# Can you hear this sound? A poll/test. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083 "2006-05-24T20:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/21 "2006-05-24T22:07:26Z")
1. high frequency slightly modulating and a bit irritating. 2. 42 I will often walk into a store and hear a similar kind of noise. I don’t know if it’s got to do with their security devices or change in air pressure due to the climate control system… It’s something and it takes a minute or two for my ears to adjust. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/22 "2006-05-24T22:13:02Z")
1. Ack! That’s the “someone left the TV on mute” noise. Drives me insane. 2. 25 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/23 "2006-05-24T22:14:35Z")
Obviously this thing is annoying to more than just teenagers. Is it really supposed to be inaudible to older people? Or are they assuming that people who aren’t loitering will be willing to tolerate the irritation long enough to stop by and spend money? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/24 "2006-05-24T22:14:53Z")
1. I can hear it: a very high pitched pulse about twice a second. It’s a terrible sound. Terrible. It gives me that fingernails on a blackboard squickyness. 1. 1. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/25 "2006-05-24T22:18:06Z")
32 and I hear it. BUT, that’s with specifically listening for something. If I hadn’t been listening for it and I was in a public place, I think I’d notice something but not specifically identify what it was that was obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/26 "2006-05-24T22:20:25Z")
Whoah. The first time I loaded it up I couldn’t figure out what you were talking about, and then I turned the volume up playing with something else and loaded it up again and put my headphones back on. Squueeeee! That would work for me. Makes me shiver. I have to turn it up a bit to hear it, though. 33 YO. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/27 "2006-05-24T22:21:52Z")
I could sort of hear the noise (can’t tell for certain if it was that or the sound of my PC), but I noticed that after repeated listenings my ears began to hurt. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/28 "2006-05-24T22:28:15Z")
Just tried it on my 63 y-o in-laws, neither of whom could hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/29 "2006-05-24T22:38:00Z")
22, no headphones - just a single speaker on top of my monitor. OUCH! That shit is painful. It’s the kind of noise that gets in both ears, and settles somewhere at the base of your skull. Any shops that started implementing those sorts of measures would quickly lose my business, and I would do my best to encourage friends and family not to shop there either. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/30 "2006-05-24T22:44:29Z")
Not me, age 51. Oh great, another cosmic hint that I’m getting older. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/31 "2006-05-24T22:47:32Z")
Yes, I can hear it. It’s like an icepick repeatedly hacking at my skull. I’m 17. I really hope this never gets implemented here. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dusty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/32 "2006-05-24T22:53:48Z")
1. There’s a low grumble, some clicking, people laughing, and a very high-pitched tone that pulses in and out. Very annoying, much like florescent lights. 2. 23 ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/33 "2006-05-24T23:37:30Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Do you hear it? other than people noises, laughter, and two ‘clanks’, nothing unusual > [@](#): > > 1. How old are you? 47++ FTR - I know I have some hearing loss in both ears - moreso in my left ---
**Author:** ![Spongemom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Spongemom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spongemom)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/34 "2006-05-24T23:48:17Z")
It sounds like what it would sound like if there was a nail scratching my eardrum, at the same rate as a heartbeat, through the entire audio clip. If I heard that outside a store, I’d find another place to shop. 22 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/35 "2006-05-24T23:50:07Z")
I didn’t even hear the people talking, just the high-pitched noise. But I can hear when the TV’s on but not tuned to anything, so I was expecting it. I’m 26. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/36 "2006-05-25T01:38:03Z")
Annoying, high pitched noise that cycles in and out. It’s irritating, and it’s still bugging me now, even though I turned it off. 22, but I have a head cold, so one ear is stuffed up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/37 "2006-05-25T01:45:45Z")
I’m not sure, actually. The high pitched whine sounded a bit like a TV that’s on (like ultrafilter said). I was definitely able to hear it when younger. However, another interesting effect is that it made me a little light-headed. I played it a few times, and it happened each time. I’ve no idea if it’s related. I’m 37. ---
**Author:** ![exastris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b38774/32.png) [@exastris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exastris)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/38 "2006-05-25T02:00:24Z")
[QUOTE=Antigen] 1. Ack! That’s the “someone left the TV on mute” noise. Drives me insane. [/QUOTE] Exactly! Or something electronic turning on and off quickly. Its really irritating. 1. yup 2. 27- musically trained (music school, lots of ear training, etc., not just your average lessons). I wonder if that makes a difference? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/39 "2006-05-25T02:12:21Z")
1. Yes 2. 33 I think the theory that adults cannot hear the sound is unsound. Perhaps it would be better to say that “some” adults cannot hear it? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083/40 "2006-05-25T02:18:11Z")
27 and I hear it. I have very good hearing in the upper frequencies, so this noise, while annoying, doesn’t seem all that high-pitched to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-this-sound-a-poll-test/358083.md?page=3)