How loud are you typically listening?

60-80......but when the stars align....90
but not often

@tcutter,Very good point.Anywhere from 70-82db at 9 feet away from speaker. For me this depends on the quality of the music and recording itself.

If you're exposed to 85 dB on an 8-hour time-weighted average at work, your employer has to get you a baseline audiogram, have a hearing conservation program, get you an annual hearing test, and make hearing protection available to you.  At a 90 dB 8-hour TWA, your employer must require you to wear hearing protection.  But that's just to be legal.

So the magic number to avoid hearing damage is really 85 dB for any extended period.  You should avoid 110 dB to avoid serious damage.  At 140 dB, you WILL do serious mechanical damage to the inner ear.

This concludes your NIOSH-sponsored PSA for the day.  

I’ve been reading this thread with interest. I’ve wondered at what volume level typical Audiogon forum members listen to their music. In reading these responses, it’s clear that many of us are in a similar ‘range’, but there are definitely some who like much higher SPLs. To those who say “If it’s too loud, you’re too old”, I’ll tell you that I said those same exact words when I was young. It’s funny, but in reality, it’s not a good phrase to live by if you care about preserving your hearing. My hearing would surely be better if I’d been easier on my ears. And to those who are older, listen loudly, and still have no hearing issues, I’ll tell you that you are very lucky, and you’re the exception. I’m 56 years old and I can still bench press over 400 pounds consistently. That’s not meant to boast, but rather to provide an example that we are not all lucky enough to have the genetics (or whatever) to endure a lifetime of loud music and still hear “young”. This post is mostly aimed towards younger people who read that someone is 65 years old, listens loud, and still has great hearing. That’s awesome, but not the norm, so be careful. Not trying to preach, btw... I’m just trying to help ;)