300Hz buzzing and health / sleep

kaplan · Jan 27, 2022

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone using 300Hz watches regularly has any thoughts on this, I can hear the buzzing even if a watch is in the room, sometimes sleep very close to the watch I'm using

Always wonder how the 300Hz humming affects mental health, for me, I can't say that it's pro-sleep on my limited experience, as I always woke up annoyed - but got a new 300Hz recently and going to try and use it for a long duration this time and see how it goes

This is coming from someone who uses a device that has an actual fan inside that makes wind noises to aid sleep, so maybe the 300Hz could be good too of given the chance, has anyone?

JwRosenthal · Jan 27, 2022

Yes, the Dohm noise machine- I use one two, can’t sleep without it.

When I got my first hummer, I set it down on top of my mahogany dresser and I could hear it buzzing away like a resonance chamber from the bed…with the sound machine on! Different frequency I guess.
I ended up putting it on a pillow (in my case cut pipe insulation- not a fancy watch pillow) in my drawer and that killed the hum.

padders · Jan 27, 2022

I long ago gave up using an F300 or Bulova Hummer as a timepiece that I could spend any time with when relaxing. They make too much noise. I will at some point have to change my Avatar (see left ) since that is in fact a hummer which I no longer own. In fact I now own none (having owned about 10 over the years). Be aware that the Bulova hummers actually operate at a different frequency, 360Hz in fact so have a higher pitched whine.

They were great in principle but a dead end in practical terms I am sad to admit.

A chap who services hummers in the UK once memorably described his collection of hummers as 'sounding like a skeleton w**king in a biscuit tin' and he was a fan!

JwRosenthal · Jan 27, 2022

padders
I long ago gave up using an F300 or Bulova Hummer as a timepiece that I could spend any time with when relaxing. They make too much noise. I will at some point have to change my Avatar (see left ) since that is in fact a hummer which I no longer own. In fact I now own none (having owned about 10 over the years). Be aware that the Bulova hummers actually operate at a different frequency, 360Hz in fact so have a higher pitched whine.

They were great in principle but a dead end in practical terms I am sad to admit.

A chap who services hummers in the UK once memorably described his collection of hummers as 'sounding like a skeleton w**king in a biscuit tin' and he was a fan!

Agree with the tech being a dead end once quartz hit, a far superior product. As was the computer to the IBM Selectric…but you will never be able to best that key-feel.

Waltesefalcon · Jan 29, 2022

I can hear my Astronaut humming away if I set it on my dresser, if I put it in my watch box the cushion dampens it enough that I don't notice it too much.

SkunkPrince · Jan 29, 2022

kaplan
Just wondering if anyone using 300Hz watches regularly has any thoughts on this, I can hear the buzzing even if a watch is in the room, sometimes sleep very close to the watch I'm using

I use Westclox alarm clocks... the mechanical ones. You learn to ignore them.

janice&fred · Jan 29, 2022

the voices in my head overpower any noisy watches. 😁

lejaune · Jan 29, 2022

I wear it to sleep. Perhaps, my hearing is not very good at my age. I can hear it only if I place my wrist against the pillow, which I normally don't do. Placing it on the nightstand does make an audible humming noise.

tikkathree · Jan 29, 2022

JwRosenthal
Yes, the Dohm noise machine- I use one two, can’t sleep without it.

When I got my first hummer, I set it down on top of my mahogany dresser and I could hear it buzzing away like a resonance chamber from the bed…with the sound machine on! Different frequency I guess.
I ended up putting it on a pillow (in my case cut pipe insulation- not a fancy watch pillow) in my drawer and that killed the hum.

Me too! Actually three hummers on a pitch pine dresser and, as often as I can manage it a Selitta driven auto to join the harmonics. I rather like it.

JwRosenthal · Jan 29, 2022

tikkathree
Me too! Actually three hummers on a pitch pine dresser and, as often as I can manage it a Selitta driven auto to join the harmonics. I rather like it.

Throw in a few pocket watches to flesh out the rhythm section and you have a band!

TasMike · Jan 29, 2022

JwRosenthal
Throw in a few pocket watches to flesh out the rhythm section and you have a band!

