Is it too loud?

Headphone users who crank up the volume for more than 90 minutes per day risk permanent hearing loss.

But how loud is too loud? Do these sound checks: Limit volume level to 70 percent — estimate this on your MP3 player screen, or mark it on the dial, and resist going past this point. Turn your TV to normal listening volume, put on the headphones and limit the music to the point at which you can still hear the TV.

Consider: Could your music drown out a hair-dryer, a lawn mower, a jet plane or an ambulance? If so — yup, it's too loud.