Hearing Loss and Ear Plugs

[zisme]

had my first appointment with an audiologist this morning. somehow i passed my hearing test with flying colors. after 10 years of playing in bands and attending loud concerts with little to no ear protection, i was really expecting more of a damage report...breathing a sigh of relief and counting my blessings

got molds made for some westone fitted plugs. going to try 15db filters for starters. they should be ready in a few weeks.

will still use my hearos in the meantime. the only issue doc has with them is making sure they fit and form a good seal.

anyways really glad i went and got checked out. looking forward to the new plugs!

 

[Mtnman]

This may be a silly question. And, it may have already been covered in this thread. Its a pretty long thread and, well, you know...

Anyway, have any of you found ear plugs that cut mainly the highs and leave the bass audible? Not really so much a volume cut, but a high frequency cut.

Overall, the band I'm in isn't super loud, but I often lose the bass in the stage mix and end up bumping my volume up causing volume battles or complaints from bandmates. Neither of which are desirable. We use a pro sound company, even for smaller gigs so my FOH sound is usually good, but even adding my bass to the monitors causes problems. My stage volume is always a push/pull battle and I'm looking for a reasonable solution that may have dual benefits.

 

[Jamvan]

This may be a silly question. And, it may have already been covered in this thread. Its a pretty long thread and, well, you know...

Anyway, have any of you found ear plugs that cut mainly the highs and leave the bass audible? Not really so much a volume cut, but a high frequency cut.

Overall, the band I'm in isn't super loud, but I often lose the bass in the stage mix and end up bumping my volume up causing volume battles or complaints from bandmates. Neither of which are desirable. We use a pro sound company, even for smaller gigs so my FOH sound is usually good, but even adding my bass to the monitors causes problems. My stage volume is always a push/pull battle and I'm looking for a reasonable solution that may have dual benefits.

I found that Earasers do a good job of that. They attenuate the higher frequencies that do the most hearing damage and create the biggest volume reduction in those frequencies, leaving the lower frequencies and the really high frequencies still audible. I use them and find I don't have to take them out between sets if I don't want to as I can still hear people talking just fine and my bass comes through fairly clear yet as well.

Here's their website: Earasers musicians high fidelity earplugs hearing protection

 

[Downunderwonder]

This may be a silly question. And, it may have already been covered in this thread. Its a pretty long thread and, well, you know...

Anyway, have any of you found ear plugs that cut mainly the highs and leave the bass audible? Not really so much a volume cut, but a high frequency cut.

Overall, the band I'm in isn't super loud, but I often lose the bass in the stage mix and end up bumping my volume up causing volume battles or complaints from bandmates. Neither of which are desirable. We use a pro sound company, even for smaller gigs so my FOH sound is usually good, but even adding my bass to the monitors causes problems. My stage volume is always a push/pull battle and I'm looking for a reasonable solution that may have dual benefits.

putting your cab up or tilting it back helps you hear tone with less volume.

 

[markmeloney]

I've found these things to be pretty cool. got some at an djent concert a while back. I've never purchased from this seller though. too bad they only come in purple Invalid Link Removed

 

[bassbully]

I found that Earasers do a good job of that. They attenuate the higher frequencies that do the most hearing damage and create the biggest volume reduction in those frequencies, leaving the lower frequencies and the really high frequencies still audible. I use them and find I don't have to take them out between sets if I don't want to as I can still hear people talking just fine and my bass comes through fairly clear yet as well.

View attachment 739075

Here's their website: Earasers musicians high fidelity earplugs hearing protection

I just picked up a pair of there at GC. I had used a pair of Hearco's that were for musician's but they made playing difficult. The Earasers are great, very comfortable and no ringing of my ears. I also could hear the band very well.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

Thanks for this thread, it will take some time to skim through it all, but already some good advice.

I am 35, have had tinnitus for 13+ years from bands, clubbing, and loud home practice and band rehearsals in uncarpeted rooms.

Recently back into a band after 10 years and though we don't play LOUD (I could almost shout my vocals over the band), I've been using Alpine Party Plugs which are ok for €10, but they're shorter than the standard ER20s and so a couple of times I've had a panic when trying to remove them and can't grab the end, so I've purchased some Elacin ER20s which I always found useful.

Might just look into custom moulds if the band continues.

