Listening Levels

I don't have a clue about how many db's I experience while listening. It's pretty loud a lot of the time and certainly loud enough for a conversation with another person to be difficult. The whole issue of damage to ones ears is complicated. Some conductors are nearly deaf while others have perfect hearing at a ripe age. My philosophy has been to take extreme care under certain non-audio related activities. The absolute worst things you can expose your hearing to are compressed air power tools, gun shots and jet engines. Take extreme care away from your audio room. IMHO genetics and medications are huge variables. Meds can really speed up hearing loss.

Lugnut, I'd add fire alarms to your list. In my workplace, we have unannounced fire drills about once every 3 months, and you have to walk right past the blasted thing to get to the back staircase. I'd imagine it's somewhere in the range of 130 dB and is a continuous blast! My Rat Shack SPL meter is now tucked away in my desk in anticipation of the next drill, along with some cotton balls. I'll try to take a quick reading, but my guess is that it will be off the meter. Your advice is critically important! When the sun blinds you, you naturally cover your eyes until they can adjust and never look directly into it. So when your ears are exposed to extreme volumes in continuous blasts, cover them and turn away!

I do my best, albeit crudely to keep the volume in scale to what the origianl performance was intended to be like and to what my room and system can handle. Family permitting!