4 ms·

What is the long term plan for my ears and being able to hear well? Any thoughts on this from fans of loud music/concerts are appreciated!

by j_s 9y ago

__david__ 9y ago
I bought some "hearos" earplugs for concerts. They try to attenuate the sound flat across the frequency spectrum. This is impossible, but they're much better than normal earplugs at keeping things sounding good—Normal earplugs end up blocking the high frequencies almost completely but letting lots of bass in which results in a really terrible low midrangey-boomy sound. The hearos are reusable (I wash them after each use) and you can kind of adjust the volume (and the equalization) by pulling them out/pushing them into your ear canal. I find the sound with them in to be acceptable, and afterward my ears do not ring or feel muffled like they used to. One positive/negative is that with them on I can usually hear the singer better. This is either a good or bad thing depending on the band and how well the singer can actually sing. Also, because they do attenuate higher frequencies more than lower ones, shoegazer type stuff loses a lot of its impact. Shoegazer is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to my ear-health (but I love love love it). I usually take the earphones out for at least 1 song (usually the closer) just to hear the whole spectrum unimpeded.
- jghn 9y ago
  Thanks, will check these out. I can't stand normal ear plugs so have always avoided them, but my ears are taking a serious beating as the years progress.
derrekl 9y ago
Buy some custom earplugs. Foam plugs ruin the sound, heroes don't fit well enough for most, go custom. I'm a drummer of 30 years and have been to hundreds of live shows. Here is an example: https://www.64audio.com/product/EP-Custom-EarPlugs https://www.64audio.com/product/EP-Custom-EarPlugs
- j_s 9y ago
  I've read good things about these (Etymotic ETY-Plugs High Fidelity Earplugs) at a $15 entry-level: https://amzn.com/dp/B0015WJQ7A https://amzn.com/dp/B0015WJQ7A Is there anything recommendable between the $15 and $200 ends?
  - derrekl 9y ago
    The Etymotic earplugs are the same thing as Heroes. For me they don't fit well and thus don't reduce the sound levels as much as designed. For some people they probably work well enough, depends on the shape of your ear canal, where it bends and to what extent. You can get custom in ear plugs for $200 including the molding process (though a bit tough - you have to wait for sales).

What is the long term plan for my ears and being able to hear well? Any thoughts on this from fans of loud music/concerts are appreciated!

by j_s 9y ago

What is the long term plan for my ears and being able to hear well? Any thoughts on this from fans of loud music/concerts are appreciated!

__david__ 9y ago

I bought some "hearos" earplugs for concerts. They try to attenuate the sound flat across the frequency spectrum. This is impossible, but they're much better than normal earplugs at keeping things sounding good—Normal earplugs end up blocking the high frequencies almost completely but letting lots of bass in which results in a really terrible low midrangey-boomy sound. The hearos are reusable (I wash them after each use) and you can kind of adjust the volume (and the equalization) by pulling them out/pushing them into your ear canal. I find the sound with them in to be acceptable, and afterward my ears do not ring or feel muffled like they used to. One positive/negative is that with them on I can usually hear the singer better. This is either a good or bad thing depending on the band and how well the singer can actually sing. Also, because they do attenuate higher frequencies more than lower ones, shoegazer type stuff loses a lot of its impact. Shoegazer is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to my ear-health (but I love love love it). I usually take the earphones out for at least 1 song (usually the closer) just to hear the whole spectrum unimpeded.

jghn 9y ago
Thanks, will check these out. I can't stand normal ear plugs so have always avoided them, but my ears are taking a serious beating as the years progress.

derrekl 9y ago

Buy some custom earplugs. Foam plugs ruin the sound, heroes don't fit well enough for most, go custom. I'm a drummer of 30 years and have been to hundreds of live shows. Here is an example: https://www.64audio.com/product/EP-Custom-EarPlugs https://www.64audio.com/product/EP-Custom-EarPlugs

j_s 9y ago
I've read good things about these (Etymotic ETY-Plugs High Fidelity Earplugs) at a $15 entry-level: https://amzn.com/dp/B0015WJQ7A https://amzn.com/dp/B0015WJQ7A Is there anything recommendable between the $15 and $200 ends?
- derrekl 9y ago
  The Etymotic earplugs are the same thing as Heroes. For me they don't fit well and thus don't reduce the sound levels as much as designed. For some people they probably work well enough, depends on the shape of your ear canal, where it bends and to what extent. You can get custom in ear plugs for $200 including the molding process (though a bit tough - you have to wait for sales).