The Cultured Girl

There’s been a lot of discussion about Apple’s odd decision to offer a volume-limit setting on the iPod, so you don’t turn your music up too loud. I understand the concern about hearing damage, but as grown women, can’t we just prevent ourselves from turning up the volume too high?

The real problem with iPods is the crappy earbuds, which require you to crank up the sound on subways, at the gym, and anywhere else where there is a bit of background noise. I recently found my own solution to this problem: Etymotic Research’s 6isolator headphones. Unlike many man-sized earbuds, these fit snugly in small ears like mine, while creating an earplug-like seal that blocks outside noise. Frighteningly, I used to turn up my iPod volume so high that my ears ached. Now, my volume-level is typically 50 to 75 percent lower than it used to be, and I can feel the difference. (And yes, the earwax issues resulting from such a snug fit are sorta gross, but they come with a special cleaning tool.) For months I avoided these because of the high price tag, but turns out, it was the best $150 I’ve spent in a long time. Most of you would pay as much for one pair of jeans, and not losing my hearing by age 35 is certainly worth that.