Hearing protection is mandated by OSHA above 84 dbs for an eight hour period and double hearing protection above 104 dbs for short durations. Permanent hearing damage will occur for extended periods over 104 db (< 30 minutes). I suppose I'm trying to tell you to be careful. Hearing loss is accumulative, it only gets worse, and it can not be repaired.

I have worked in an industrial environment around rotating machinery (screaming turbines and jets) most of my adult life and am very lucky that I’ve always worn my hearing protection. I have perfect hearing to date.

So all that banter aside and knowing the effects of noise, I tend to listen to music at or around 90 db’s and movies around 85 dbs. There have been times after a few beers where I’ll push it over 100 db’s, but even when I’m drunk, I know better than to push it for too long.