News - Europe to poke its nose into MP3 players

[HEXUS]

The European Commission is concerned we may be harming ourselves by using personal music players.

Read more.

[Funkstar]

i thought they did this a few years ago?

I seem to remember there were some players that went to higher volumes if you told them you were in the US, or flashed them with a US firmware as opposed to the European one.

[pauldarkside]

i thought they did this a few years ago?

Agreed, back when Walkmans were becoming popular there was something about this. Can't remember what the outcome was though but there have been volume limiting in devices for years. Perhaps it was never made a mandatory requirement and that's what they're after now.

[aidanjt]

Do you know what else hurts my ear drums?.. Wind bag politicians talking about something they know nothing about, then trying to coddle us from their point of ignorance.

If idiots want to listen to noise till their ear drums pop, that's their problem, whacking on a heap of useless and unneccery legislation wont stop them from doing it.

[pauldarkside]

If idiots want to listen to noise till their ear drums pop, that's their problem, whacking on a heap of useless and unneccery legislation wont stop them from doing it.

Actually I don't agree with that. In my mind it ought to be fine for adults to do as they please, but and by default, it should be configured for a lower maximum volume for younger users. Just ensure there's an option to disable it.

[aidanjt]

Actually I don't agree with that. In my mind it ought to be fine for adults to do as they please, but and by default, it should be configured for a lower maximum volume for younger users. Just ensure there's an option to disable it.

That's a copout, "ZOMG TINK OF T3H CHILDREN" is used as a bogus banner to ban all kinds of things. And really, mp3 players already have pathetic outputs.

[Workaholic]

Agreed, back when Walkmans were becoming popular there was something about this. Can't remember what the outcome was though but there have been volume limiting in devices for years. Perhaps it was never made a mandatory requirement and that's what they're after now.

Actually I don't agree with that. In my mind it ought to be fine for adults to do as they please, but and by default, it should be configured for a lower maximum volume for younger users. Just ensure there's an option to disable it.

Sony MP3 players have always had a volume limiter installed as default (which on my last mp3 player could be disabled through a button hack or a firmware update...)

[funke_munke]

Isn't wearing a decent pair of cans better for your ears than buds or am I talking rubbish?

[father smurf]

Isn't wearing a decent pair of cans better for your ears than buds or am I talking rubbish?

[matty-hodgson]

they did this with the PSP didn't they?
the headphones were really quiet with any device
pretty much ruined them imo.

[Guy]

My old Sony NW-HD5 MP3 player was volume limited, thing was the way a few of my MP3's had been converted onto it, volume got lost in the process so as such using the nanny state volume limiter half of my library was really quiet.

It was only through googling it, that I found a sequence of buttons that opened up and engineers type sub menu which the volume limiter could be lifted.

If they are so concerned about this, by all means fit a system where volume can be limited, BUT do it so the user can turn off the restrictor themselves.

[toml245]

Actually I don't agree with that. In my mind it ought to be fine for adults to do as they please, but and by default, it should be configured for a lower maximum volume for younger users. Just ensure there's an option to disable it.

I think it's something the EU shouldn't poke their nose into. It's a waste of time and in the end I very much doubt it will have much effect.