Tinnitus masker issues associated with use of tinnitus maskers: the "safe" level of continuous sound depends on the duration of the sound. For maskers worn continuously, or most of the day, a safe level is no more than 70db, in accordance with EPA maximum safe exposure level for 24-hour environmental sound. Maskers louder than 45db or so (the ambient background level of an average home living area) may start to interfere with understanding conversation (about 60db). Masking of high frequency tinnitus (>6,000hz) is difficult because of the resonance characteristics of the human ear as well as high frequency limitations of in-ear devices.
Sound Affects was vindicated when "Start!" topped the British singles charts in its third week after entering at number 3. "Pretty Green" includes a funk bassline and rhythm with melodic guitar breaks and psychedelic sound effects. "That's Entertainment" is an acoustic ballad. "Boy About Town" and "Dream Time" include horns. In 2006, "Q" magazine placed the album at No. 15 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s". NME ranked the album No. 487 on their list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. "Sound Affects" spent 19 weeks on the UK album charts, rising to No. 2 in late