There are, however, a couple problems. Most movie theatres do not have projectionists anymore. The movies you are watching on screen are being played by a manager on the other side of the building, that never once checks on it. At all. Frankly, it's irresponsible to not ever check inside of the theatre to make sure the picture and sound are ok. In fact, I've worked in many theatres where the manager doesn't even know where the projection booth is, or how to get there. If there's a problem, they only know about it when there's a complaint, and even then it's easier to just give out comp tickets to the people who complained, while they continue making money off the people who don't. Usually, they'll even continue running shows in that room before calling someone in to fix the problem.
The other issue, is that studios, in an attempt to keep up with the audio level of pre-show advertisements, continue mixing their films even louder, disregarding a standard that is supposed to be set, to keep people's hearing safe. Which in turn has the theatre chain turn the volume up on their ads even further.
Most of this is from neglect from theatre managers and higher ups, not projectionists who randomly decide to blow people's hearing.
Obviously we're screaming over other tables, too, who are also screaming over us. It's a big scream fest, and I have observed that alot of it starts with high music volume levels. Turn down the damn music, come on.
Oh and get off my lawn.
(I'm not that old really hah but I sound that way when I make an issue of this...)
Some concerts/parties/clubs are definitely purposely too loud. Yes, many people going are already hearing-compromised.
If you go there without earplugs someone will offer you napkins as otherwise you’ll get tinnitus.
I'm not sure whether I'm an outlier in terms of hearing sensitivity, or if it's just that I somehow wired myself to interpret certain stimuli as pain, or what. I also find bright sunlight and spicy food painful, and when I've gotten massages, usually I prefer a much lighter touch than what appears to be normal. I guess smell is the remaining sense; I guess I have evidence that (some) smells bother me more than they bother others.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/11/14/loud-music-drink...
Next time you're in a place where the audio is too loud for you to hear, try to listen carefully for a few seconds. You might discover that despite being too loud, it actually sounds bad, and reducing the volume would actually _improve_ the audio fidelity.
I once ran a large stump grinder without hearing protection. A huge mistake. I now have spotty hearing, especially in crowded rooms, and it is a huge disadvantage.
Protect your hearing! Easy to do, so worth the effort.
Awareness may hopefully be raised now that the Apple Watch measures sound exposure
I wish there was a way to give it data for other headphones too, since I don't use Apple earbuds
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/02/14/...
I've been in situations several times where the sound was awfully loud for no reasons. Obvious concert and clubs but also less suspicious theaters, outside movie events, and indeed restaurants.
Now when in loud environments, my left ear is buzzing and perceived the sounds as distorted. When it's not. Similar to a cranked up bad speaker like other commenters pointed in it out. It's very hard to describe to people as it's not very common.
I used to own a decible meter. I brought it to a movie theater (large chain) and found sustained volume of 100+ decibels. It was physically painful. I was the only customer who complained to the theater. I asked what sound level they intended to set the movie to. They told me it's up to the projectionist, who sets the volume knob in the booth based on no measurement or preset.
There's a lot of real harm being done, and I would like to see at the very least some basic informative disclosure. And operators should be held responsible for creating dangerous conditions that are not disclosed or agreed to by customers. If people want to sustain hearing damage for a night of enjoyment, they should do so only willingly (and therefore knowingly).
I'm very keen to protect my own hearing, so I carry musician's earplugs (reduces volume without sounding muffled) and wear them often – not just at obviously loud places like concerts, but in common situations like loud restaurants.