| Sensaphonics demos dB Check Sound Level Analyzer at NAMM
In-line device shows actual SPL and recommended exposure time for IEM users.
Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation, Inc., the industry leader in technology for in-ear monitoring (IEM), brought its patent-pending dB Check in-ear sound level analyzer to Winter NAMM for the first time. dB Check is the first device to accurately measuring sound pressure levels with earphones in place. Designed to work with Sensaphonics custom earphones, the dB Check is an easy-to-use handheld unit that measures and displays the actual A-weighted SPL and, more importantly, the recommended safe exposure time for that level on both the NIOSH and OSHA scales.
"Before dB Check, musicians could only guess at the actual levels they were experiencing in-ear," notes Sensaphonics founder and president Michael Santucci. "Now they can know exactly how loud they are monitoring, and how long they are safe at that SPL level. It's really the missing link in hearing conservation for musicians."
Using the dB Check is as simple as plugging it in between the sound source (IEM bodypack or other music source) and the earphones. The user selects the Sensaphonics model being used (ProPhonic 2X-S, 2MAX, or 3D Active Ambient), sets the duration (from 1 to 120 minutes), and monitors normally. The dB Check displays the A-weighted decibel level in real time, then shows both the average SPL and the recommended daily exposure time under both NIOSH and OSHA guidelines when the duration expires.
While it is commonly believed that the use of personal monitors helps artists to monitor at lower levels, a recent Vanderbilt University study shows that, in practice, most musicians tend to turn up their IEMs to the same levels they are used to enduring with floor wedges.
"The problem is, old listening habits die hard," notes Santucci, a practicing doctor of audiology. "As a result, many IEM users are monitoring a dangerous levels without realizing it. dB Check is the only device that addresses this issue, by giving musicians the ability to make an informed choice. It's a huge advance that will help our customers realize all the benefits of in-ear monitoring."
The unit also includes an integral condenser microphone for taking open-air sound level measurement and is powered by a USB-rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. dB Check in-ear sound level analyzer ships in a rugged Pelican case and includes all needed cables. It sells for $300 and is now shipping.
dB Check product page
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