Well, I suppose you could try, but not for any amount of money. A court in the U.S. (San Francisco) ruled in favour of Apple in a lawsuit filed in an attempt to blame Apple for hearing loss caused by the iPod ear buds. The plaintiff wanted a sum for damages and for the court to order that Apple improved its ear buds to prevent hearing damage. Hmmm…
While it’s quite true that any personal music device can cause hearing damage, the volume control allows the user to determine the decibel level. So, in my personal opinion, it was a fair judgement, especially since Apple includes a warning that states permanent hearing damage can occur if the “ear buds or headphones are used at high volume.”
Furthermore, the manual also reads, “You can adapt over time to a higher volume of sound, which may sound normal but can be damaging to your hearing. Set your iPod volume to a safe level before that happens. If you experience ringing in your ears, reduce the volume or discontinue use of your iPod.” Continue reading