Zeek- 0 #1 July 3, 2006 Hi... Just picked up an Optima audible altimeter and, although I like it, initial assessment is that it's WAY too loud. I've read up on the subject a bit and have seen some arguments from people that seem to feel it should be this way but, in my opinion, there's no way continued exposure to something this loud is NOT damaging your hearing - earplugs or not. Has anyone else had any experience with this? Also: Interestingly, this audible comes with an option to change the frequency but not the volume. Nice touch but, if I were forced to pick one or the other, I'd much rather be able to adjust the volume instead of the pitch. Are there other audibles out there that have such a feature? Also again: I tested the Optima on the ground next to a friend that owns a Pro-Track, and this person was also very surprised at how loud the alarm was. He feels the Pro-Track is not nearly as loud - and this makes some sense since minimum volumes are 115db and 110db for the Optima and the ProTrack respectively, according to L&B's website. (The decibel scale is logarithmic.) Has anyone had a chance to compare the two? FWIW, I normally wear a full-face on every jump, always use earplugs and still have most of my hearing (huh?). According to OSHA and NIH, anything above 85-90db falls under the not-so-good category, which definitely yields some food for thought. Thoughts? Opinions? Any would be much apprec... Blues, Zeek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #2 July 3, 2006 QuoteAlso: Interestingly, this audible comes with an option to change the frequency but not the volume. Nice touch but, if I were forced to pick one or the other, I'd much rather be able to adjust the volume instead of the pitch. Per the manual, adjusting the pitch away from the default will reduce the volume by about 5db, as the speaker is no longer at its natural resonance frequency. QuoteHas anyone had a chance to compare the two? The Optima is definitely significantly louder than the Pro-Track - I own both. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #3 July 3, 2006 Zeek, All the questions you have about your new Optima should have been asked before you bought the thing. The first letter in OSHA is for Occupational and skydiving is Recreational and in recreation things sometimes get a little loud. Think drag racing. Have you used it on a jump yet? It is harder to hear at freefall speeds even with a FF helmet. All of the above are "Thoughts? Opinions?".My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MB38 0 #4 July 3, 2006 I remember hearing my Solo on the ground [chirping as I set the altitudes] and worrying that it would be too loud. What I found is that by the time I get to around 5,000 [when the beeping begins], the pressure in my ears is so out-of-whack that every sound is deadened. That plus freefall noise makes the volume level perfect for me. I've had the audible go off under canopy before [H&P from altitude, I was turning hard through 5 grand] when the pressure in my ears was equalized... and it was loud as hell. Surprised me but it stopped as soon as I got out of my turn. So yeah, it won't seem that loud in freefall.I really don't know what I'm talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek- 0 #5 July 3, 2006 bob.dino: Yeah - saw the info regarding pitch ajustments in the manual...thanks. And it's helpful to know that the Optima is indeed quite a bit louder. Think I'll see about giving the Pro-Track a try. @mjosparky: Thanks - I think, but I *did* ask all of those questions in advance, and that point is kind of moot by now. Regarding OSHA, your point is well taken, but if 90db+ is harmful, it's harmful whether you're at work or drag racing. I've heard nothing but good things about L&B but, if the company itself is stating that placing the audible next to your ear while on the ground is potentially harmful, then it's potentially harmful period - ambient noise or not. That's something anyone thnking about an audible should consider, that's all. MB38: Good to know, and thank you. The more experienced opinions, the better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MB38 0 #6 July 3, 2006 While, yes, it is really loud, I don't think that it will cause [as much] hearing damage when compared to having the sound hit your ear unprotected. I think that the pressure change in one's ear during freefall acts as an earplug. Sounds seem muddy or quiet when you need to equalize the pressure... so I imagine that the messed up pressure knocks a decent amount off of the volume. So 90DB may be entering your ear, but I don't think that 90DB hits all the important bits.I really don't know what I'm talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek- 0 #7 July 3, 2006 Another thought: Maybe L&B made the Optima louder on purpose. Since all their Pro-Track users were deaf, they needed to up the ante to keep the volume "perfect". Haha...j/k. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #8 July 3, 2006 I sorry, what did you say. I spent 30 years riding fire trucks and DC-3's.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #9 July 3, 2006 There will be a hole where the sound comes from... Put some gaffers tape over the hole - that should make it much less loud... See if that is better for your helmet/ear configuration... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattjw916 2 #10 July 4, 2006 hmm... I've been using the Optima since it came out and I never once thought, "hey, this thing is _too_ loud!" Loud is good IMO.NSCR-2376, SCR-15080 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #11 July 4, 2006 I find the Solo a bit painful on the 1000ft chirp, but not at all on the way down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
