Is listening daily at an average of 85db safe?

I think it depends on the peaks, not the mean. I have read several articles on how to set up PA sound systems so the music is very loud but no one gets hearing damage. Read. Many things have been written in audiophyle mags on how the brain hears the average spl, but the ears hear the the peaks but tehy do not relay this info to the brain, so you can get fooled by music that is very uncompressed and has a high peak to mean ratio. Most pop/rock recordings are so compressed you won't have problem. I do have some home recorded rock music that is not compressed, and it will leave your ears ringing, even at levels that don't seem to loud.

Dbphd,

What I am saying is the BRAIN only THINKS it hears the mean sound pressure level. The peaks give you NO sensation (until you turn off the music - you go deaf without knowing it!!) . Pick up any pro sound book (and put away the ten dollar words) or numerous Audio Magazines- it is well documented. Why do you think you can goto a Van Halen concert and not come home stone deaf? The quys that set up concerts know this, or else they would be sued for damages. You can listen to 110 db and be okay as long as there are no 150db peaks. High peaks not only waste enery, but they also leave people deaf.