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Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

#1,081
I'm trying the (generic) earplugs I bought yesterday.
I think they are doing "something" because the volume is noticeably lower (and I feel less ear stress while playing LOUD), but sounds are a little muffled and they are not too comfortable fo wear. :(
 
#1,082
Which generic type did you buy?
All plugs, regardless of quality, require an adjustment period for sure. ...especially for singing. As you make that adjustment though, you may find that you can actually hear your part better than without.
 
#1,083
Most custom moldedIEMs are rated at about 26dB of reduction. Same as earplugs. Unless you get the vented or ambient ones. Most of the off the shelf foam or other cheap ear plugs are only designed to block the speech frequencies. IE doesn’t do too much below 500 or over 2 or 3 kHz. Custom molded ones are definitely the way to go. They attenuate all frequencies pretty evenly. Most audiologists can make the molds. Takes about 5 minutes. Then all you have to do is mail them to the manufacturer. I use JH Audio. They keep them for 2 years. They recommend getting new ones every couple of years as your ear canal tends to change over time as you grow and gain or lose weight. Best investment I ever made. Carry them with me everywhere.
 
#1,084
LowFactor said:
Most custom moldedIEMs are rated at about 26dB of reduction. Same as earplugs. Unless you get the vented or ambient ones. Most of the off the shelf foam or other cheap ear plugs are only designed to block the speech frequencies. IE doesn’t do too much below 500 or over 2 or 3 kHz. Custom molded ones are definitely the way to go. They attenuate all frequencies pretty evenly. Most audiologists can make the molds. Takes about 5 minutes. Then all you have to do is mail them to the manufacturer. I use JH Audio. They keep them for 2 years. They recommend getting new ones every couple of years as your ear canal tends to change over time as you grow and gain or lose weight. Best investment I ever made. Carry them with me everywhere.
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I absolutely agree about the value of custom molds. However, at least the ones that I use (Westone?) allow you to choose your dB reduction level and have elements available that vary from 9 to 30dB and all fit the same molded shells. I use 15dB, personally.
 
#1,088
TomB said:
I absolutely agree about the value of custom molds. However, at least the ones that I use (Westone?) allow you to choose your dB reduction level and have elements available that vary from 9 to 30dB and all fit the same molded shells. I use 15dB, personally.
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Usually these are the ones with some sort of diaphragm element (eg some westones). Moulded IEMs without such a diaphragm will be a fixed attenuation, usually around 26dB or so. They should be every bit as protective as custom earplugs, provided that you keep the IEM level reasonable.
 
#1,093
What I was saying is that non-IEM ear molds with 30dB filters in them are more than I need to be safe and comfortable on a loud stage and still hold a conversation. I would expect that IEM's have the same hearing risks as headphones if you turn them up too high, but I don't have any personal experience.
I think I get it though. If you just put the buds in without any signal they attenuate 26dB from ambient noise. I would guess that's a good thing, except for talking to your neighbor.
 
#1,095
Question: I'm looking at either getting custom molded earplugs JUST for attenuation ($500), or looking to get the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] with have 20db attenuation ($1700). I'm thinking that if I get the IEMs, I can save money because then I don't need to get ones just for attenuation and even if I don't use the IEM functionality, I can still use them as attenuating earplugs.

Would this be a good path to go down, or should I just buy dedicated ear plugs for attenuation?

(I'm Canadian..... hence the inflated prices)
 
#1,096
adudenamedruby said:
Question: I'm looking at either getting custom molded earplugs JUST for attenuation ($500), or looking to get the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] with have 20db attenuation ($1700). I'm thinking that if I get the IEMs, I can save money because then I don't need to get ones just for attenuation and even if I don't use the IEM functionality, I can still use them as attenuating earplugs.

Would this be a good path to go down, or should I just buy dedicated ear plugs for attenuation?

(I'm Canadian..... hence the inflated prices)
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I think you’d be doing the right thing in choosing the IEMs (particularly if you don’t have a decent floor monitor). The IEMs probably won’t attenuate all the frequencies as evenly as dedicated ear plugs but they’ll definitely work to protect your hearing!
 
#1,097
Dedicated ear plugs have filters in them designed to attenuate all frequencies evenly. So things sound quieter but still somewhat natural. IEMs attenuate but kinda sounds like stuffing a big cotton ball in your ear when they aren’t on. Everything will sound muffled.
Also at current conversion rates you should be able to get earplugs cheaper than 500$ in Canada. I think JH Audio’s custom filtered ear plugs are around 150$ in the US. That would put them around 200$ in Canada.
 
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#1,098
LowFactor said:
Dedicated ear plugs have filters in them designed to attenuate all frequencies evenly. So things sound quieter but still somewhat natural. IEMs attenuate but kinda sounds like stuffing a big cotton ball in your ear when they aren’t on. Everything will sound muffled.
Also at current conversion rates you should be able to get earplugs cheaper than 500$ in Canada. I think JH Audio’s custom filtered ear plugs are around 150$ in the US. That would put them around 200$ in Canada.
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Plus getting molds done, plus shipping, plus tax equals about 500. Cheapest molds I’ve found around me are $170 for both ears. Average is $100/ear. Unless I drive two hours out of the city, I haven’t found anything cheaper at a reputable audiologist.

But thanks for explaining the difference. I didn’t know that IEMs with built in attenuators sound muffled. That’s really important to keep in mind. I may just end up going for earplugs for now, then.
 
#1,099
IEMs have built in attenuation but not the same attenuators as ear plugs. IEMs attenuate because they are a hunk of ‘plastic’ with drivers in them and they completely seal the ear canal. Ear plugs seal the ear canal as well but have specially designed filters to reduce the volume of what you are hearing but not change the frequency response of it.
And most of the companies that make both keep your molds on file, so if you get earplugs now but decide you want IEMs in the future you you won’t need to get a second set of molds done. Just call and place your order.
 

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