EU Suggests Volume Limits on Portable Music Players

Having just endured a two-hour airplane ride where the guy behind me insisted on listening to some strange form of Gothic music at uncomfortably loud levels, I can appreciate the European Commission’s new proposal to set maximum volume defaults on portable music players. Citing research that indicates that one in 10 users could suffer permanent hearing loss when listening regularly to music at loud levels, the EC is proposing that new music players and mobile phones with a music function have a built-in max default that will make volume levels safer.  The proposal would make the action voluntary among manufacturers and would also allow for override by consumers. However, the proposal would require ample warning on the hearing implications of overriding. If it means one less guy blasting MP3s at boombox sound levels, we’re all for it. [via BBC] [Photo: flattop341]