| Author | Message | ||
| Robert Rothschild (Rothschild)
New member Username: Rothschild Post Number: 43 Registered: 6-2002 |
Completely kidding here, but if you think of all the ways that your hearing can be impaired this one ranks way up there on the fun scale  | ||
| Jay P. Ross (Eilig)
Member Username: Eilig Post Number: 265 Registered: 8-2001 |
I've got permanent tinnitus (ringing of the ears), brought on by too many years of nightclub noise exposure. When I drive a Ferrari for more than an hour or so, I find myself putting in earplugs. Can still hear all the excitement of the engine, but it just trims off some of the higher decibels. | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member Username: Craigfl Post Number: 681 Registered: 1-2001 |
The Dba weighted scale takes into account the response of the human ear and possible damaging effects due to those frequencies. It has nothing to do with what sounds louder than something else. If you're concerned about your hearing(losses), you need to compare your noise exposure to the OSHA allowables. Because driving is not at a constant noise level(changing road speed and engine speed) you would need to take a long enough sample to be sure your weighted average represents actual driving conditions. I've also found that just because your ears are ringing doesn't mean you've exceeded the OSHA limits. | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 288 Registered: 7-2003 |
I appreciate the interesting responses thus far. I'd have to echo the sentiments of Crawford - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and Frequency/Pitch really is part of the equation, as Steve points out. For instance, when I get hearing tests, despite requests to reverse the order, they always start out with the highest pitch - YOW - ringing in the ears for the rest of the test. | ||
| Crawford White (Crawford)
Junior Member Username: Crawford Post Number: 149 Registered: 3-2003 |
In my 328 with stock exhaust, levels were 78 db in the car. With Tubi, about 82 db - noticably louder... I have had my ears ring after 4 hours on the interstate. I think we may take earplugs next long trip. | ||
| Steve D'Gerolamo (Ultgar)
New member Username: Ultgar Post Number: 20 Registered: 2-2003 |
Frequency level is also a factor......75-80 db at 125-250hz (peak engine frequencies) is not as annoying as these SPL's at 1000-4000hz. A subjective measurement of your car's sound levels would be to use A-scale weighting and fast (1/8 second) sampling. OSHA would use a flat (C-scale) impulse set of measurements. SD (PS- I also have hearing issues as a result of noise level exposure during my youth. For A-scale noise levels of 85db or higher, use hearing protection.) | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member Username: Craigfl Post Number: 679 Registered: 1-2001 |
Here's what OSHA says: Permissible Noise Exposure Duration per Day (hours) Sound Level(dBA) 8hr 90DBa 4hr 95DBa 2hr 100DBa 1hr 105DBa 1/2hr 110DBa 1/4hr or less 115DBa | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1726 Registered: 11-2001 |
i've got an spl. i should give it a whirl. i'd be interested to know the dB with the top down at highway speeds. anybody know what settings would be appropriate? C/slow or something else? doody. | ||
| Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member Username: Rexrcr Post Number: 808 Registered: 11-2002 |
Do you want to know sound energy inside a particular car? Outside, as an observer would experience the sound? Inside a modern, unmodified Ferrari is quiet, relatively speaking. In the 72-77 dBA range at constant throttle, 70 mph. Full throttle may be as high as 85 dBA in the interior, as much induction sound as exhaust. Modified? Try 108 dBA 50 feet from a F355 Challenge with "open" Challenge-legal exhaust system on a humid, overcast 80oF day. So we changed to the "quiet" Challenge system which dropped sound readings to 89 dBA, again at 50 ft. HTH Rob | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 284 Registered: 7-2003 |
Any of you fine folks ever put a Sound Level Meter to good use in your Ferrari? Having worn a hearing aid on at least one ear for 40 1/2 of my 43 years to compensate for 85% losses in said ears (Nerve Deafness, as mother had Rubella aka German Measles in the epidemic of '59 - '60), I'd greatly appreciate knowing just how much further my hearing (or yours, in all sincerity) might decrease due to prolonged exposure. |