Volume limits in EU for IPod and MP3 Players

Interesting and rude review:
Are there any solutions for loud music on public transport?

“If we’re having a moan about silly “w**kers “on public transport, can I nominate people who listen to their portable music devices so loud that I can identify not only the song and the singer, but also detect the studio sound engineer’s slight asthma problem? My concern isn’t that these people will be damaging their hearing with every passing decibel, but rather that it makes it really difficult to concentrate with an incessant tssssska-tssssska-tsssska in the vicinity. I reckon that if I can hear the music from your headphones louder than whatever’s coming through mine, then it’s too loud. And if I can’t read/think blankly/listen to music/radio when I’m commuting, then I shall go slightly mad. In the meantime, my solution is to (with great subtlety, natch) mouth the words of the song they are listening to, in time to the music, and try to catch their eye. It tends to freak them out a little.
Any other solution?”
Mr Louden Kleah

Yes, there are few solutions designed by EU.


For any passenger who silently rages when sitting next to someone listening to their headphones, this may come as Manna from heaven. 
Volume limits could be imposed on new mp3 players by the European Union because its officials are worried about people risking permanent hearing damage.
The default maximum level would be 80dB – equivalent to heavy traffic or a freight train going past.
However, those who like their music tuned up to 11 could still be able to do so because they can override their player’s default limit.
The proposal is in response to new research which suggests that up to one in ten users could suffer permanent hearing loss if they listen to music at high volumes for more than an hour a day for at least five years.




European Union consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva said:
“1) We are not imposing noise limits.
  2) We are asking the industry and the EU’s body for standardising to look at the best ways of tackling this issue.
  3) If consumers choose to over-ride the default settings they can but there will be clear warnings so they can but there will be clear warnings so they know the risk they are taking.
  4) It can take years for the hearing damage to show and then it is simply too late”