How to Set Volume Limits on AirPods for Hearing Safety

• 08 Aug, 2023
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[Introduction]
Hey there! Have you ever thought about the volume of your AirPods and how it could be affecting your long-term hearing? Well, it's something worth considering, no matter your age. Whether you're someone who likes to keep the noise down or someone who wants to protect your ears from harm, setting a volume limit on your AirPods can be a smart move.

[The Problem with Earbuds]
You may not realize it, but earbuds can actually pose a risk when it comes to hearing loss. This is especially true if you don't have noise-cancelling earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2. The lack of good sound blocking in non-pro AirPods means that listeners often have to crank up the volume to hear their music, podcasts, or calls when there's a lot of noise around.

Imagine being in a busy city with traffic all around you. In order to hear your AirPods over the noise, you have to turn up the volume past the level of the traffic. This is not good for your ears. When you crank the volume into the danger zone, prolonged exposure can lead to long-term hearing damage. And by prolonged exposure, I don't mean you have to be in that traffic for 10 hours straight. Even if you're only pushing your AirPods to these high volume levels for what feels like a short duration every day, it can still cause harm over time.

Now, you might be thinking, "But wait, aren't AirPods Pro and AirPods Max safer because of their active noise cancellation?" While it's true that they offer a higher level of protection, people still tend to crank up the volume on these devices, putting themselves at risk.

[Activating the Volume Limiter]
Luckily, there's a simple solution to this problem. If you're an iPhone user, you can easily activate a maximum volume limit for your AirPods. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Sound & Haptics.
3. Scroll down and find the option for Headphones Safety.
4. Activate the toggle that says 'Reduce Loud Sounds'.

Once you turn on this feature, your iPhone will give you the option to set the maximum volume for your AirPods. The default setting is 85 decibels, which should be fine if you listen for only a few hours per day. However, if you're a hardcore music lover who listens for hours on end, you might want to consider setting it to 80 decibels.

[Preventing Sudden Volume Spikes]
Now that you've set a maximum volume limit, there's another setting you should consider to further protect your hearing. It's called Sound Check and it's designed to prevent sudden spikes in volume when moving from one track to another.

Sound Check works by matching the audio output of different tracks to the same volume level. This ensures that you won't be caught off guard by a super loud YouTube video after listening to a quiet Spotify track. However, it's important to note that Sound Check only works in Apple Music.

To activate Sound Check on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and find the option for Music.
3. Tap on Sound Check.
4. Activate the toggle.

If you don't have an iPhone but use Apple Music on other devices, don't worry. You can still activate Sound Check by going to Music > Preferences > Settings. Just look for the option and turn it on.

[Additional Settings in Music Streaming Apps]
While Sound Check is a great feature for Apple Music users, other music streaming services may offer similar settings. For example, Spotify has a setting called 'Normalize volume' that can help normalize the volume of different tracks.

If you use other media apps, such as YouTube or Netflix, it's worth checking their settings to see if they have any options for normalizing volume. This can help ensure a consistent listening experience and reduce the risk of sudden volume spikes.

Remember, it's not just about limiting the maximum volume, but also about maintaining a consistent volume level across different tracks and media. By taking advantage of these settings, you can enjoy your favorite content without putting your long-term hearing at risk.

[Conclusion]
In conclusion, setting a volume limiter on your AirPods is a simple but effective way to protect your long-term hearing. Whether you're concerned about keeping the noise down or want to avoid the dangers of prolonged exposure to high volume levels, it's important to take steps to safeguard your ears.

By activating the volume limiter and enabling features like Sound Check, you can enjoy your music, podcasts, and calls without worrying about damaging your hearing. So go ahead and make use of these settings to ensure a safe and enjoyable listening experience with your AirPods.

Remember, it's never too late to start prioritizing your hearing health. Take control of your volume levels and protect your ears for the long run. Your future self will thank you for it!