http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/ Engadget Comments for Griffin's volume-limiting MyPhones can't crank to 11... or 8 http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
BTW- what quality circuitry do you think they are using in these headphones?]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
While you are correct, and the listening of very dynamic material would be ruined by the circuit, who really listens to such music with this kind of system anyways? 99% of stuff America listens to today is squashed so much as to never vary in volume more than a few dBs. Then, there's the fact that mp3 compression limits the dynamic range even further. Dynamics simply aren't important to the American consumer in this day and age, as today's musical material lacks any.

Plus, if your kid is sophisticated enough to appreciate classical music, I don't think they are a prime candidate for headphone crankage.

If a user is sophisticated enough to desire sound quality better than that which limited circuitry could provide, then said user should also be able to set their own listening levels. For everyone else, limited headphones could be very useful. ]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/]]>Sep 20th 2009 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/See, this is where I get my back up somewhat. Who the hell decided classical music was sophisticated? I mean, sure if you're around 60 it's all cool and stuff I guess; but jeez we're in the new century here bud. Grow up with the times, or else check yourself back into your old age home.

Darn hippies. Where's Cartman when you need some Hippie control??]]>Sep 20th 2009 4:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
IMO this is a great idea - especially since with normal headphones there's actually no way to tell if you are listening at a dangerous volume (unless you're knowledgeable about the specifications of both headphones and device and how its volume setting corresponds to etc etc).

Also, that fact sort of highlights a potential for improvement; headphones should come with data connections that allow information about the effective dB level for given input current, or some such; this would enable devices to scale their output, show volume in dB, and limit correctly on all headphones. I'm not holding my breath for all headphone manufacturers to agree on a new format though...]]>Sep 20th 2009 7:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/ 'fine', obviously. sigh.]]>Sep 20th 2009 7:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
Well... you sure showed us all a thing or two about being sophisticated.]]>Sep 21st 2009 12:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
Very funny post.]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
I don't think this is a good solution to protect kids' hearing, although it certainly is a good marketing angle for "kid friendly" products. Earbuds are commonly available in any store for a few bucks, and any kid would dump this monster contraption in a heartbeat.

If there is to be a solution, it needs to be built into the music player itself, eg something like ReplayGain but with a password-access feature.]]>Sep 20th 2009 3:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Downside with touch is that smart kids will set up passcode lock for the whole iPod with auto-format after 3 failed attempts hoping there absent minded parents will forget to set it back up again after restoring the iPod .]]>Sep 20th 2009 6:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 5:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/oh, well, right... you can't ...
(in the place of awkward silence, we hear mommy screaming)]]>Sep 20th 2009 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/12 out 20.

Me it's 10 to 12 most of time.]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
They have little to no concept of moderation.]]>Sep 20th 2009 9:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
@Towncivilian it won't clip, it's a limiting circuit. Simple gain reduction.

@Mitchell they are actually being conditioned to think of 85 dBs as the new max, so if they put on normal headphones, and turned them up louder, they'd think it far too loud, and turn them back down, since it's louder than anything they've ever been comfortable with. ]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 9:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
There is no harm in having it on the player end, but these headphones promise to be terrible, and like others have said the kids will eventually stop using these headphones and l crank the volume up. ]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
I sigh every time at school I hear some kid's music blaring from earbuds 10 feet away from me. Oh well, they can pay for new earbuds and new hearing aids, since I won't be.]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 11:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/

I liked loud music before loud music was cool, just fyi. ]]>Sep 20th 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/
Or are you just thinking of the late 1960s?]]>Sep 21st 2009 9:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 5:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 10:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 2:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/2. Call its problems "features"
3. Market to overprotective parents
4. Overprice
5. ???
6. Profit!]]>Sep 20th 2009 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/20/griffins-volume-limiting-myphones-cant-crank-to-11-or-8/Sep 20th 2009 3:29PM