Ear Protection - Suggestions?

cuffdc

cuffdc

chicken n waffles
I did a quick search through forum threads, and while I read a good bit about the wisdom of using ear protection and the addtitional benefit of in-ear monitors as hearing protection, I did not see any specific recommendations as to what people use. I'm not looking for IEM, but rather basic earplugs. I have a set I wear to concerts, but they're pretty basic and about fifteen years old at this point. Maybe some new stuff has come along. What do people use for their ear protection?
 
I’ve used Flare Audio Calmer, not so much for the ear protection, but for the sensory relief.
However, they’ve added filters and plugs.

I seem to have misplaced my set of Calmers and I am considering a new set with the filters.

flareaudio.com

I have a set of plugs for concerts, but I’ve tended not to use them as much anymore.
I’ll have to dig up the name. Maybe they’re an option for you.
 
I use Minuendo Lossless Earplugs. They are passive devices, yet they have adjustment (7-25 db). They have a natural flat frequency response. They also have a plethora of premium pads available for a customized, comfortable fit (an extra $25).

IIRC I paid $139 new, many years ago, but they now sell for $179. That may seem like a lot to pay, but after all, what is protecting your hearing worth to you?

They also sell another model of ear protection that has less features. Those sell for $109.

Minuendo Web Link

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1) Anything is better than nothing.

2) I finally broke down and got custom molded earplugs at an audiologist a few years ago and man I wish I'd done that sooner. It's only a couple hundred bucks but the difference is amazing. The protection is adjustable (swappable filter strengths) and the clarity is basically like you just turned the volume down on things.
 
Pine Apple Slim said:
I use this thing called a volume knob.
Quit my last band cause they had no clue how to use one.
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I have done that, too, but given we have actual real drums and not electric ones, it's not always as easy as that (yes the drummer does put pads on the skins). Of course at clubs and theaters I'm not in charge of volume. The Patti Smith show was fine without earplugs, but the Fontaines DC show I saw in the spring [or maybe that was last fall...can't remember] was earplugs mandatory (for me anyway).
 
cuffdc said:
I have done that, too, but given we have actual real drums and not electric ones, it's not always as easy as that (yes the drummer does put pads on the skins). Of course at clubs and theaters I'm not in charge of volume. The Patti Smith show was fine without earplugs, but the Fontaines DC show I saw in the spring [or maybe that was last fall...can't remember] was earplugs mandatory (for me anyway).
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I was just joshing around. Of course there are times when you should/need ear protection and it can't be helped.
But Ive generally managed to avoid extremely loud bands most of the time. I havnt played in a really loud band since high school (except for that one I quit last yr after a few rehearsals). Most of my "professional" work and playing in general has been in acoustic genres. Even in the rockabilly outfit I was in our stage vol rarely hit 100db, I just avoided standing next to a cymbal, lol. About the only deterioration I have after 68yrs is the loss of some ability to pick out speech sounds from a lot of ambient/background noise.
What damage I have probably comes more from operating lawn mowers and other machinery back in the day than from music.
 
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Pine Apple Slim said:
I was just joshing around. Of course there are times when you should/need ear protection and it can't be helped.
But Ive generally managed to avoid extremely loud bands most of the time. I havnt played in a really loud band since high school (except for that one I quit last yr after a few rehearsals). Most of my "professional" work and playing in general has been in acoustic genres. Even in the rockabilly outfit I was in our stage vol rarely hit 100db, I just avoided standing next to a cymbal, lol. About the only deterioration I have after 68yrs is the loss of some ability to pick out speech sounds from a lot of ambient/background noise.
What damage I have probably comes more from operating lawn mowers and other machinery back in the day than from music.
Click to expand...
I'm an idiot. I really am. I attended more gigs than I can remember at the Black Cat and 9:30 Club in DC and never thought about it even though I and my friends would say shit like "man I can't hear anything today" the next day.

About ten years ago I was in a band with a drummer who has a serious reputation among those of us in the band and people who watched us of being unable to modulate his sound and we started wearing earplugs. Nowadays I do often tell the band to turn down when I can feel it in my ears.
 
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