How do the Primo caps compare to the Panasonic's? I have a lingering project I want to play around with someday, basically a reverse heaing aid for overly loud concerts that would double as in-ear phones for recording monitoring. I'd mount the caps on the in-ears.
I've experimented with this. I've got a set of Westone in-ear monitors (molded earpiece). I run my "hat mics" into the Edirol R09, then headphone out drives the Westones. If I want to get really geeky I put on ear muffs (to block all outside sound). Yes, this works, but in the end I just wear Etymotic -25dB earplugs or, if really loud, just solid (molded) earplugs (-30dB or more attenuation). I don't really need to listen to what is going on, since my hat mics are in about the same place as my ears.
Monitoring is a big problem in general, though. Even for FOH (sound) guys, I imagine. The problem is the signal to noise ratio is too low to monitor in the venue. You really need a sound booth or a back room of some kind.
Richard