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> I wear musician's earplugs when playing in bands. As a musician, you possibly have custom ones, but for anyone else who’s not an audiophile, you can get dece

> I wear musician's earplugs when playing in bands. As a musician, you possibly have custom ones, but for anyone else who’s not an audiophile, you can get decent ones that mostly preserve the sound while lowering the volume for around $15-20. A godsend for concerts.

analog31 2y ago
I actually just use the Etymotic ER20's. I'd rather have cheaper ones that I can afford to lose, and also have a pair in each instrument case.
- blendo 2y ago
  Yes, +1 for etymotic. I’ve used them for years.
- analog31 2y ago
  I'm past the edit window here, but have a couple more thoughts. First, I'm just a jazz player, so my gigs can get loud, but not screaming stooopid loud. Second, I am almost always amplified on stage, meaning that the most delicate subtleties of optimal tone quality are lost anyway. Many of the rock players are moving to in-ear monitors, which block everything but replace it with your monitor mix, received via wireless. On the other hand, some band mates, and my kids, play classical. Their needs are a lot more critical in terms of perceiving their tone quality. A benefit of the fitted plugs is that you can get the capsules with less attenuation, which means you're still safe in something like a classical ensemble, but without losing too much.
- QuantumGood 2y ago
  Under $20, nice: https://www.etymotic.com/product/etyplugs-high-fidelity-earplugs/ https://www.etymotic.com/product/etyplugs-high-fidelity-earp...
euroderf 2y ago
> A godsend for concerts. Maybe necessary for movie theatres too. Contemporary volume levels are abusive (imo).
- SketchySeaBeast 2y ago
  Are they ever. I watched Alien Romulus in Imax, I'm not doing that again, it was painfully loud. I am an avid concert goer and I wear earplugs every time - Romulus without earplugs was by far the loudest thing I've been exposed to this year.
SketchySeaBeast 2y ago
And, if you can't afford those, just get some orange foam ones - they have excellent protection, often greater than the audiophile ones, and, let's be honest, that bar or arena you're going to wasn't built with sound quality in mind.
- Semaphor 2y ago
  I mean, if you go to a concert and don’t really care about the music, sure. The sound will suck, far worse than just a venue’s subpar sound system.
  - spopejoy 2y ago
    Depends on the music. Metal shows are pretty much designed for treble-killing earplugs these days.
    - Semaphor 2y ago
      I guess that depends on the metal show, because I wholeheartedly disagree. But except kanonenfieber currently, I like little that is close to mainstream.
      - spopejoy 2y ago
        Haha, I'm the opposite, if I _don't_ have to wear earplugs I'm suspicious
- tim333 2y ago
  Personally, also at the very cheap end, I like wax ones partly because you can vary the noise blocking as needed - put them in loosely or squish them in.

analog31 2y ago

I actually just use the Etymotic ER20's. I'd rather have cheaper ones that I can afford to lose, and also have a pair in each instrument case.

blendo 2y ago
Yes, +1 for etymotic. I’ve used them for years.
analog31 2y ago
I'm past the edit window here, but have a couple more thoughts. First, I'm just a jazz player, so my gigs can get loud, but not screaming stooopid loud. Second, I am almost always amplified on stage, meaning that the most delicate subtleties of optimal tone quality are lost anyway. Many of the rock players are moving to in-ear monitors, which block everything but replace it with your monitor mix, received via wireless. On the other hand, some band mates, and my kids, play classical. Their needs are a lot more critical in terms of perceiving their tone quality. A benefit of the fitted plugs is that you can get the capsules with less attenuation, which means you're still safe in something like a classical ensemble, but without losing too much.
QuantumGood 2y ago
Under $20, nice: https://www.etymotic.com/product/etyplugs-high-fidelity-earplugs/ https://www.etymotic.com/product/etyplugs-high-fidelity-earp...

euroderf 2y ago

> A godsend for concerts. Maybe necessary for movie theatres too. Contemporary volume levels are abusive (imo).

SketchySeaBeast 2y ago
Are they ever. I watched Alien Romulus in Imax, I'm not doing that again, it was painfully loud. I am an avid concert goer and I wear earplugs every time - Romulus without earplugs was by far the loudest thing I've been exposed to this year.

SketchySeaBeast 2y ago

And, if you can't afford those, just get some orange foam ones - they have excellent protection, often greater than the audiophile ones, and, let's be honest, that bar or arena you're going to wasn't built with sound quality in mind.

Semaphor 2y ago
I mean, if you go to a concert and don’t really care about the music, sure. The sound will suck, far worse than just a venue’s subpar sound system.
- spopejoy 2y ago
  Depends on the music. Metal shows are pretty much designed for treble-killing earplugs these days.
  - Semaphor 2y ago
    I guess that depends on the metal show, because I wholeheartedly disagree. But except kanonenfieber currently, I like little that is close to mainstream.
    - spopejoy 2y ago
      Haha, I'm the opposite, if I _don't_ have to wear earplugs I'm suspicious
tim333 2y ago
Personally, also at the very cheap end, I like wax ones partly because you can vary the noise blocking as needed - put them in loosely or squish them in.