...and a Waterbury as the bass and chiming to let you know how long they've all been keeping you awake.

kaplan · Jan 31, 2022

So far so good, I'm enjoying it this time around, but like padders I can predict that I'll get rid of all of them in the end, they tick more than 1 million times every hour and 9 billion times every year, just an extreme amount, I guess the inevitability of their failure is more bothersome than the noise

One thing to note, even among Omega's that mostly share the 1250 cal., the noise level and color is wildly different, I think both the wear and the case they are in matters, currently enjoying a spider dial 198.031, and it's definitely the quitest I've had, thick case - instead of a high frequency hiss, it sounds more mechanical with a varying/oscillating whir, might be the sign of a need for the cleaning and oiling of the mechanical part 😀

dougwhiz · Jan 31, 2022

I could definitely hear my Accutron I used to have! Buzzed at a steady F#.

Pianotuna · Mar 3, 2022

You guys are hilarious. You haven’t heard anything until you own a Megasonic. My god they are loud!

Incidentally, a properly serviced hummer will last minimum 10 years between services, that guidance provided by the guru himself Rob B. So I’d query the notion that the old hummers will beat themselves to death. Give me that ten year cycle over throwing cash every 3 years at your Speedie any day (that’s probably offended someone lol)

Archer · Mar 3, 2022

Pianotuna
Incidentally, a properly serviced hummer will last minimum 10 years between services, that guidance provided by the guru himself Rob B. So I’d query the notion that the old hummers will beat themselves to death. Give me that ten year cycle over throwing cash every 3 years at your Speedie any day (that’s probably offended someone lol)

???

Pianotuna · Mar 3, 2022

Archer
???

Said in jest mate, I wasn’t really trying to offend Speedie owners nor industry professionals like yourself.
Was making the point though that far from being unreliable (as was suggested further up the page) a serviced tuning fork watch is actually quite remarkable in its service intervals. Additionally, despite the routine comments about “technology dead-end” etc, a properly adjusted hummer is a remarkably accurate timekeeper, although whether that is more or less so than other ‘vintage’ watches of the period I’ll leave to others to debate.

Archer · Mar 3, 2022

Pianotuna
Said in jest mate, I wasn’t really trying to offend Speedie owners nor industry professionals like yourself.
Was making the point though that far from being unreliable (as was suggested further up the page) a serviced tuning fork watch is actually quite remarkable in its service intervals. Additionally, despite the routine comments about “technology dead-end” etc, a properly adjusted hummer is a remarkably accurate timekeeper, although whether that is more or less so than other ‘vintage’ watches of the period I’ll leave to others to debate.

I'm not offended, just puzzled that anyone would think a Speedmaster would need service every 3 years...

Boojumhunter · Mar 3, 2022

I'm not sure whether it's heresy, but I pull out the winding crown to isolate the battery/stop the mechanism when I'm not using them... was told it also conserves the battery (slightly). Googled all this when my super-hearing wife complained about the mosquito noise!

kaplan · Mar 3, 2022

I once "broke" a 300Hz when time setting, so from my viewpoint it's either best to set and use them, works as they keep time well, or just not use them 😁

If the seconds hand moves when time setting, I haven't checked whether it moves the 300 teeth wheel as well, it might explain the "broke" part, maybe it just pushes the teeny tiny jewel out of place

A spare movement is <$100 - so there's that as well, no need to really worry about it if sourcing another one isn't a big challenge, that's how I was able to start using them

lejaune · Mar 3, 2022

Boojumhunter
I'm not sure whether it's heresy, but I pull out the winding crown to isolate the battery/stop the mechanism when I'm not using them... was told it also conserves the battery (slightly). Googled all this when my super-hearing wife complained about the mosquito noise!

Pulling the crown out should stop the humming as it cuts off the circuit, at least that's how my 1250 seems to work. It takes a few seconds for the vibration to die down and the second hand to stop.

300Hz buzzing and health / sleep

kaplan

JwRosenthal

padders

JwRosenthal

Waltesefalcon

SkunkPrince

janice&fred

lejaune

tikkathree

JwRosenthal

TasMike

kaplan

dougwhiz

Pianotuna

Archer

Pianotuna

Archer

Boojumhunter

kaplan

lejaune

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