Best casual headphone dB test?

[watchnerd]

If I don't have a GRAS , what's the best way for me to test if I a given listening volume is too loud with headphones?

Would, for instance, using a a smartphone dB meter app work well enough to gauge whether something is too loud for safety?

 

[bravomail]

If I don't have a GRAS , what's the best way for me to test if I a given listening volume is too loud with headphones?

Would, for instance, using a a smartphone dB meter app work well enough to gauge whether something is too loud for safety?

Umik microphone and REW software maybe?

 

[Jimbob54]

If I don't have a GRAS , what's the best way for me to test if I a given listening volume is too loud with headphones?

Would, for instance, using a a smartphone dB meter app work well enough to gauge whether something is too loud for safety?

I tried that just this weekend based on another thread. I truly had no clue but it measured about 75-80 dB , 85 peak when I put the bottom of the phone where my ear would be in the cup so Im going with "not too loud" - had it said 90+ I might have started thinking about ways of better measuring or calculating or just thought about turning down. To get the phone to measure that it was damn loud.

 

[jae]

 

[maverickronin]

Blutak a CD to the end of a handheld SPL meter or a measurement mic and then just press it against the pad to make the best seal you can.

 

[Soniclife]

With open back phones I just put my phone against the back of the cup whilst listening, whilst not accurate it's relatively consistent, and does not interrupt listening. You have to judge the relative distances between driver and ear and mic, and relative openness.

 

[watchnerd]

Blutak a CD to the end of a handheld SPL meter or a measurement mic and then just press it against the pad to make the best seal you can.

No CDs in our house for 10 years, though

 

[Jimbob54]

No CDs in our house for 10 years, though

Blu Ray? CD rom (remember those!)

 

[watchnerd]

Blu Ray? CD rom (remember those!)

No optical digital media of any kind.

Everything was ripped to a NAS long ago, or is via streaming.

 

[MRC01]

Umik microphone and REW software maybe?

Along those lines, how about a MiniDSP EARS?

MiniDSP EARS: First Measurements

We have started a MiniDSP EARS on its way round-robin for people to try it out then mail to the next person. Details and sign-ups here: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wanted-minidsp-ears.26597/post-959400 I've shared my initial measurements of vintage Sennheiser HD-580...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[watchnerd]

Along those lines, how about a MiniDSP EARS?

MiniDSP EARS: First Measurements

We have started a MiniDSP EARS on its way round-robin for people to try it out then mail to the next person. Details and sign-ups here: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wanted-minidsp-ears.26597/post-959400 I've shared my initial measurements of vintage Sennheiser HD-580...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I'm trying not to buy more gear just to find out if I'm listening too loud.

 

[maverickronin]

No CDs in our house for 10 years, though

You threw out all the mix "tape" CD-Rs too?

 

[MRC01]

I'm trying not to buy more gear just to find out if I'm listening too loud.

You don't need to buy it, it's going round robin, all it would cost you is postage.

 

[watchnerd]

You threw out all the mix "tape" CD-Rs too?

I skipped over that interim phase and went straight to in-car MP3 players connected via headphone jacks and other sordid rubbish of the Napster era.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

A couple of layers using cardboard from your latest Amazon delivery can easily substitute for a CD