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.

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…

Have you noticed a change to include "no vaping" as well? The briefings do change with the times. Before lobbying / tantrum throwing gadget junkies allowed devices to be on non-stop, there were times when they were permitted to be on or off, and that was part of the briefing. As you might be able to tell, I tend to pay attention in spite of having heard them time and again, because thankfully I'm an infrequent flyer these days.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#100

Post by ekimekim » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:02 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #48

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.

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…

I make a point of tuning in for the actual safety part then switching to my personal music again when they start waffling on about the company slogan and wishing a good flight a dozen times.