Is It Possible to Get Hearing Damage from Loud Bass?

[Jodi]

What do you guys say about bass - is it as dangerous as higher frequencys? If so, I´d guess ear plug wont protect you mutch, since bass vibrates your whole body...?

"The argument is that while your ears are very sensitive to mid-range and high-register frequencies, they cannot detect the damage of lower sound to the same intensity that they can for these other sounds. Basically, bass frequencies don't cause the same level of pain as higher-pitched sounds do. This means that when you're headbanging to a bass-y breakdown at a Deadmau5 show, or cranking some Bassnectar up in your Monster Beats, you're doing serious damage to your ears without even realizing it. It's highly debated as to whether low frequency sounds actually do more or less damage than higher frequencies, but it is agreed upon that low register sounds are less detectable by the pain sensors in our hearing."

Read more at: ourstage.com/blog/2012/7/3/turn-down-the-bass

Here is a forum thread the article abowe relates to:

"Is it possible to get hearing damage from loud bass? Do low frequency sounds do less damage than high frequency sounds at the same decibel level? I've just never felt my ears disturbed by loud bass, so that's why I'm asking."

tomshardware.co.uk/forum/53343-6-hearing-damage-bass

 

[Jodi]

Sorry, but I´ll try to bump this thread. Anyone?

 

[Riikka]

I'm not sure what the scientific view is about this. From the experience I had though, bass sounds definitely can damage the hearing, at least they had an effect on my tinnitus. Bass sounds could also have an increased affect on the ear through bone conduction. We had a previous thread about bone conduction.

 

[Jodi]

I'm not sure what the scientific view is about this. From the experience I had though, bass sounds definitely can damage the hearing, at least they had an effect on my tinnitus. Bass sounds could also have an increased affect on the ear through bone conduction. We had a previous thread about bone conduction.

In what way did you experience bass effected your T? I.e. did the character of your T change?

 

[Luca]

It can, but high frequency spectrum is easier damaged.

 

[Riikka]

I felt that the volume of my tinnitus increased. I was at a gig and I felt the bass was quite strong there. I can not say for sure though, which part of the music did in the end effect my tinnitus.

 

[James]

I bet it's possible. I didn't read the article, not sure what's its saying.
Perhaps hearing loss is higher freqs first, not really an expert on that.

Lots of music really Boom's the bass with tons on Wattage to move the speakers.
Who knows the SPL (sound pressure level) of Bass vs Higher freq to equate the two, or when listening to music.
Luca said it in few words,,,,,I like that.

 

[Jodi]

I just read that human ears are less sensitive to sound below 1000 Hz. And most kickdrums are about 70-200 Hz and bass/sub even lower, closer 30-70 Hz.

"The ear is most sensitive to sound waves with a frequency of between 1,000 and 6,000 Hz."

- elacin.com/nl/en/page/169/on-sound