Discussion
Any regular concert goers wear ear plugs?
I am talking decent quality ones that are designed to prevent long term hearing damage.
I had a pair custom made for my ears and the filters take the sound down by about 15db I think.
I go to quite a few small venue gigs, where the sound is frickin loud to say the least, if I go without plugs then my ears are usually ringing for 2-3 hours afterwards. Whereas with the plugs they are totally find afterwards
Of course the side efect is that the gig is quiter, funnily enough the vocals and instruments are clearer and you loses most of the 'fuzz' but that is also the downside. I might see if I can get some filters that only reduce by 5 or 10db
For example i went to 2 gigs tis weekend, both were very loud, which is just asking for trouble I spose without earplugs. although i would be less inclined to wear them to stadiums and large arenas.
anyone else?
I am talking decent quality ones that are designed to prevent long term hearing damage.
I had a pair custom made for my ears and the filters take the sound down by about 15db I think.
I go to quite a few small venue gigs, where the sound is frickin loud to say the least, if I go without plugs then my ears are usually ringing for 2-3 hours afterwards. Whereas with the plugs they are totally find afterwards
Of course the side efect is that the gig is quiter, funnily enough the vocals and instruments are clearer and you loses most of the 'fuzz' but that is also the downside. I might see if I can get some filters that only reduce by 5 or 10db
For example i went to 2 gigs tis weekend, both were very loud, which is just asking for trouble I spose without earplugs. although i would be less inclined to wear them to stadiums and large arenas.
anyone else?
I've only used ear plugs once, and that was because it was a Motorhead gig the night before an important meeting (and the inability to hear would have been a slight drawback). Although it worked, it did detract from the experience.
The loudest gigs I've been to have been Motorhead at Hammersmith in (IIRC) 1979, and Airbourne at the Astoria. On both occasions it took 3 days before my hearing was back to normal. Most gigs leave little or no after-effects, and I'm sure that they're generally a bit quieter these days (probably due to today's Health & Safety culture). Either that or I'm just going deaf!
The loudest gigs I've been to have been Motorhead at Hammersmith in (IIRC) 1979, and Airbourne at the Astoria. On both occasions it took 3 days before my hearing was back to normal. Most gigs leave little or no after-effects, and I'm sure that they're generally a bit quieter these days (probably due to today's Health & Safety culture). Either that or I'm just going deaf!
I wear them all the time now... Never used to but realised it wouldn't be long before I was losing some hearing..
Somewhere like Sensorcom (http://www.sensorcom.com) is a good bet, I've got their expensive moulded ones with 15db filters..
Somewhere like Sensorcom (http://www.sensorcom.com) is a good bet, I've got their expensive moulded ones with 15db filters..
Edited by chevy-stu on Wednesday 23 September 12:20
I wear them for gigs, have done for the past couple of years. I have tinitus, and dont really know why. I'm very disappointed that I struggle sometimes to pick out songs etc at gigs.
The ones I use are nothing special, just some rubber 50p type ones, but they do seem to work quite well and I've not had them fall out despite a fair amount of headbanging.
The ones I use are nothing special, just some rubber 50p type ones, but they do seem to work quite well and I've not had them fall out despite a fair amount of headbanging.
Interesting this topic should pop up now. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon for custom earplugs, but will discuss with the specialist whether to go for -9db or -15db. A friend of mine has -23 and says it's too much. I will be using them at place like the Ministry, Matter etc etc, but also when I'm DJing, so want to get he best balance, without too much loss. I still want it loud afterall.
Rather embarassingly I was at the Ministry last Thursday night for the launch of the new Pioneer CDJ2000, and once Zane Lowe took over on the decks he ragged the mixer right into the red and the sound was very painful, so much so I actually asked the sound engineer to turn it down. To my amazement he agreed!!! That was the final thing that made me decide to get ear plugs, you only ever get one pair of ears, better look after them.
Rather embarassingly I was at the Ministry last Thursday night for the launch of the new Pioneer CDJ2000, and once Zane Lowe took over on the decks he ragged the mixer right into the red and the sound was very painful, so much so I actually asked the sound engineer to turn it down. To my amazement he agreed!!! That was the final thing that made me decide to get ear plugs, you only ever get one pair of ears, better look after them.
I got some ACS branded ones from Boots.
