The Ear3 loudness-detecting machine

While some may think that standard-issue Ear2s are sufficient for detecting sounds that are too loud, the Hollins Communications Research Institute would have you believe otherwise, and for $50 they're willing to sell you a gadget that'll tell you when to turn down the volume or leave the room. A year in development, the Ear3 "Sonic Threat Indicator" uses specially calibrated electronics to warn you DHS-style of impending auditory doom, with a green light indicating a safe listening level, alternating green/red lights warning you to dial back the volume, a steady red light indicating possible hearing damage, and a flashing red light warning you that the tune you're listening to may be your last. It also apparently works equally well with headphones or earphones, although you'll have to keep taking them off and holding 'em up to the Ear3 every time you change the volume. Of course, you could get a pair of headphones that automatically constrain the volume, or, you know, just turn the volume down.

[Via Techdirt]

[shirizaki @ Dec 8th 2006 3:51PM]

I see this being the weapon of choice for domestic arguments:

Guy: YOU'RE TALKING TOO LOUD!
Girl: WELL YOU HAD 3 BARS AND I HAVE 3 AND A HALF. BIG (bleep)ING WHOOP. I JUST WISH YOU HAD MORE THAN 3 IN YOUR PANTS!
Guy: SEE THAT! YOU JUST WENT TO 5! DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS HERE!?
Girl: WELL WERE EVEN NOW!

*Slams Door*

Guy: THAT WAS 6! I WIN!!!

[Tachion @ Dec 8th 2006 3:54PM]

How... worthless.

[duckhunt @ Dec 8th 2006 4:50PM]

WHAT????? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
HELLO???

[Oro @ Dec 8th 2006 10:15PM]

Great! Now all I need is a device to tell me when the lights in my room are on too bright and I'll be set!

[Bran @ Dec 9th 2006 4:04PM]

In case you're not looking at the device, if it detects that sound levels go too high it could trigger a high decible alarm to alert you!

[Tom Gabriele @ Dec 9th 2006 3:56PM]

i was thinking about getting the ear2's, but i just decided to use my 2 ears. if something is too loud, i hear it. what possible use would this have? maybe if you are deaf and thus can't hear when something is too loud, but then what would you care about hearing loss?

[ryan @ Dec 21st 2006 6:39PM]

Not a bad idea...but they need to put some work into making this more compact... and cheaper. either way would make it a decent competitor to what's already out there. I'm around big loudspeaker systems frequently... when I'm running pa systems for bands or dj'ing I have a SPL meter but i've always wanted something smaller and more portable to casually carry with me for when i go out to clubs. I know the one local bar keeps their dance floor system turned way up past the point that's "reasonably loud" for a club, but I was always curious how loud but I never cared enough to take my big spl meter in there. I picked up myself a scoche "boomstick" from walmart for under $25... I haven't compared the accuracy to my other meter yet, but the price is amazing for a digital spl meter (if it's of any reasonable accuracy). It's not as small as I'd like but it's a little easier to carry around. if they could make the next version of this product a keychain thatt's the size of an average car alarm remote, that'd be great. However personally I'd rather spend half the money they're asking for an ear 3 (which only indicates you four diferent levels of loudness) on a 'boomstick' that will tell me an exact spl level and is still about the same size.

many people don't realize how easy it is to damage your hearing permanently. I got stuck too close to speakers at a concert in college once for an hour or so... then when it was over my ears were ringing so loudly that I couldn't hear my cell phone ring. The ringing continued for about the next day and finally went away. No doubt I sustained some permanent damage from that, but i hate to think about what happened to the hundreds of people who were in front of me. Since then I always take ear plugs with me to any concert or other loud event and I highly recommend this to everyone. Cheap hardware store disposable earplugs are great.. you can usually get them for less than $.25 a pair. However my new favorite are the "earlove" musicians earplugs (relatively pricy at about $15 per reusable pair) but they give you more fidelity to the music while lowering the overall level to a safe point.

[austin @ Dec 11th 2006 3:08PM]

Try the Alpine Musicsafe plugs. A bit pricey ($40USD) but much better clarity IMO than the Earlove/ER20/Hearos you own. Much more discreet and comfortable as well. Next though, I'm just going with custom plugs.

A good (inexpensive but accurate) sound level meter can be found at RatShack ($50), but are not very portable. There are a few I can think of, but can't recall the names of that go for under $20. One is also an earplug case if you decide to search. In general, I carry my plugs everywhere and wear them when I go out.