How Quiet Is Quiet?

Ever been to the desert and listened to silence? I did one time on a trip to Big Bend. Even the smallest of skittering things were still in the shade of some pebble. Nothing. Nothing to hear. It was so quiet it hurt. You can see why the prospectors in old movies were always muttering to themselves. That kind of absence of sound feels like you're listening to a roar. Why do I bring it up? Had a touch of tinnitus yesterday and it kind of reminded me of it.