The Ultimate In-Ear Earphone Safety Guide

IEMs, or In-Ear Monitors, which were hitherto the reserve of audiophiles with deep pockets, have now breached the mainstream. These earphones designed to rest inside the ear canal have even replaced the de-facto standard stock earbuds bundled with smartphones and PMPs (Portable Media Player), especially for the mid to high-end variety. There's a genuine reason for this shift though.Originally conceived for musicians and audio engineers, IEMs started life as custom-moulded earpieces with the sole purpose of achieving optimum mechanical noise isolation in busy live and studio environments. What was envisioned as professional equipment enabling musicians monitor their feed during live events eventually got noticed due to its unprecedented benefit in the portable audio segment. It wasn't long before audiophiles caught on the IEM's ability to reproduce better detail and, more importantly, attenuate ambient noise to a great degree.Unfortunately, surprisingly few really know how to use them effectively, especially since this type of earphones is relatively new. The very nature of their fit and working principle makes them quite effective when worn right, but getting that wrong translates into severe fallout on the overall audio quality. That's the best case scenario though, because improper usage can potentially cause permanent hearing loss as well. This guide, therefore, focuses on what constitutes hearing loss, how improper IEM usage is a contributing factor, what should be done to prevent that, and finally, how to get the best out of your IEM.Understanding Hearing LossThe concept of permanent hearing damage for most people involves sounds present at or above the threshold of pain, which occurs at 130dB. Such damage is generally reversed in 16 to 48 hours, but hearing loss can be permanent if the cochlear cells (inner ear) are damaged. This sort of damage is caused by exposure to transient sounds such as explosions or passing jet planes in proximity to the listener.Click here for full story