 

[jchrisk1]

I've recently started using Earasers ear plugs and I'm generally happy with them. They are the most comfortable I've tried so far.
But, last week at open mic while my friend was playing acoustic and singing, I put them in and walked out front to listen and noticed a chirping in my ears with his volume increase while singing. It was an unpleasant and distracting sound that goes away when I take them out.
I'm wondering if anyone has had this happen to them. I'm not sure if my earplugs aren't working well or what. I know I have tinnitus and am partially deaf. Maybe that is a contributing factor.

 

[zisme]

got my westone custom fits today. very snug indeed! will be trying them out at practice tonight

 

[foolforthecity]

I like these LiveSound earplugs. Got two sets, a heavy cut and a medium cut. As long as I don't jam them way in my ear, they actually sound pretty musical. And they leave the bass range up louder than the rest of it, so I was actually able to turn down to a fraction of what my usual onstage volume is and I still heard fine. I don't think I want to use them on every gig, though. Not like I'm playing metal.

Jimmy, I saw from an earlier posting of yours that you purchased LiveMusic HearSafe plugs. Were they the green pair/white pair combo? I just bought them, haven't tried in gigging environment yet but in our small 10 x 12 practice room with a 3-piece, to me the sound was more muffled than I was expecting. They seemed to really cut out the brilliance and crystal highs and I guess I wasn't expecting that. What's your thoughts on these? Are you still using them, or are you looking for anything else? Anybody else have experience with this model?

 

[zisme]

just as a follow up report. the difference between the hearos i had been using and the westones i just got is more dramatic than expected.

obviously the custom fit makes them far more comfortable. i left them in for my entire 3 hour band practice. never once did they itch or require adjusting.

where with the hearos i was mostly able to hear only the "sound" of the instruments, with the westones i hear the "tone". the mix is much clearer/less muddy.

for vocals, the hearos had the effect of isolating my voice in my head/in between my ears. with the westones, i hear my voice in the room and as it sits in the mix. makes singing much easier - enough that my bandmates noticed the difference. i can also better tell when i'm flat...pressure's on lol

definitely worth the price and peace of mind. looking forward to trying them at a gig. highly recommended.

 

[foolforthecity]

just as a follow up report. the difference between the hearos i had been using and the westones i just got is more dramatic than expected.

obviously the custom fit makes them far more comfortable. i left them in for my entire 3 hour band practice. never once did they itch or require adjusting.

where with the hearos i was mostly able to hear only the "sound" of the instruments, with the westones i hear the "tone". the mix is much clearer/less muddy.

for vocals, the hearos had the effect of isolating my voice in my head/in between my ears. with the westones, i hear my voice in the room and as it sits in the mix. makes singing much easier - enough that my bandmates noticed the difference. i can also better tell when i'm flat...pressure's on lol

definitely worth the price and peace of mind. looking forward to trying them at a gig. highly recommended.

Z, maybe you already covered this, but what's the general price of the DefendEar Concerts? Didn't see pricing on the Westone site, maybe I just missed it. Can you slip in different attenuators, or do you buy a set built to that setting and that's it? Just poking around a bit here, not too sure I'm happy with the muffled LiveMusic protectors I have now. Hoping JimmyM will chime in on his experience with them as well.

 

[groooooove]

http://www.amazon.com/Vater-Percuss...id=1450624906&sr=8-1&keywords=vader+ear+plugs

these are only $15 and they WORK!

i've used the hear-o's with the similar design. they were really nice. i like these simply bc they come in that little metal case. i keep it in my gigbag.

i never play without earplugs anymore. there's something to be said for high end and expensive hearing protection. but, for me, if you wear $15 earplugs every time you play, i don't see how you could ever experience hearing loss.

i also have no trouble hearing myself/the band with those in.

 

[zisme]

Z, maybe you already covered this, but what's the general price of the DefendEar Concerts? Didn't see pricing on the Westone site, maybe I just missed it. Can you slip in different attenuators, or do you buy a set built to that setting and that's it? Just poking around a bit here, not too sure I'm happy with the muffled LiveMusic protectors I have now. Hoping JimmyM will chime in on his experience with them as well.

mine cost exactly $150 having ordered via an audiologist. and yes, the filters/attenuators can be removed for cleaning or replaced for different db levels. mine are -15db. I think they go as high as -18db and as low as -9db. my audiologist said that if i want to get additional filters they cost about $25 a pair. the extras i have pictured are solid attenuators - no filters. not sure when i'll ever use them..

-15db seems just right for my band's volume level. the volume drop is not as pronounced as with the hearos, but i attribute that mostly to the difference in clarity

 

[foolforthecity]

mine cost exactly $150 having ordered via an audiologist. and yes, the filters/attenuators can be removed for cleaning or replaced for different db levels. mine are -15db. I think they go as high as -18db and as low as -9db. my audiologist said that if i went to get additional filters they cost about $25 a piece. the extras i have pictured are solid attenuators - no filters. not sure when i'll ever use them..

-15db seems just right for my band's volume level. the volume drop is not as pronounced as with the hearos, but i attribute that mostly to the difference in clarity

This is great info. At 57 my high freqs are rolling off on their own, so I'm looking to avoid any extra "muffling" at the high end that I can. I think I'll be going in for a baseline audiogram soon and take it from there. $150 or so to save what's left of my hearing is no problem...but it does mean a delay in saving for more bass goodies!

 

[JimmyM]

Jimmy, I saw from an earlier posting of yours that you purchased LiveMusic HearSafe plugs. Were they the green pair/white pair combo? I just bought them, haven't tried in gigging environment yet but in our small 10 x 12 practice room with a 3-piece, to me the sound was more muffled than I was expecting. They seemed to really cut out the brilliance and crystal highs and I guess I wasn't expecting that. What's your thoughts on these? Are you still using them, or are you looking for anything else? Anybody else have experience with this model?

No, I quit using them because I lost the heavy cut pair and the light cut pair wasn't getting it done for me, and went to Etymotics.

 

[Winoman]

mine cost exactly $150 having ordered via an audiologist. and yes, the filters/attenuators can be removed for cleaning or replaced for different db levels. mine are -15db. I think they go as high as -18db and as low as -9db. my audiologist said that if i want to get additional filters they cost about $25 a pair. the extras i have pictured are solid attenuators - no filters. not sure when i'll ever use them..

-15db seems just right for my band's volume level. the volume drop is not as pronounced as with the hearos, but i attribute that mostly to the difference in clarity

I got my Westones with three sets of attenuators: -15 db, -25db, and full attenuation. I use the full attenuation when I mow the lawn. For band rehearsals & club dates, I used mostly the -15db, and for full-blown rock gigs, I use the -25db.

I can hear all of the instruments, and vocalists, with clarity, and can stay in tune much better on my vocals.

I got mine from an udiologist ~2010 and they cost ~$225, but that was with all three sets of attenuators. I wish I had started wearing ear plugs 50 years ago. I wouldn't need hearing aids today.

 

[Zapp]

hey I need some advice from you guys on this important topic.
I finally got around to having ear molds made by an audiologist associated with my ENT.
The audiologist, best I can tell, is 'married' to Westone. So, she sorta 'owns' the molds, and she is not at all familiar with what the range of options is for 'plugs' or custom in-ear monitors/phones.
Basically, if I figure out what Westone has that would help me, she'll place the order. it feels like work.

looking around the web, the customer/user feedback on Westone filters is spotty. some good, some bad, a lot "meh".
Questions:
- Should I go to a diff audiologist, and walk away with my own molds, find a different maker, buy something other than westone?
- Is there an intermediate step I should take to have the molds digitzed/modeled, own my own file, and proceed from there?
- for in-ear custom monitors built from my mold/map, who are the best vendors/makers?

fwiw, I have been using a pair o sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones. I don't care that they look funky - they get the job done well. great isolation, I control my own mix, I keep things somewhere around 70 db in there. one of the drummers I play with commented "they are TOO good...." - he likes hearing more ambient noise. But if I could match that kind of control with in-ears, magic!
My ear canals are strange and very difficult to fit with any in-ear.

thanks in advance for saving me a lot more lost time getting this covered.

 

[jchrisk1]

My audiologist is married to westone as well. But I was looking for their plugs. I like the option of changing filter cut if I'd like.
I just picked mine up today actually. Good fit for sure. I cranked my amp in the garage just a little while ago and was happy with my plugs. I'll get to really try them out tomorrow night.
If you don't want westone, you could see if she can order from the company of your choice, or take your molds with you. That is why you went to them in the first place. To get molds. IMO you don't need them to be a middle man.
Don't know if any of this is helpful by the way.

 

[Az_Rocker76]

I've noticed it getting a little harder to make somethings that people say when they talk quiet so I've began wearing ear plugs just to preserve what I got for as long as I can. Both my drummer and I have started but my guitarists won't. I wish they would because I can still hear and play fine with them on and its nice to take them off and not having ringing ears. Just wear them so you can enjoy the music you make.