Using headphones at the right volume is key to protecting your ears. When using your audio, and you want to be optimally safe, then you should know how to measure headphone decibels.
While this is an estimate, it is important because you want to listen to enhance the health of your ears. If you know certain headphones will have a negative effect on your ears you will not buy them.
But here is a list of the safe headphones that we found quite good and priced well. Check it out.
It is important to estimate the decibels of your headphones so as to keep listening at the safe headphone volume for your iPhone or Android phone. This will make sure that you are always safe regardless of the headphones you are using.
How to Measure Headphone Decibels
To avoid ear damages, you should use a safe headphone volume level. To know this, it is advisable to learn how to measure headphone decibels.
By measuring the decibels, you will be able to know whether the volume you are using is safe for your ears or not. In this informative summary, we shall look at the different ways you can measure the decibels of your headphones.
1. Use common Noises to estimate the headphone volume
You will be able to determine your headphones’ volume levels if you compare them with other noise sources. This will not be very accurate but you will be able to establish whether your headphones are too loud or not.
If they are excessively loud your ears will be at risk of experiencing problems. This is the main reason why it is paramount to ensure that your headphones are at a healthy decibel. The following are three Easy Ways To tell how loud your headphone volume is;
Compare with your Breathing
The first thing you can compare your headphones with is your breathing. This is because your breathing produces zero decibels. If you do not hear anything on your headphones while breathing you should know that they are producing zero decibels.
At these levels, you will not be able to hear anything and as a result, you will be totally safe.
Comparing your volume with the surrounding
You can also establish the decibels of your headphones by comparing them with free traffic when it is fifty feet away.
If you are unable to hear the music which is on your ears when you are fifty feet away from freeway traffic you should know that the headphones have high decibels.
Such a level of sound might not affect you in the short term.
But if you continue using it in long term it will eventually affect your ears. This is regardless of the kind of headphones you are using.
Comparing volume level
The third thing which you should use to determine the decimals of the headphones you are using are steel mills and chain saws. This is mainly because they are sally louder than any headphones.
If you have your headphones on and you can still hear the steel mills and the chainsaws you should know that the decibels are excessively high.
This particular level of decibels can easily cause health problems to your ears. If you are too loud, consider reducing the volume levels until you are sure that your ears are perfectly safe.
2. How to measure headphone decibels using Instruments
There are also tools and instruments which are specifically meant to measure the decibels of different kinds of headphones.
These tools are readily available and some of them are free. You will not have to spend any money to know the specific decibels of your headphones.
For starters, you can use your computer to measure the specific decibels of your headphones. You will just need to download the free decibel reader application. You can easily download this app from the Microsoft apps store.
After you download the application it will use the microphone of your computer to measure the decibel levels. It takes just a few megabytes to download this application and as a result, you just need to have an internet connection.
Pairing the Application
After you have downloaded this particular application, you can pair or connect your headphones with your computer. The application has simple and direct instructions that you will be able to understand easily.
Also, you can download this particular application from other reliable sources such as Apple products and the iTunes apps store.
To run smoothly, make sure that the application you get is authentic and it has the ability to measure the decibels in an accurate manner.
You do not need to be a professional to use this application because it is straightforward. The only thing needed is for your computer to be connected to the internet to get this helpful application.
3. Measuring Decibels using your smartphone
You can also use your smartphone to measure the decibels of your headphones. This is despite the fact that the microphone on your smartphone might not be as strong as the microphones on your headphones.
It will mainly depend on the kind of phone you are using. If you are using a top-quality smartphone you will be able to measure even the highest levels of decibels.
A good example is when you are using an Apple smartphone that has the ability to measure different levels of decibels. With an Apple device, you can use Decibel Meter or Sound Meter to determine the decibels of your specific headphones.
When it comes to Windows phones you can use Cyberxy Decibel Meter or Decibel Meter Pro among other similar applications. You just need to identify the right application and download it easily.
The decibel meter applications do not take a lot of space. This means that even if your phone does not have a lot of space you can download the application conveniently.
Just like while sung a computer, you will just need to ensure that your phone has an internet connection.
A professional decimal meter? Yes, if you can
There is also the option of using a professional decibel meter as a way of how to measure headphone decibels. which is also known as the sound level meter. This particular option is the most expensive but it is also the most accurate.
You will be able to find this meter from specialty stores and online retailers. This meter uses a sensitive microphone to measure the noise around you and gives results in decibel values.
The following are a few decibel meters in the market;
| Brand | Decibel meter | Buying Link |
| 1. BAFX Products | BAFX Decibel Meter/Sound Pressure Level Reader |  |
| 2. Reed Instruments | Reed Instruments R8090 (SC-05) Sound Level Calibrator | |
| 3. VLIKE | VLIKE LCD Digital Audio Decibel Meter Sound Level Meter Noise Level Meter | |
If you go to the right store, the meter will be delivered to your doorstep conveniently. It comes with instructions where you can use it easily even.
If you are using it for the first time. It is advisable to keep on checking the decibel levels of your headphones from time to time.
This is because they keep on changing as the headphones get older. If you have a decibel meter in your home you will be able to check on the levels conveniently at any time you want. This will ensure that your ears are safe at all times.
4. Deriving the Decibels Mathematically
There are also several ways you can measure the decibels of your headphones without using an instrument. This is facilitated by the fact that physics allows you to determine the intensity of the sound wave produced by the headphones.
The amplitude of the sound wave usually moves the particles in the air. When you know the intensity of the sound wave you will be able to establish the volume in decibels.
If your headphones are producing a very small sound of 0.00005 watts per square meter, it will mean that they are producing a volume of 80 decibels.
How accurate can this be
To accurately determine the decibel levels of your headphones you might need to use different mathematical options. You can easily get the available options online depending on your preferences.
It is good that one uses any of the options or combines several of them so that you can get more accurate results. It is not necessary to be an expert so that you can get the best results.
Even as an ordinary person, you can use your calculator and you will be able to get the right results. Even if it is an estimate, at least you will know how to measure headphone decibels. You can measure the decibels as you are buying the headphones.
If you go through reviews you will also get features that describe the decibels each headphone produce. With this information, you will be able to make an informed decision.
The Final take
It is clear that if you determine the decibel level of your headphones you will be able to enhance the health of your ears. Most people usually use their headphones without knowing the decibel levels. This puts them at risk of using too high decibel levels.
If you want to establish the specific levels of decibels on your headphones you will be able to keep your ears safe. You do not have to spend any money so that you can determine the specific decibels of your headphones. You can use the basic ways of determining the decibels.
However, if you want to get accurate results you might need to spend some money. It is possible to combine different methods or just use a single method, the result is knowing how to measure headphone decibels. It will totally depend on the results you want to get.
If you are very keen it is advisable to use the different methods so that you can get the right results. In this summary, you get helpful information that will allow you to get the specific decibels of your headphones and therefore keep your ears safe.
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