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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Sound pressure levels generated at risk volume steps of portable listening devices: types of smartphone and genres of music

Authors: Gibbeum Kim, Woojae Han

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The present study estimated the sound pressure levels of various music genres at the volume steps that contemporary smartphones deliver, because these levels put the listener at potential risk for hearing loss.

Methods

Using six different smartphones (Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 3, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, LG G2, and LG G3), the sound pressure levels for three genres of K-pop music (dance-pop, hip-hop, and pop-ballad) and a Billboard pop chart of assorted genres were measured through an earbud for the first risk volume that was at the risk sign proposed by the smartphones, as well as consecutive higher volumes using a sound level meter and artificial mastoid.

Results

The first risk volume step of the Galaxy S6 and the LG G2, among the six smartphones, had the significantly lowest (84.1 dBA) and highest output levels (92.4 dBA), respectively. As the volume step increased, so did the sound pressure levels. The iPhone 6 was loudest (113.1 dBA) at the maximum volume step. Of the music genres, dance-pop showed the highest output level (91.1 dBA) for all smartphones. Within the frequency range of 20~ 20,000 Hz, the sound pressure level peaked at 2000 Hz for all the smartphones.

Conclusions

The results showed that the sound pressure levels of either the first volume step or the maximum volume step were not the same for the different smartphone models and genres of music, which means that the risk volume sign and its output levels should be unified across the devices for their users. In addition, the risk volume steps proposed by the latest smartphone models are high enough to cause noise-induced hearing loss if their users habitually listen to music at those levels.
Footnotes
1
Billboard is an American entertainment media brand which publishes news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style. It is also known for its music charts such as the Billboard Hot 100 consisting of the most popular singles and albums in different genres.
 
2
2cm3 coupler is representative of the ear canal volume when using earbud. It is designed for measurements on all types of hearing aids and is optimized for repetitive use in the laboratory and on the production line while fulfilling the requirements of the ANSI S3.7 (2008) and IEC 60318–5 (2006) standards.
 
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Metadata
Title
Sound pressure levels generated at risk volume steps of portable listening devices: types of smartphone and genres of music
Authors
Gibbeum Kim
Woojae Han
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5399-4

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