In-Ear headphones possibly a risk?

[Supter]

I've gathered information about the popular in-ear headphones that it is damaging to the ears, because it is being set right near your ear drums that it causes a possibly risk of hearing loss. Anyone have any reliable sources/articles about this possible risk of using in-ear headphones?

[FredtheCat]

I wouldn't think that they'd be any more damaging than regular headphones, unless you're listening to them at extreme volumes.

[Galley]

What Fred said...

[Supter]

Yes, but the difference is the sound is trapped considering that you don't hear much exterior sound coming through just like having a q-tip jammed in your ear with sound coming through. I'm just bringing it up considering that i haven't heard anyone speak of this yet on the forums but i've had friends tell me this.

[gurp13]

I'd say consider the source if your friends are telling you that these earphones will damage your hearing. Are they people who know something about sound? Ear specialists? Understand what I'm saying?

Personally, I own canal phones and I think it's silly to think that sound could get "trapped" in your ears. What? It just doesn't make sense. Sound isn't a "thing" you can trap somewhere, it's vibrations of air molecules. That's all. So, like any earphones, if you play them at reasonable volume then I can't see how they could be dangerous, or, rather, more dangerous than any thing else that you put on your ears to listen to.

'Course, I'm not an ear specialist nor do I specialize in sound either. And, free advice is often worth what you paid for it.

gp

[justgotmyipod]

All earphones are harmful to your ears compared to headphones. However, with the isolation system in ear phones provide, you dont have to listen at extreme volumes in noisy places. I think, they kinda protect you ears better than normal earphones somehow.
However, using in ear headphones at mid or high volumes when riding bike is definitely a risk.

[kauffee]

Where did you get your information Supter?

justgot is right. In-ears are safer because they allow you to listen at lower volumes. Ultimately, safety is only a function of the volume of sound hitting your eardrum.

[ipod gN]

So why ety designed the ER4 and ERx...First of all they just aim at protecting the ears,and then the perfermance of the in-ears phone.Let along the damage...
IMO,the damage to ears is actually the damage to the ear drum.No matter the soursce of the music near or far,as long as the volume is too high,harmful to your ears I mean the ear drum is cannot avoid.
when we use the headphone or the earbuds,to long for more details,we just turn the volume higher and higher.You maybe let the volume twice as normal when the place is very noisy!But unfortunately you cannot notice yourself.Thats terrible right?
And thats all my own viewpoint...