Topic: Ear Plugs

[bl6216@yahoo.com]

I am thinking about geting a good set of Ear Plugs. I am look to spend like $100 to $150. Or would it be the best just to go to a ear doc and get them fit just for me.


-Brian

[Brian Skalinder]

I am thinking about geting a good set of Ear Plugs. I am look to spend like $100 to $150. Or would it be the best just to go to a ear doc and get them fit just for me.

Excellent idea!  For $100-$150, you should be able to get a custom-molded pair from an audiologist.  I use the Etymotic ER-15 filters in my custom molds.  Check out audiologists in your area.  You may also find some useful information in the Hearing News thread.

[tfs8271]

I am thinking about geting a good set of Ear Plugs. I am look to spend like $100 to $150. Or would it be the best just to go to a ear doc and get them fit just for me.


-Brian

We have audiologist that checks our ears each year at work. She fit me with a pair and they are excellent. Hot Pink so if I drop them at a show I can see them easily...her suggestion. Work paid for them but she said she would fit my wife for $60. They are way more comfortable then the foam jobs. Good for sharing a room with a snorer.

[silentmark]

I am thinking about geting a good set of Ear Plugs. I am look to spend like $100 to $150. Or would it be the best just to go to a ear doc and get them fit just for me.

Excellent idea!  For $100-$150, you should be able to get a custom-molded pair from an audiologist.  I use the Etymotic ER-15 filters in my custom molds.  Check out audiologists in your area.  You may also find some useful information in the Hearing News thread.

Exactly.

I finally got my molded pair for 130 bucks or you can get the 15 dollar ones http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx which also work quite well. The molded ones rock though if you want to drop the scratch on them ...

[rokpunk]

Without a doubt, spend the $150 on a custom molded pair....but, when you go to the Audiologist, make sure he has fitted musicians before. I say that because a few years ago I needed a new pair and went to the closest guy I could find and he made me a pair the size of hearing aids. They were huge, ugly, and not very comfortable. My suggestion is to have him make you a pair with a little "tab" on them so they are easier to remove. I'm not so sure I'd personally go with pink......but maybe a nice shade of saftey orange.

[tfs8271]

I'm comfortable with my feminine side. 

[bl6216@yahoo.com]

Dose any know if all the custom ones use filters.(I use the Etymotic ER-15 filters in my custom molds.) that looks like it would be cool to have a filter that would work in big rooms and also in small room to. That way you can get the best out of all the show you go to.

[anodyne33]

Without a doubt, spend the $150 on a custom molded pair....

I have to respectfully disagree with rokpunk here, I have a set of custom molded plugs that I just got a few months ago, and I was fitted by the president of the largest manufacturer of custom molds in the country. She even made the plugs herself, so they are done correctly and fit great but, for years I've been using the Ety ER20 style plugs:

or you can get the 15 dollar ones http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx which also work quite well.

and I can't discern that much of a difference. In fact, the ER20s actually attenuate a little more than my custom plugs with 25db filters due to the fact that I'm not shy about jamming them pretty tightly in my ears.

In my case, because I'm doing some prototype testing for the company I got my plugs from I got them for $50, and it was definitely $50 well spent, if for no other reason than to be able to give them a head to head comparison. The custom plugs do have a noticeably better frequency response, but unless you have the dough to toss around, I suggest staying with the $15 ER20s.

My $.02
Shane

[bgalizio]

Dose any know if all the custom ones use filters.(I use the Etymotic ER-15 filters in my custom molds.) that looks like it would be cool to have a filter that would work in big rooms and also in small room to. That way you can get the best out of all the show you go to.

There are multiple custom earplug designs. For instance, I have one for industrial use (when I'm in a plant around loud machines). Thos don't use the same filters as the musicians plugs do. But, the musicians plugs have 3 filter choices - 9, 15, and 25dB - which would allow you to customize based on the room/type of music.

I have no idea on additional filter cost, as my brother is an audiologist and I get my stuff at cost. He's at a government facility, which are under contracts, so he doesn't know what cost end-users pay either.

[rokpunk]

Without a doubt, spend the $150 on a custom molded pair....

I have to respectfully disagree with rokpunk here, I have a set of custom molded plugs that I just got a few months ago, and I was fitted by the president of the largest manufacturer of custom molds in the country. She even made the plugs herself, so they are done correctly and fit great but, for years I've been using the Ety ER20 style plugs:

or you can get the 15 dollar ones http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx which also work quite well.

and I can't discern that much of a difference. In fact, the ER20s actually attenuate a little more than my custom plugs with 25db filters due to the fact that I'm not shy about jamming them pretty tightly in my ears.

In my case, because I'm doing some prototype testing for the company I got my plugs from I got them for $50, and it was definitely $50 well spent, if for no other reason than to be able to give them a head to head comparison. The custom plugs do have a noticeably better frequency response, but unless you have the dough to toss around, I suggest staying with the $15 ER20s.

My $.02
Shane

Do you mix in -25db earplugs?
I couldn't do that.....I use the -9db's when mixing monitors, and will stick the -15's in if it's a really loud show. I think the frequency response is pretty damn good on the -9's and -15's, but I've never used a -25.

[anodyne33]

Without a doubt, spend the $150 on a custom molded pair....

I have to respectfully disagree with rokpunk here, I have a set of custom molded plugs that I just got a few months ago, and I was fitted by the president of the largest manufacturer of custom molds in the country. She even made the plugs herself, so they are done correctly and fit great but, for years I've been using the Ety ER20 style plugs:

or you can get the 15 dollar ones http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx which also work quite well.

and I can't discern that much of a difference. In fact, the ER20s actually attenuate a little more than my custom plugs with 25db filters due to the fact that I'm not shy about jamming them pretty tightly in my ears.

In my case, because I'm doing some prototype testing for the company I got my plugs from I got them for $50, and it was definitely $50 well spent, if for no other reason than to be able to give them a head to head comparison. The custom plugs do have a noticeably better frequency response, but unless you have the dough to toss around, I suggest staying with the $15 ER20s.

My $.02
Shane

Do you mix in -25db earplugs?
I couldn't do that.....I use the -9db's when mixing monitors, and will stick the -15's in if it's a really loud show. I think the frequency response is pretty damn good on the -9's and -15's, but I've never used a -25.

Yep, sure do. I won't leave them in all show though. I'm doing the FOH/monitor shuffle, so after a few songs and everything is sussed out I'll pop 'em in. I pull them out pretty regularly though if something starts bothering me or if I have instrumentation changes. If the show is really loud though, they are in more often than not.


Edit to add: I am in a really small room though, keeps the relative SPL pretty high.

[willndmb]

i have been using the form ones, but i am tired of rolling them and having my ears glow orange

can you guys tell me, is -20db good?
i know a lot of people use these http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx
and they have ones LIKE them at my local store BUT the ones they have are lower/higher in DB rating

so can someone tell me the db rating that would be overall best for shows like dave matthews band, moe, wide spread panic?
thanks

[Brian Skalinder]

My audiologist indicated my -15 dB musicians earplugs (custom molds with Etymotic filters) are just fine for my concert-going.  I'd say -15 to -20 dB should be fine.

[willndmb]

My audiologist indicated my -15 dB musicians earplugs (custom molds with Etymotic filters) are just fine for my concert-going.  I'd say -15 to -20 dB should be fine.

thanks brian for the info and fast reply +t

[TNJazz]

I use custom fitted Westone plugs with -15db filters.  I believe there's a link through Etymotic's site.

They are easily the best fitting and most comfortable earplugs I've ever used.