Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

[AnTz0r]

ive got a folder for a "Exinore comfort set". it shuold be 160 euros.

it just uses a standard filter, no hearing test or whatever. anyone knows if this is any good?

 

[i like tictacs]

I just play bass on my own, for myself really. I've had tinnitus for awhile now (year and a half) after I shot about 150 shotgun shells from a 12guage. They ring constantly, it sucks, and I'm only 17...I have some hearing loss in both ears and I don't want to lose anymore. I bought some 12-db cut ER's and I was curious if these will be alright for a concert. I've used the foam ones and they really made the show not enjoyable. I'm talking large venues, arenas and ampitheatres particularly. Is the 12-db cut enough for this type of environment?

 

[notabob]

I just play bass on my own, for myself really. I've had tinnitus for awhile now (year and a half) after I shot about 150 shotgun shells from a 12guage. They ring constantly, it sucks, and I'm only 17...I have some hearing loss in both ears and I don't want to lose anymore. I bought some 12-db cut ER's and I was curious if these will be alright for a concert. I've used the foam ones and they really made the show not enjoyable. I'm talking large venues, arenas and ampitheatres particularly. Is the 12-db cut enough for this type of environment?

yeah, it should be. i have the same 12db cut earplugs and i go to some really small, but loud venues and they work fine. the larger the area, the more space for the sound to diffuse into besides your ears. the 12db should be fine as ive had miine for about 4 months and ive had no problems at all.

 

[Mottlefeeder]

well, after reading this thread i'm totally convinced to try ER-20s. just wanted to ask, what for those cords for extra buck are?

Some like to have them hang around their neck when they take them off. Personally, I never use the cords
Mike

I was told that the cords stop them falling down inside. I think it was a drummer told me.

 

[notabob]

believe me, those earplugs will not "fall inside" of your ears. you can always pull them out with the little handle thingys on the end. the cords are pretty dumb looking and the earplugs are in no danger of "falling down."

 

[AnTz0r]

read better, notabob.

it was a DRUMMER!! who told him they could fall inside his ears....

 

[notabob]

read better, notabob.

it was a DRUMMER!! who told him they could fall inside his ears....

crap, my bad!

 

[E-rock]

Woohoo! I just found out that my company's insurance will cover the cost of getting an Audiogram done. Now, if I can talk them into chipping in on the cost of custom earplugs, I'll be set. Guys/Gals, if you have health insurance....do yourself a favor and look into seeing if they will cover getting your ears tested.

 

[i like tictacs]

To anyone who uses the hifi plugs: if you go to concerts in arenas/ampitheathers and such, do you still wear them? do you notice and issues in sound quality, and or, if your the singy-type, issues with singing along?

 

[nicoli]

I wear my musicians plugs to both major concerts and club shows... if anything I find they sound better because you lose some of the distortion from the loud levels.

As far as singing, I find you get the added benefit of not hearing all the drunks around you screaming out lyrics in a club

 

[notabob]

i sometimes even wear mine in outside venues. you dont really lose any sound quality, and if you are the singy type, you can hear yourself louder...whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, i am not sure.

 

[DaveCustomMade]

I also wear ear plugs, though not custom fit. I may have to do so down the road. Great thread!

 

[dace]

well i guess forums are the right place to raise issues like this.

i currently use the foam hearos (-30 db), but i find that they require too much fiddling to get them into a comfortable position. i'll have to get my hands on some of those ER-20s.

a few years ago i went to a really loud gig and i forgot to bring my ear plugs along. my ears were ringing for 3 or 4 days afterwards. that really scared me. i wouldn't be surprised if i've got a bit of tinnitus too.

 

[atldeadhead]

I'd been wearing the ER-20's but recently decided to get some of the custom fit plugs. I've got the 12db filters in them. These things are incredible. You can hear everything across the entire frequency spectrum, just 12db's less volume to deal with. I love 'em.

 

[CJK84]

I currently use cotton only. Fortunately our stage volume isn't excessive and my ears never ring.

Years ago, I foolishly used no protection and sometimes suffered a little ringing. After consulting with a doctor, I still went "naked" but began stepping outside (where it was much quieter - it's a rural area) during breaks in our performances.

Many nights, I sat on a sidewalk during breaks (during some frigid Ohio winter weather!), but the modest amount of ringing that I had been experiencing was gone - and as a bonus I was less tired at the end of the gig!

I'm certainly not advocating playing without protection.

But for those who refuse to wear ear protection, they should consider getting to a minimal-noise environment as much as possible during the gig. It will probably make a positive difference.

 

[sub forum]

im using etymotik plugs for rehearsal and live gigs ,i can only say that they have stopped the ringing in my ears after playing and dont distort the sound quality you hear.there a bit pricey but what is your hearing worth ?

 

[alapantera]

I use earplugs that i get from work. I operate a seaweed harvesting barge with a giant diesel motor about 5 feet behind me. so i'm getting into the habit of wearing them.

I've been wearing those at practices and gigs for the past couple of years. They don't seem to interfere with my ability to distinguish any parts of the music. they just cut the volume.

I've even taken a pair for everyone else in the band.

this is what i use:
Link Removed

You can get similar earplugs at your local hardware store for under $3 (us). I've worn these to every concert i've gone to the past couple of years except for one, because of the ringing the occured, i will always wear them in the future. I've even given earplugs to my friends at shows we go to, and most of the time they will take them out with the complaint "I can't hear everything"... which is probably cause their hearing is already somewhat damaged.

 

[Mike Dimin]

I use earplugs that i get from work. I operate a seaweed harvesting barge with a giant diesel motor about 5 feet behind me. so i'm getting into the habit of wearing them.

I've been wearing those at practices and gigs for the past couple of years. They don't seem to interfere with my ability to distinguish any parts of the music. they just cut the volume.

I've even taken a pair for everyone else in the band.

this is what i use:
Link Removed

You can get similar earplugs at your local hardware store for under $3 (us). I've worn these to every concert i've gone to the past couple of years except for one, because of the ringing the occured, i will always wear them in the future. I've even given earplugs to my friends at shows we go to, and most of the time they will take them out with the complaint "I can't hear everything"... which is probably cause their hearing is already somewhat damaged.

you should A/B them with a set of ER-20's

Mike

 

[bizzaro]

For hearing protection I have used the foamys, Sonic IIs, and the ER20s. Of these, the ERs are by far the best. They are the most comfortable by a long shot. You can hear everything well, and they are the least obvious, almost ivisible.

 

[nate22]

I just saw this thread now....(I'm new to the site, so HI!!!), I also JUST bought the wax jobbies at a local drug store.....says they cut out 25db's....are these just as good as the custom plugs? considering they kinda fit to your ear as well.