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24db cut too much for custom ear plugs?

#21
Been using the Westone plugs for close to 10 years. I bought the 15 and 25 (numbers have obvs. changed).
Lower volume/quieter band (featured acoustic inst. like violin, sax) 15 was great
Louder rock band, my ears still ring using the 25 (enough that I often go back to using foam)
 
#22
Just got DefendEar's with 15db filters. I've got tinnitus and some hearing loss in the right ear. The plugs took some getting used to. But now, I can practice with a loud band for several hours with no additional hearing issues afterwards.

I do find that I have to pull the plugs, sometimes, to communicate with the band between songs.
 
#23
brianrost said:
I ordered both -15 and -24, I tried both and -24 was too much. I keep the -24 as a spare because the filters can and will fall out and get lost :(

BTW once you get used to wearing plugs you will quickly discover that a typical rock show sounds way too loud without them...like earbleed loud. This is a sobering concept! I've played some gigs where most of the audience was wearing plugs...what's wrong with that picture? You'll probably soon want to wear plugs even when attending shows. I even wear them in most jazz clubs.
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Absolutely ! I never go to a show without them.
 
#24
I use my shooting plugs, which are -24. I had a pair in with -19, but the mids that were getting through were a bit much for me, and the -24 did the trick in rehearsal environments standing next to the drummer and 3' from a PA monitor aimed at my head. Everything is nice a mellow now. LOL.
 
#25
Polfuste said:
Absolutely ! I never go to a show without them.
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I forgot my plugs when I went to a Springsteen show here in Austin a few years ago (anyone else there?). After the first ridiculously loud song or two, I tore off pieces of my program, chewed them up, and stuffed them in my ears. It turns out that the distortion I thought I was hearing in the PA was actually in my ears. The sound company ruined that show with volume.
 
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#26
rolandm said:
I use my shooting plugs, which are -24. I had a pair in with -19, but the mids that were getting through were a bit much for me, and the -24 did the trick in rehearsal environments standing next to the drummer and 3' from a PA monitor aimed at my head. Everything is nice a mellow now. LOL.
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If I can use the -24db for shooting, I'd get that filter too. Watch out wabbits...
 
#27
If I can use the -24db for shooting, I'd get that filter too. Watch out wabbits...
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I know this is a deviation, but a company my wife does print ads for makes sealed in the ear devices with fast compander (compressor/expander) circuitry. They boost the volume during quiet times so you can hear the wabbits scurrying through the grass but cut the volume when you shoot.
 
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#29
ggunn said:
I know this is a deviation, but a company my wife does print ads for makes sealed in the ear devices with fast compander (compressor/expander) circuitry. They boost the volume during quiet times so you can hear the wabbits scurrying through the grass but cut the volume when you shoot.
Click to expand...
that's cool!! Got a company name?
That should keep those pesky wabbits at bay !! :)
 
#31
I ordered some Alien Ears a few months ago and they came in last week. I think I spent $144 for them. My drummer has their in ear monitors and suggested I look to them first before spending $300+ elsewhere. They're offered in -9db, 15 and 25. I did a lot of reading on which I should get. Most of the suggestions that I found for a loud rock setting and loud band practice was to go with the 15s. 25 was suggested for extreme uses where you're constantly in a noise environment and needed a lot more isolation.
I may order some 9 filters after our next band practice when I find out exactly how much the 15s block. I'm wondering if our stage volume is occasionally lower that I may need a little less to hear myself.
 
#32
After our band practice tonight, I can say that 15 is pretty good, but I wanna try 9db now. It was super clear, but I had trouble hearing my mids and highs at times so I think they got filtered out a bit. The clarity was awesome though. I wouldn't go higher than 15 db of reduction after running them for 3 hours of practice in a metal band setting.
 
#33
I think 24 dB is fine. I use 25 dB custom plugs and it works no problem. Just make sure you put them in BEFORE it starts getting loud, so your hearing is still sensitive.

Custom-made plugs need a much higher degree of cut to match the protection of foam plugs. A foam plug rated at 24dB cut probably cuts 35dB or more in the high frequencies. A linear filter cuts more bass and less treble and therefore you can't directly compare numbers.
 
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#34
Thanks again everyone. Earlier this week, I changed my order to the -18 dB filters but I may also order the -24 dB filters ($50) once I have a chance to use the plugs. My goal is no ringing after a gig. I'll let everyone know.

I also decided to buy a decibel meter to test our stage volume. Found what seems like a decent one for not too much but am open to other suggestions...
http://www.amazon.com/POWER®-Digital-Decibel-40-130db-Reading/dp/B00A13M9D2 - good review with video
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Digital...el-Tester-40-130dB-Free-Battery-/231425288930 - cheaper plus I get feedback points
 
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#35
I have the westones too. I started with 15, but ended up using the 25s most of the time just because it's more comfortable in the long run to be able to stand right up on the drum kit with cymbals in my face. Although I find that I'm always forgetting to take them out and shouting at everyone.
 
#36
My Westone TRU Customs made it yesterday just in time for last night's bar gig. Again I went with the Blue WM16s, which they advertise as 18 dB average reduction but really is more like 12-15 across most of the spectrum, with less reduction in the low end. I didn't notice any ringing after the gig and I could hear monitors and my amp pretty well. Drums were noticeably less pounding than with the Hearos. As a point of reference, I also took a dB meter and we were running up to about 105 dB in stage volume.
 
#37
Just a heads up on this after some experience with my AlienEars -15db custom plugs. I was considering the -9db, but now I think 15 is perfect for my application (death/melodic metal in a loud jam room). I'm considering getting -24db for gigs when the stage volume may be VERY loud, but I'll wait it out and see after I get some gigs under my belt with these. If I was in a different genre that wasn't as loud, I'd consider the -9db
 
#38
I use Eymotic custom molded earplugs with -25db filters when I can't use my IEMs. My main band plays pretty loud and I find that these bring the volume down to about conversation level. The frequency response is excellent for me, but I have pretty significant hearing loss, I can't hear anything over 3k and bad tinnitus.
 

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