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choosing attenuator button for ear plugs

Ewo

Ewo

a/k/a Steve Cooper
Apr 2, 2008
7,871
10,285
Huntington WV
#1
I've been using off-the-shelf Etymotic ER-20 ear plugs for a while, and decided to go for a set of custom plugs. (Just wanted to reduce my spl exposure; not getting in-ear monitors.) Had the impressions made at a local audiologist, and I'm planning to send them to ACS in New York, as that's the place the Etymotic site recommended for making the plugs.

So ACS can fit the Ety attenuator buttons in them, but they also offer their own buttons, the Pro. Was wondering if anybody has used them, or had any advice on the choice.
 
#4
Would highly recommend that you use your impressions to get the Etymotic Music-Pro electronic earplugs.

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They are a game changer (I could never play with earplugs, including the musician's plugs before getting them). Sensaphonics can make custom molds for them.

If you order directly from etymotic, you have 30 days to try them (with the stock ear tips).
 
#5
Etymotic/Westone filters are widely used and have earned a good reputation. If you're looking at an alternative, it would be important to know how linear the frequency response is, and whatever else is needed for your comfort level in spending the money. Personally I would not go with an unknown just to save a few bucks on something as delicate and necessary as hearing protection. I use the Etymotic -9db for most gigs as they have the flattest response. The others take out a lot more high end than they do low end, it really makes it hard to hear what I need to hear.
 
#6
Thanks for the comments! Very helpful. More, please, if you have additional thoughts. I'm wondering if I need to get the grippers for removing the custom plugs...

Ety steered me to ACS in NYC to have the plugs made. They'll fit them with either Ety's or their own Pro buttons. Here's their page showing the options for musician's plugs. If you click on a particular model (whether with Ety buttons or with the ACS Pro buttons), the specifications tab will show the frequency plot for the attenuation. I figure I'll get the 17 dB buttons, since the Ety ER-20s I'm used to have about that much, and those have the flattest curve. The price is the same, with either button.

And I noticed that ACS has an off-the-shelf model comparable to the ER-20s, called the Pacato.
 

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