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Topic: Will loud volume damage IEMs? (Read 8009 times) previous topic - next topic
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Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Hi Guys, i am a new member here. I just wana ask a question, hope you guys can give me a hand if possible. Thanks!

Recently, i accidentally played a bass song on my ipod nano 7th generation on full volume. I am using a westone um1 iem.

The max volume was on for 3-5 seconds before i realised. I did hear some distortions at full volume and i am wondering if this one off event will damage the balanced armature within the iems. Even if does not damage it now, will it damage it in future and affect the lifespan of the earphone

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #1 –
No...  You are not going to damage them with an iPod.   

The distortion you heard was most-likely the iPod's amplifier or DAC clipping.

With enough voltage/power you can burn-out any IEM, headphone, or speaker.  So with a high-voltage headphone amp or a 200W power amp, you might damage them.  You are actually more likely to damage your ears!    Certainly if they are in your ears when you burn 'em up, you'll damage your ears first.

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #2 –
Hi, so the ipod nano 7th gen at its max volume will surely not have enough power to damage the balanced armature driver or shorten its lifespan within the um1?

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #3 –
I'm "pretty sure".    I couldn't find any specs for the UM1.  Apple doesn't publlish power/voltage specs for the Nano, but you can probably find them.

I've never heard of anyone burning-out a pair of earphones/headphones.  But, it's theoretically possible....  When you feed voltage into an impedance, you generate heat.  But at 1 or 2 volts, I just seriously doubt that an iPod has that much power.  If you plug your IEMs into 120 or 240VAC, you'll fry 'em! 

Quote
...or shorten its lifespan within the um1?
If you damage a driver/transducer, it's usually pretty obvious.  And a stereo-pair rarely gets damaged equally...  For example, if you over-drive your speakers with a big amplifier, usually one speaker will die first (or start "buzzing" or rattling, etc.) and the other one will be OK, at least for awhile if you don't continue over-driving them.

If you are really THAT paranoid about it, or if you REALLY need them to be RELIABLE (if you are using them for live-performance monitors, etc.), go-ahead and get a back-up pair.  In fact, if you are using them for live performance, you should have a backup anyway.

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #4 –
Ok tanks. I am just alittle paranoid because this is my first iem and i want it to last for a few years. Thanks for sharing. Very much appreciated  So if it's working fine now for afew days, everything's ok and there is no need for me to send it back for repairs or diagnosis?

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #5 –
Hi Doug, I just got the specifications for the Westone um1. Wonder if it will help.

sensitivity:114dB @ 1mW
Frequency response: 20 Hz -16 kHz
Impedance: 25 ohms @ 1kHz

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #6 –
The spec that matters is the maximum allowed power into the IEMs (which I don't see on the product page).

Will loud volume damage IEMs?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: skamp on
The spec that matters is the maximum allowed power into the IEMs (which I don't see on the product page).


Usually digital players run off of lithium ion batteries that put out about 4.2 volts maximum. DC-DC converters stepping this up to a higher voltage are possible but seem to be rare. Therefore the music player is physically limited to an absolute maximum output of 1.5 volts rms. There are additional and unavoidable voltage drops across the player's output devices that reduce this further. In Europe, output voltage is further limited by regulatory considerations. This should be too small of a voltage to hurt any competent IEM.