They are custom moulded to my ear - NO CHANCE of them falling out.
They cost about £165 I think.
The guy said go for 15 for gigs and nightclubs but 25s if you are actually up on stage and absically getting it every night.
I have the 15s which (as I say) I use for indoor gigs where the sound is intense and elave ringing - definitley no ringing after but you do lose soem of the 'feel'
The ministry places where they play dance or whatever sound a lot worse than the places I am going so 15s sound a minimum.
They are custom moulded to my ear - NO CHANCE of them falling out.
They cost about £165 I think.
The guy said go for 15 for gigs and nightclubs but 25s if you are actually up on stage and absically getting it every night.
I have the 15s which (as I say) I use for indoor gigs where the sound is intense and elave ringing - definitley no ringing after but you do lose soem of the 'feel'
The ministry places where they play dance or whatever sound a lot worse than the places I am going so 15s sound a minimum.
Mojooo said:
The ministry places where they play dance or whatever sound a lot worse than the places I am going so 15s sound a minimum.
The Ministry is worse? Where the hell are you going? They have just about the best PA in the world in their main room. As I said in my previous post, it's not the volume there thats the problem, it's irresponsible DJ's who drive the levels well into the red causing distortion that really gives the problems. When I play I always ensure my channels are peaking at no more than 0db, that way you get maximum clarity and sound output with no distortion.
djtex said:
Mojooo said:
The ministry places where they play dance or whatever sound a lot worse than the places I am going so 15s sound a minimum.
The Ministry is worse? Where the hell are you going? They have just about the best PA in the world in their main room. As I said in my previous post, it's not the volume there thats the problem, it's irresponsible DJ's who drive the levels well into the red causing distortion that really gives the problems. When I play I always ensure my channels are peaking at no more than 0db, that way you get maximum clarity and sound output with no distortion.
djtex said:
Mojooo said:
The ministry places where they play dance or whatever sound a lot worse than the places I am going so 15s sound a minimum.
The Ministry is worse? Where the hell are you going? They have just about the best PA in the world in their main room. As I said in my previous post, it's not the volume there thats the problem, it's irresponsible DJ's who drive the levels well into the red causing distortion that really gives the problems. When I play I always ensure my channels are peaking at no more than 0db, that way you get maximum clarity and sound output with no distortion.
Mojooo said:
Well i dont know the ins and outs of sound etc but I presumed that the louder the sound the more harmful crap that comes with it - which seems to be the case at the Ministry anyway?
Bit of a thread resurrection.....what are people using nowadays, I think after some recent gigs i've decided I should buy something (this was triggered by a Mogwai gig last year where they were giving out earplugs when you walked in.............and you needed something!)mark seeker said:
Bit of a thread resurrection.....what are people using nowadays, I think after some recent gigs i've decided I should buy something (this was triggered by a Mogwai gig last year where they were giving out earplugs when you walked in.............and you needed something!)
I've got various ones, but tend to use these most often: https://www.loopearplugs.com/Effective, comfortable, easy to get in/out, don't ruin the sound, not too expensive, can adjust the level of noise reduction (I have the Experience 2 Plus - the new Switch 2 might be even more flexible/adjustable).
I've also tried ones like these, which also work fine but I find can be very fiddly to get out (you have to find and grip the small little 'tongue' to pull them out with), so prefer the Loops: https://eargasm.com/
Edited by chemistry on Wednesday 2nd April 17:29
Loops for the win. I wear them at night.
Previously used foam ones and even those putty ones that mould to your ear. Both were either ineffective or simply fell out.
Loops have the perfect blend of taking out noise but letting you hear enough that you're not totally deaf - i.e your morning alarm, in my case
Previously used foam ones and even those putty ones that mould to your ear. Both were either ineffective or simply fell out.
Loops have the perfect blend of taking out noise but letting you hear enough that you're not totally deaf - i.e your morning alarm, in my case
mark seeker said:
Mojooo said:
Well i dont know the ins and outs of sound etc but I presumed that the louder the sound the more harmful crap that comes with it - which seems to be the case at the Ministry anyway?
Bit of a thread resurrection.....what are people using nowadays, I think after some recent gigs i've decided I should buy something (this was triggered by a Mogwai gig last year where they were giving out earplugs when you walked in.............and you needed something!)Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff