FAQs
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How loud should I be making music?
The threshold for hearing damage is 85dBA. In studio settings, this should not regularly be exceeded. However, clubs, venues and live music settings will almost always exceed this 85dB threshold. In live music settings the Ohr-1 can:
- Help you set your system to the level at which it sounds best. This often around 100dBA but will vary from system to system.
- Let artists and staff know when it's time to put in hearing protection.
- Monitor and track venue acoustics.
Read more about levels in the ohr-1 manual.
What does the ohr-1 measure?
The Ohr-1 measures A frequency-weighted, slow time-weighted sound pressure level in decibels/ dB(A). Read the Ohr-1 manual for more information.
How long does the battery last?
The Ohr-1's battery lasts for ~100 hours of continuous use.
What is a decibel meter?
A decibel meter routinely monitors the decibels - the relative loudness - of a sound. The number shown on the screen indicates the decibel reading. The Ohr-1 measures A-weighted decibels adjusted for how the human ear perceives sound.
What does the safe-listening threshold mean?
Sounds at 85dBA and above can cause permanent hearing damage. You have a safe listening time of 12.5/hrs a week at 85dB. Anything louder is even more dangerous.
For instance:
- 90dB: Safe listening time of just 4 hours/ week
- 95dB: 1 hour/ week
- 110dB: 3 minutes / week
Anything below 85dB within the safe listening threshold, meaning you can listen for as long as you like without causing any permanent damage to your hearing.
Below 85dB? You’re within the safe listening threshold - you’re safe to listen as long as you like.
Why can’t I just use an app on my phone?
Because you would have already.
You use your phone for many tasks. The chances of you keeping it on and out for the duration of a studio session are low. The Ohr-1 is a physical object that allows you to commit to protecting your hearing. It is always on, continuously monitoring the sound level and providing clear visual indicators.
It is also much more accurate. It is engineered specifically for level monitoring, while phone microphones are designed to pick up speech.
Why can’t I just use earplugs?
Decibel meters deal with sound at the source, meaning with the Ohr-1 you can listen or perform music as it’s meant to be heard, without any frequency omittance and without having to put anything in your ears. Earplugs are designed for when you don’t have control of the sound, the Ohr-1 gives you control of the sound.
Why do I need hearing protection in the studio?
With the recent boom in earplugs availability and popularity, people are increasingly using hearing protection at music events, however a significant amount of damage can happen at the studio. The Ohr-1 allows you to rehearse, record, perform, jam or mix within safe hearing thresholds - without any doubts - protecting your ears for the future.
Where is the Ohr-1 made?
The Ohr-1 has been carefully designed and engineered over the two years by our small team based in Leeds, UK. We currently hand-assemble and test each unit in our Leeds studio. We source components from around the world.
Shipping
Where do you deliver to?
We ship world-wide. Orders to the UK are shipped tracked through Royal Mail.
All orders to the EU are shipped through a tracked international courier. EU orders under 150€ are shipped using DDP (pre-paid duty). We collect the duty and tax at checkout, meaning there is nothing extra to pay upon delivery.
EU orders over 150€ are ineligible for DDP and the duty and tax will have to be paid upon receipt.
Orders to the US and Canada will be sent tracked through UPS.
Orders to countries outside the EU and North America will be sent tracked through a variety of carriers. You may be liable to pay Tax and Duty on delivery depending on your destination country.
Estimated Delivery Times:
UK - 1-3 days depending on selected service
EU - 3-10 days
US - 3-8 days
Rest of World - 5 - 20 days.
What is your return Policy?
We offer a no questions asked 14-day return policy. If you wish to return your order, please get in touch using the contact form or email us at Hello@ohrlabs.com.
Pre-Orders
When will I receive my pre-order?
The estimated shipping date for batch 2 is the 14th of April.
The exact delivery date will depend upon your destination country and the selected shipping service.
From the 14th April:
- UK Orders will arrive in 1-3 days
- EU and US orders will arrive in 3-7 days
- Order to the rest of the world will take anywhere from 5-15 days to arrive.
We will make every effort to ensure that all pre-orders are shipped on or before April 14th. However, in the unlikely event of unforeseen circumstances - such as supply chain disruptions or delivery delays the shipping date may be affected.
If this happens, we will notify you immediately and keep you updated on the status of your order.
Can I modify my order after placing a pre-order?
Yes, if you need to update your shipping details or modify your order, please reach out to us at mail@ohrlabs.com.
How will I know when my order has shipped?
Once your pre-order has shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with tracking details.
What happens if there is a delay?
We make every effort to meet our April 14th shipping timeline. However, in the unlikely event of unforeseen delays (e.g, supply chain issues), we will notify you immediately and keep you updated on the status of your order.
You may cancel your pre-order at any time before it has been dispatched.
I've changed my mind, can I cancel my pre-order?
Yes, you can cancel your pre-order at any time before it has shipped. Once your order has been dispatched, you will need to return it to us in exchange for a refund.
To cancel your pre-order, please contact us at mail@ohrlabs.com
For information on the device, read the Ohr-1 manual here: