High-Fidelity Earplugs

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:02 pm

Go to an otolaringologist and get it done right. They will make a mold of the inside of your ear. They gave me these things called "musicians earplugs." I can change the loudness by putting in different "sound filters." The sound gets in the ear without as much stuffiness. It works well in loud, mic'd, on stage performances, but I wouldn't use them in an orchestral situation.

Ryan_Beucke · Post by **Ryan_Beucke** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:10 am

schlepporello wrote:Or if you live near a shooting range, it might not be a bad idea to drop in and see if they have a source for the moled in your ear kind like MSM mentioned. I got mine at my local skeet range, custom made for my ears only at $35.

The only problem with that is they most likely won't retain the same sound quality. Shooters usually don't need to hear a crisp yet low-level sound of their gun going off!

Why do you need ear plugs though? Is this an on-stage ampliphied thing, or sitting in front of crash cymbols? Just curious.

tubajoe · Post by **tubajoe** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 4:56 am

WHAT?? EH????

Always the issue.... perhaps the biggest occupational hazard...

I have had several types of custom earplugs and have used them a lot.

I used to have a roommate who was an audiologist who hooked me up with a pair of Westone (brand) custom musicians earplugs -- the kind where they take a hot wax mold of the inside of your ear and make special plugs that go deep down. On the outside of the plug they have an artificial eardrum that lets in a bit of sound. I used these for years but was never completely happy with them - they caused wax plugs in my ear and irritated my ear canal quite a bit. They were also very expensive. Also, you are supposed to get re-cast for them every few years, as your ears keep growing throughout your entire life.

The main thing is that you find plugs that do not totally occlude -- plugs that have either an artifical drum or a baffle -- as occluding screws up pitch.

My above plugs eventually started to not fit as well, and the cast became hard -- and then I ended up losing them at a gig -- since then I have found something similar, but better -- and more affordable.

http://www.earinc.com/p2-specialty-musician-er20.php

These attenuate (protect) more (20 vs like 12 or 15), irritate less, cost MUCH less, and are easier to deal with. They also do not totally occlude (and screw up pitch) just as the above custom plugs -- they dont have an artificial drum, but rathter a baffle system. The sound that they do let in seems to be truer and crisper than the above plugs, but while protecting more.

I highly recommend the (ER 20) -- I even bought a pair for my sister who is a pro rock bassist who plays around extreme volumes quite often.

Ask me in 10-20 years tho...

joe

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:55 am

tubajoe wrote:My above plugs eventually started to not fit as well, and the cast became hard -- and then I ended up losing them at a gig -- since then I have found something similar, but better -- and more affordable.

http://www.earinc.com/p2-specialty-musician-er20.php

These attenuate (protect) more (20 vs like 12 or 15), irritate less, cost MUCH less, and are easier to deal with.

Ah, very cool, why haven't I looked for these before?

I've.. um, lost the Westone custom earplugs that our unit supplies

, so I just might spring for these on my own. I'll look around locally today.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:42 pm

MellowSmokeMan wrote:Go to an otolaringologist and get it done right. They will make a mold of the inside of your ear. They gave me these things called "musicians earplugs." I can change the loudness by putting in different "sound filters." The sound gets in the ear without as much stuffiness. It works well in loud, mic'd, on stage performances, but I wouldn't use them in an orchestral situation.

I have these, and they are excellent. Very comfortable, and you hear the entire range of frequencies. I use them in our new brass band rehearsal space, which booms like crazy. They are also pricey, I think mine were $165. (but that was a few years ago and they might have been less.) As with any earplug, you get a lot of "head noise," which I find bothersome. You hear your articulation and pitch variation REALLY well, but for me it's difficult to tell my tone quality. So I often use just the left one and leave the right one out. Seems to work....

Actually where I use them most is going to movies and (amplified)concerts; I can't believe the decibel level that most are presented at....if you still have your hearing you won't for long.
MA

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:50 pm

MaryAnn wrote:Actually where I use them most is going to movies and (amplified)concerts; I can't believe the decibel level that most are presented at....if you still have your hearing you won't for long.
MA

Agreed, especially about the concerts. I've taken mine along to local clubs, and they really saved my nerves.

I wish I used some in the bar band I played in during college.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:47 am

Leland wrote:I wish I used some in the bar band I played in during college.

I wish I had had some to use in the rock band I played electric violin in back in the middle 1970's .... we had people leave because the bass was making them think they were having a heart attack because of the chest pressure. It's amazing I have the hearing I do. Maybe because I was behind the speakers.

MA