Bill Fitzmaurice Posted 5 hours ago Posted 5 hours ago (edited) 2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: As a biologist I would say one reason why the ear can cope with both a huge range of sound levels and doesn't respond linearly to volume is that it has tiny muscles that 'tighten up' the system to mitigate damage Darwin enters into it as well. The human ear is most sensitive in the frequency range of the human voice, the midrange, critical for communication that can be heard over background noise. That's especially important when the wife is calling you to dinner. Men who couldn't hear her calling were in big trouble when they finally showed up back at the cave, leading to a highly shortened life expectancy. As for damage, we are most likely to be hearing damaged by high level midrange. That's the reason why 'A' weighted sound level measurements, which filter out highs and lows, are specified for acceptable industrial noise levels. Quote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_reflex Most of us have experienced this. It's why after playing a set at high levels it seems like the volume has gone down, in response to which we turn it up. That can be a vicious cycle. Ask Pete Townshend, although his response is likely to be 'Sorry, mate, I didn't hear the question.' 🤫 Edited 5 hours ago by Bill Fitzmaurice 1 2 Quote
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