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Earplugs
- Thread starter JeffC
- Start date
I bet you'll get a ton of different responses to this. From what I've heard, the best solution is really to get custom earplugs made with the help of an audiologist. But I haven't done this myself, and after trying a bunch of different ear plugs for a number of years (mainly different types of Hearos), I settled on the Etymotic ER-20. It is comfortable (once you get used to putting it deep inside your ear canal), reasonably transparent, and has decent attenuation. Right now I'm trying to set up my own in-ear monitoring system using the Etymotic Er-6i ear buds, which offer good attenuation on their own. If I got custom molds for those, I think I'd be set.
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Before I got my custom plugs, I used to use those silicone earplugs you can at London Drugs and I used them for years with happy results in my mind but what I didn't know is that you possibly did damage to yourself by using them thanks to the occlusion effect.
Short and dirty explanation the sound waves that you 'hear' are actually being translated by what your body feels as opposed to what you actually hear. (Sort of like hearing underwater) anyway, I used to get the occasional headache from it and eventually I got tired of losing a lot of the finer details.
For me, my ear plugs cost about $185 (cdn) and were worth every penny. You can get filters to cut out the db's and since it's a mold of your ear, they are a near perfect fit.
Take care of your hearing because those reuseable plugs are useless in the end. Think down the road when you're 60, do you want to be able to hear clearly? I know I do.
Get molded plugs. 20 or 30 years down the road, when you can still hear, you'll be glad you spent the money.
I got mine for $30 (I got lucky the audiologist knew my friend's dad), but I would have gladly paid $200.
I got mine for $30 (I got lucky the audiologist knew my friend's dad), but I would have gladly paid $200.
I paid $160 for my custom molded plugs, which included the appointment to get my ear mold made as well as the plugs themselves. Hands down the best gear investment I've ever made and the one thing I never walk into a venue without, even to see another band.
I used the Etymotic ER-20s for a while and they're good stuff, but custom moldeds are so much more comfortable and do a much much better job of attenuating the frequencies evenly. ER-20s just don't block out enough low end relative to the high end and I found myself tweaking my tone a lot with them because it didn't sound right (the classic "nothing sounds right with earplugs" argument). This problem went away with the custom plugs. But if you can't afford customs, ER-20s are head and shoulders above the other stuff available.
I used the Etymotic ER-20s for a while and they're good stuff, but custom moldeds are so much more comfortable and do a much much better job of attenuating the frequencies evenly. ER-20s just don't block out enough low end relative to the high end and I found myself tweaking my tone a lot with them because it didn't sound right (the classic "nothing sounds right with earplugs" argument). This problem went away with the custom plugs. But if you can't afford customs, ER-20s are head and shoulders above the other stuff available.
If you're looking for something a bit cheaper, check these out:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hearos-High-Fidelity-Ear-Filters?sku=421214
I have a pair, and the "flat attenuation" means that nothing is muffled--it sounds like everything is just turned down to a more comfortable volume.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hearos-High-Fidelity-Ear-Filters?sku=421214
I have a pair, and the "flat attenuation" means that nothing is muffled--it sounds like everything is just turned down to a more comfortable volume.
Anything is better than nothing, but don't skimp unless you absolutely can't afford to get molded plugs. They're that good. I've had mine for about 10 years and the only reason I'd buy something else is if I lost them. The first time you use them at a band practice you'll realize the difference. It's like using the crappy free iPod earbuds to listen to all your music, then hearing the same music on a THX surround system. Ok not really but it's a big difference
When my band added another guitarist I was constantly leaving practice with a severe ringing in my ear, especially with him on one side and the drummer on the other. I began wearing the foam type of ear plugs that can be purchased at a pharmacy. I found them intolerable due to the weird frequency cuts. I investigated the topic here on talkbass and decided to spend the money on custom filters.
I went to a audiologist (a person who also sells hearing aides) and talked to him about the options. He says he see more people with hearing loss than ever before partly due to loud music and partly due to more environmental noise.
Anyway, I ended up purchasing custom fit filters from him for around $150. They took a few practices to get used to and some of bandmates razzed me about being an old man. But I can say they are totally worth the price.
I strongly recommend them. I bring them when I go see concerts and still have them in after our set while the other bands are playing.
Your hearing does not grow back. A constant ringing in your ears could drive you mad. Explore the options.
Take care,
Dan
If you want to hear
I went to a audiologist (a person who also sells hearing aides) and talked to him about the options. He says he see more people with hearing loss than ever before partly due to loud music and partly due to more environmental noise.
Anyway, I ended up purchasing custom fit filters from him for around $150. They took a few practices to get used to and some of bandmates razzed me about being an old man. But I can say they are totally worth the price.
I strongly recommend them. I bring them when I go see concerts and still have them in after our set while the other bands are playing.
Your hearing does not grow back. A constant ringing in your ears could drive you mad. Explore the options.
Take care,
Dan
If you want to hear
To be more specific, "flat attenuation" means that every frequency is attenuated by the same amount. So if you have earplugs which block 25db worth of loudness, it'll block 25db at 20Hz and at 100Hz and at 10kHz and so on. It will be exactly like you were listening to a stereo and turned down the volume knob. It won't sound muffled (which is typically the sound of only a narrow range of frequencies getting through). It'll be just as clear, just quieter.
Of course this is all theoretical. In practice it's not possible and there is no earplug manufacturer in the world who can actually deliver on this claim. As mentioned earlier, the Hearos are the same unit as the Etymotic ER-20s and I can tell you from experience that they do NOT attenuate equally across the frequency spectrum. They do a lot better than other plugs but it's far from perfect.
also check out http://www.hearnet.com
i ordered a pair of the mack's ear plugs for 12 bucks plus shipping, and they've made all the difference in the world. it literally is like you've just turned the volume down on everything, you don't lose the high end and get that horribly muffled sound like you do with the foam "hearos" or whatever they're called. obviously the molded custom filtered earplugs would be nice, but if you don't have $150 to drop on those i highly recommend the mack's.
i ordered a pair of the mack's ear plugs for 12 bucks plus shipping, and they've made all the difference in the world. it literally is like you've just turned the volume down on everything, you don't lose the high end and get that horribly muffled sound like you do with the foam "hearos" or whatever they're called. obviously the molded custom filtered earplugs would be nice, but if you don't have $150 to drop on those i highly recommend the mack's.
There are lots of models bearing the Hearos brand name. I suspect the Hearos high-fidelity plugs are the same plug as those Mack plugs and the ER-20s. They sound awfully similar from the description.
yeah i'm sure that mack's isn't the only brand that makes that style, but that happened to be the brand i bought. brands don't matter, as long as the product is legit. that's why i only own frankenbasses
Sure. I didn't want people to go searching for these magical Mack plugs when Hearos or ER-20s are the same thing (as far as I can tell).yeah i'm sure that mack's isn't the only brand that makes that style, but that happened to be the brand i bought. brands don't matter, as long as the product is legit. that's why i only own frankenbasses
I use earplugs by a company named Vater. I guess they're a drum company. With that in mind, when I use them, the drums are noticable, but don't hurt my ear. They also have two diffrent filters, so you can switch them out, with one letting in more sound then the other.
