"audiophile" grade earplugs?

MikeCh

MikeCh

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Hi,

I've been wanting to get a pair of audiophile-grade earplugs to use for concerts, visiting other peoples systems (including shows) that are cranked up too loud or other times when I just want to turn the volume down to safe levels.

I'm trying to avoid bulky or antennae-looking designs. Ideally, something that is small and comfortable is what I'd like to find.

What do you guys use or recommend?
 
I'm not sure there is such a thing as an audiophile ear plug. Working in the aviation industry for many years, the best you can get will be from your ear doctor. They can make custom molded ear plugs for you. The USAF would issue us plugs that were fitted to your ears but not molded and they worked real well.

If you want something disposable, look at Sound Guard. That's what we use every day on the flight line. They're orange & green foam and fairly comfortable when using them for extended periods. 3M makes some decent ones also.

Just remember though, the better the plug the less you'll hear. I seem to always take one out when talking or I'll end up yelling at someone standing next to me.

Hope this helps. Matt
 
Etymotic ETY earplugs. You can get them at Amazon.

Bring down sound about 10 dB or more, mostly sufficient to avoid audio related danger. Sound is almost as if you have no earplugs at all (only slight treble attenuation). I used them to watch Bohemian Rhapsody in the movie theater. There were peaks thay measured 99 dBa on my SPL meter. Normally this would be very unpleasant and close to dangerous, but I enjoyed the music in regular fashion and even forgot that I had earplugs.
 
CPP said:
They the same as other ear plugs these companies sell, just with a catchy name to catch a few buyers, no difference in cost from what I can see, I use the Etymotic ETY's double duty but mostly for shooting clays.
Click to expand...

Clay shooter (sporting) here as well, the quick and easy answer to Mike's question is just get a pair of 'foamies' and improperly insert them (as most people do) and presto, there's your 10db reduction.

Chris seeing that you're in Fla do you shoot Sarasota ? love that place, I shoot their in March when I head south.
 
Mikado463 said:
Clay shooter (sporting) here as well, the quick and easy answer to Mike's question is just get a pair of 'foamies' and improperly insert them (as most people do) and presto, there's your 10db reduction.

Chris seeing that you're in Fla do you shoot Sarasota ? love that place, I shoot their in March when I head south.
Click to expand...

Dave never been there. I usually go to the range in Gainesville, Jacksonville and those in central Fla.
 
Hi Mike,

You are looking for "filters" rather than "plugs". I have a pair of 15 db filters that I wear at concerts. The common types are -10db, -15db, -25db. 99% of folks go for the 10 or 15's. These are molded custom filters, and almost any audiologist out there handles these for clients quite often. I have two pairs, and use them at many concerts I go to...

The good thing is you can get several filters of different db reduction and change them out as you wish, but you only need one pair of the molds. Most filters are intended to drop all frequencies evenly by a certain db level. There are custom pieces that drop only specific frequencies, but that is usually going a little far for casual use.

I have Sennheiser and Westone. There are many brands, and most do the same thing. Just don't go for the cheap brands, as they tend to muffle more than actually filter.

As an example, here is a link to the Westone filters: https://www.westone.com/store/music/index.php/hearing-protection

I have found that the custom molded versions work way better than the universal fit versions because well... the molded ones just fit perfectly vs. always needing to push them around in your ear.

Good luck!
 
"audiophile" grade earplugs?

steinkrieg said:
Hi Mike,

You are looking for "filters" rather than "plugs". I have a pair of 15 db filters that I wear at concerts. The common types are -10db, -15db, -25db. 99% of folks go for the 10 or 15's. These are molded custom filters, and almost any audiologist out there handles these for clients quite often. I have two pairs, and use them at many concerts I go to...

The good thing is you can get several filters of different db reduction and change them out as you wish, but you only need one pair of the molds. Most filters are intended to drop all frequencies evenly by a certain db level. There are custom pieces that drop only specific frequencies, but that is usually going a little far for casual use.

I have Sennheiser and Westone. There are many brands, and most do the same thing. Just don't go for the cheap brands, as they tend to muffle more than actually filter.

