Best Earplugs

PaulBrewer

http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/1756/Eddy-Temple-Morris-warns-of-dangers-of-loud-music

Does anyone know of the plugs yer man mentions ?

"Technology is such that one can wear special earplugs that don't interfere with the music at all - they just reduce its volume slightly. I can hear the sizzle of every hi-hat and boom of every kick drum."

SeanHurley

Could be these one:

http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/store/custom/custom_ear_plugs.php

I have not personally used them tho.

old gregg

or these:
http://www.hearingprotection.ie/
I tried these out at the music show last year and will probably get to having custom ones made when I have the money.

fitz

Elacin do custom moulds with filters for various degrees of attenuation.
Couple of places in town do them. Good spot down the end of Capel Street:
http://www.hearing.ie/protection_custom_moulded.html

I have a set, they're absolutely invaluable when at a gig, in a nightclub, etc.

PaulBrewer

Thanks Gents.

Seziertisch

fitz wrote: »

Elacin do custom moulds with filters for various degrees of attenuation.
Couple of places in town do them. Good spot down the end of Capel Street:
http://www.hearing.ie/protection_custom_moulded.html

I have a set, they're absolutely invaluable when at a gig, in a nightclub, etc.

Ay, I have the same ones, a good job alright.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i also have these

Frank Cass - at sundrive / kimmage cross tested my hearing and got me these plugs

and told me I was deaf - but make in album anyway - dont let it stop you.

so fair play Frank

madtheory

IMHO the frequency response of those is as skewed as Boots silicone ear plugs, so I think they're a bit of a con job, given that the Boots ones can do the same or slightly better attenuation. YMMV.

Quiggers

I've a pair of the Elacin off the shelf ones, i wear them when i'm djing and try my best to
get others to do the same, unfortunatly people, me included, only look into this once hearing damage has become a problem. meet a lad today who laughed at me for wearing them last year, he confessed he now has a similar pair and tinnitus in one ear.

PaulBrewer

madtheory wrote: »

IMHO the frequency response of those is as skewed as Boots silicone ear plugs, so I think they're a bit of a con job, given that the Boots ones can do the same or slightly better attenuation. YMMV.

That's what I was wondering ok, how 'flat' is the attenuation.

Seziertisch

It is definitely significantly flatter than regular ear buds. I have used them at gigs and found I could still hear/listen to the music well enough as to be able to enjoy it. I knew a few guys that used them for live sound work in Germany and were still able to do their job while wearing them.

madtheory

Just looking at the given frequency response charts, they're well outside +/- 3dB. So "flatter than others" is far too vague a term.

I haven't personally used them for that reason. An engineer friend in Dublin decided not to replace his moulded ones when they wore out (about 1 year), because he couldn't really mix with them. Because of the price I think most folk assume that they're better than they really are. I think my friend agrees that all earplugs are about the same.

It makes sense, and the companies own specs show that to be true.

Seziertisch

I found the garden variety earplugs to detract significantly from the listening experience, not so with these. It still sounds reasonably balanced vs. mostly lows getting through. As for working with them, any environment where you need earplugs is going to be a compromise.

madtheory

Is the "garden variety" the foam ones, or the wax/ silicone ones?

Seziertisch

Both. The wax/silicon do a great job if you are looking to block off your ears completely. The foam are a bit better in terms of hearing stuff but still don't give much or a listening experience.