What are the decibel levels of Ozlo Sleepbuds® for various volume settings?Updated 12 days ago
Understanding Decibels (dB) and A-weighted Decibels (dBA)
First off, let's talk about decibels (dB). This measures sound intensity on a logarithmic scale, meaning small increases in dB can significantly raise perceived loudness. For instance, a 10 dB increase makes sound 10 times more intense and sounds twice as loud. A 3 dB increase halves your safe listening time, while a 3 dB decrease doubles it.
A-weighted decibels (dBA) are used for hearing safety, as they reflect how we perceive different frequencies.
How Loud Is Too Loud? (Spoiler: It Depends on Time!)
Let’s break down how long you can safely listen to sound:
OSHA Safe Listening Level: 90 dBA averaged over 8 hours
NIOSH Safe Listening Level: 85 dBA averaged over 8 hours
Ozlo Sleepbuds is designed for the more conservative (i.e., lower) volume limits specified by NIOSH. These numbers mean that if you’re listening to sound at 85 dBA, your ears can handle it for about 8 hours a day before you're at risk of hearing damage. For every 3 dB increase, your safe listening time is cut in half. So if you're listening at 88 dBA, your ears are safe for only 4 hours, and at 91 dBA, just 2 hours.
But what happens when you're listening at a lower volume for longer periods—like when you're sleeping?
Ozlo Sleepbuds: Designed for Hearing Safety
The Ozlo Sleepbuds have built-in volume limits specifically to keep your ears safe, even if you're listening for hours on end: the maximum volume for Sleepbuds masking audio is 75 dBA.
Our audio engineers set these limits with hearing safety in mind, staying well below the OSHA and NIOSH safe listening guidelines. And to ensure that our engineering design meets those limits, we test the audio to the "gold-standard" spec: the European standard EN 50332, which specifies how headphone audio output is measured to accurately ensure sound dose management.
Let’s put these numbers into perspective:
If the NIOSH safe limit is 85 dBA for 8 hours, that safe level drops to 82 dBA for 16 hours.
Since the Sleepbuds’ masking audio tops out at 75 dBA, you’re listening at a volume much lower than either the OSHA or NIOSH limits—even if you're using them all night long.
What Does This Mean for Your Ears?
So, is playing masking audio at 75 dBA for 8 hours every night safe? According to both OSHA and NIOSH guidelines, the answer is yes! The volume level is high enough to be super effective at masking your partner’s snoring, while still low enough that you can listen for long periods without worrying about hearing damage. In fact, Ozlo Sleepbuds' limits are set to be way below the safety thresholds, so you can focus on falling asleep rather than stressing about your hearing.
Play It Safe (and Smart)
While Ozlo Sleepbuds’ maximum volume level is considered safe, it's always smart to use the lowest volume necessary. If you’re just trying to block out that snoring freight train next to you, start at a low volume and see if that does the trick. Not only does this protect your hearing, but it can also improve your sleep by preventing overstimulation.