As an example, here is a link to the Westone filters: https://www.westone.com/store/music/index.php/hearing-protection

I have found that the custom molded versions work way better than the universal fit versions because well... the molded ones just fit perfectly vs. always needing to push them around in your ear.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Very helpful info Steinkrieg! Thank you. Yes, it is filters that I am looking for instead of plugs. My mistake by mixing up the two types. I hope Dave and Chris can forgive me.
 
Re: "audiophile" grade earplugs?

MikeCh said:
I hope Dave and Chris can forgive me.
Click to expand...

Mike, no forgiveness required, seriously, what I suggested to do with cheap old 'foamies' will accomplish the same thing.

Whatever floats your boat, good luck and kudos for looking after your hearing !
 
A bit of clarity to offer... ANY protection (including foam plugs), can be a great help if you are exposed to a lot of loud environments such as concerts, construction sites, etc. Foam plugs can also help when you want major db reduction to make things quiet (like on airplanes). Ears were not really built for the sustained high db levels or sustained specific frequencies that are common in our times...

Foam plugs muffle sound very unevenly. They are solely intended to reduce overall db levels, and they do a good job of that. Good filters allow all frequencies to evenly come through while reducing all frequency db levels evenly. The result of filters is similar to simply turning the volume down, but you can still hear all frequencies clearly. Most foam plugs will reduce db levels by around -32db. That is way too much to clearly hear a concert, and you end up feeling very disconnected from the surrounding environment. Filters give choices on db level reduction that (for concerts) are usually used in the range of a reduction of -10 to -15 db. At -10db you can still easily have a conversation with the person next to you at a concert. At -15db that same conversation becomes a bit difficult while there is competition from a loud concert PA. I keep a -10 and -15 on hand at concerts, as db levels WIDELY vary depending on the act on stage. If it's very loud, then I definitely use the -15.

Anyway... no need to get into a debate over this other than knowing it's worth the education on this front (if there is interest). I work in music, and have some high frequency hearing loss. I have needed to educate pretty deeply on this front in order to protect my hearing and a portion of my livelihood in studios and live performance environments. Without a doubt, years of using filters has greatly slowed the hearing loss I would have experienced. I'm not saying that makes me the world's greatest expert, but in this case there is a real difference worth understanding. Still, in the end, it is a personal choice depending on what you want to achieve. Cheers
 
Re: "audiophile" grade earplugs?

MikeCh said:
Very helpful info Steinkrieg! Thank you. Yes, it is filters that I am looking for instead of plugs. My mistake by mixing up the two types. I hope Dave and Chris can forgive me.
Click to expand...

Mike as long as you find a product that helps, that is all that matters.
 
good post 'sk', myself, I no longer attend 'loud' concerts yet I dispense 500-1000 rounds a month from my shotguns so hearing protection is a must.
 
Mikado463 said:
good post 'sk', myself, I no longer attend 'loud' concerts yet I dispense 500-1000 rounds a month from my shotguns so hearing protection is a must.
Click to expand...

I recently tried the ear protection from Mpow, fits nice with nice protection. I've been using Howard Leight products for a while with good results. In a weekend shoot you can burn through a lot of shells, not to mention a sore shoulder or wrist. LOL. With hearing you only get one chance to protect it, after that it degrades quickly. I screwed mine up playing in rock bands in high school and college. Now 66, my tinnitus is ringing off the hook.
 
Another recommendation for the Eargasm plugs. I use them when operating machines and discovered they worked really well on a 3 hour flight. They are filters inside of a pliable plastic plug that comes in two sizes and is washable. Reduces the level enough but enables you to hear conversations.
 
Ditto on usage on the plane. On the way to San Fran right now with a pair in. Feel better when I get off the plane than without and I don’t have to lug more devices.

I use decibulz (got them on amazon for about $20). You heat them and then mold them inside your ear. Not fancy and likely not as effective as an audiologist, but work like a (cheap) charm for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Mikado463 said:
good post 'sk', myself, I no longer attend 'loud' concerts yet I dispense 500-1000 rounds a month from my shotguns so hearing protection is a must.
Click to expand...
..did you attend the world clay championships in Australia?
 
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