earbuds, headphones for practicing?

[lovemysonors]

if i'm simply trying to listen to rough recordings of guitar/bass/vocals to practice drumming to my band's material OR listening to some fave songs of bands to learn the drumming, which way is going to least make me deaf?

simply using my high end Sony earbuds or using decent headphones such as Audio-Technica ATH-M40s (or M30s, M50s, etc)?

[caddywumpus]

If you just use earbuds, headphones, or in-ear monitors, the volume has to be loud enough to hear the music over the drums (or near the volume of the drums at least). That's pretty loud and will lead to deafness. What I suggest, that I've heard from hearing specialists, is to wear foam earplugs and wear earmuff-style headphones over them. The combination of earplugs and enclosed headphones will drastically cut down the volume of the drums reaching your ear canal (there's still bone conduction to deal with, though). Plus, with the enclosed headphones, you won't have to turn the headphones up as much as you would with earbuds on in-ear monitors, even with the earplugs in. I've used this method for practicing, playing live, and studio work, and it works great! Oh, and use regular "industrial" earplugs...stay away from hear-os and other earplugs that claim to EQ the sound, as they let more dB through than regular plugs.

Hope this helps!

[lovemysonors]

If you just use earbuds, headphones, or in-ear monitors, the volume has to be loud enough to hear the music over the drums (or near the volume of the drums at least). That's pretty loud and will lead to deafness. What I suggest, that I've heard from hearing specialists, is to wear foam earplugs and wear earmuff-style headphones over them. The combination of earplugs and enclosed headphones will drastically cut down the volume of the drums reaching your ear canal (there's still bone conduction to deal with, though). Plus, with the enclosed headphones, you won't have to turn the headphones up as much as you would with earbuds on in-ear monitors, even with the earplugs in. I've used this method for practicing, playing live, and studio work, and it works great! Oh, and use regular "industrial" earplugs...stay away from hear-os and other earplugs that claim to EQ the sound, as they let more dB through than regular plugs.

Hope this helps!
thanks, i actually use Hear-Os and it was the biggest waste of $25 ever! i'll try the foam plugs with earmuff style headphones over like you said...

[dc2]

I actually use in-ear noice cancelling earphones. I have a pair of shure e3's and love em. They do a great job of reducing my drumming volume so I don't have to crank the music level. I highly recommend these.

[lovemysonors]

I actually use in-ear noice cancelling earphones. I have a pair of shure e3's and love em. They do a great job of reducing my drumming volume so I don't have to crank the music level. I highly recommend these.
would isolation headphones do just the same just as well (ie. Vic Firth isolation headphones)?
would my Sony earbuds be basically the same as yours? http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX51LP-Fontopia-Headphones/dp/B000095SB6

[Ironcobra]

I put in my ear buds, then put noise cancelling ear protectors over top. This way, I get the clarity of the ear buds at a low volume, while still keeping the sound of the drums low enough, works perfectly.

[Ian Ballard]

I have a new love for practicing with headphones, since they invented ear buds. They allow you to play the music or click at a low volume with plenty of clarity.

But, as usual, you need to makes sure you don't have the track or click too loud and you are not beating the tar out of your drums. I agree that the "noise-canceling" type are the best.

Protect those ears!

[lovemysonors]

any recommendations on good noise canceling headphones that are under $100?

[jangus]

http://www.bigbangdist.com/metfea2.jpg

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=446902X

[rhydianjlewis]

any recommendations on good noise canceling headphones that are under $100?

Sennheiser CX-300 or Creative Ep-630 - both around $25 on amazon.

I own and love both of these, and they cut down drum noise to the perfect volume... And i hear they comparre quite favourably even with high end shure models.

honestly, you will never look back after using sound isolating headphones, for all purposes not just drumming.

[dc2]

would isolation headphones do just the same just as well (ie. Vic Firth isolation headphones)?
would my Sony earbuds be basically the same as yours? http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX51LP-Fontopia-Headphones/dp/B000095SB6

To be honest, I've never tried the Vic Firth isolation headphones, so I can't really comment. And as far as your Sony earbuds, I don't think they are the same quality as the Shures. The Shure's E3's probably have much better noice cancellation and quality. However, at $175 they had better be superior!

Just so you know, I liked my Shure E3's so much that I've recently forked out the cash to get their new SE-530's and they are amazing. I regret to say that Shure is very proud of their gear, and they reflect it in their prices. However, if you can afford to buy any of their in-ear earphones, I don't think you will regret it. I use mine for practice, gigs, working-out, watching movies, etc. I am so glad I went through with getting these, and I really think its a wise investment. Goodluck to you my friend.

[k3ng]

I put in my ear buds, then put noise cancelling ear protectors over top. This way, I get the clarity of the ear buds at a low volume, while still keeping the sound of the drums low enough, works perfectly.

I do that too. Works brilliantly. And I got my ear protectors from a friend of mine who bought them at a shooting range thing. Cost me 13 bucks. Works great. But it does look rather stupid.

[lovemysonors]

I do that too. Works brilliantly. And I got my ear protectors from a friend of mine who bought them at a shooting range thing. Cost me 13 bucks. Works great. But it does look rather stupid.
yah, someone also told me to get ones used in airplanes/helicopters and such, cheaper and does the trick, doesn't look great but doesn't cost $200

here are 2 options under $40:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/subcategory_landing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408 474396672942&bmUID=1219847866183&deptid=1408474396672839&ctgrid=1408474396672851&subctgrid=1408474396672942&freshPage=true

or these:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hearing+protection&x=0&y=0

[lovemysonors]

would protection up to 29dB be too much vs. 21dB?

there are cheap ones that protect up to 21dB
http://www.amazon.com/CORPORATION-protection-adjustable-earmuff-ACM13256/dp/B0017OP69S/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1219949653&sr=8-15

wondering if these would do the trick or i need something closer to 29dB protection?

[Jonesy]

would protection up to 29dB be too much vs. 21dB?

there are cheap ones that protect up to 21dB
http://www.amazon.com/CORPORATION-protection-adjustable-earmuff-ACM13256/dp/B0017OP69S/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1219949653&sr=8-15

wondering if these would do the trick or i need something closer to 29dB protection?

I did a good bit of looking at dangerous decibel levels (after recently damaging my ears) and the consensus seems to be: get as much protection as possible.

29 dB protection with regular headphones or foam ear plugs usually results in drastically reduced sound quality/certain frequencies being more dampened than others. However, if you pick up a decent pair of isolation ear buds (i.e. shure e3's), the 29dB volume reduction won't seem so ugly.

[eu.sei]

Hmmm I use eargplugs with 15 dB and the Vic Firth Headphones with 25 dB. I usually wear both, does that mean that I have 40dB then?

[BWT hooligan]

any recommendations on good noise canceling headphones that are under $100?

Sony mdr-ex51 or 71
i dont know if they still making them (they should)

Fantastic headphones overall. Go deep inside the ear, have awesome frequencies and cancel out the noise. I had a pair which i damaged by accident so i cut off the wires and use them when i play with the band. Cant live without them. No more after practice ear ringing.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I use SkullCandy, Full Metal Jacket, noise reduction in ear phones. Put the volume where it's not dangerous, then wear full coverage headphones to keep the drum sound down. Works for me.

[paul c]

get yourself a pair of industrial ear muffs, put them on over youe earbuds and your away! you wont need half the volume you would otherwise.

[yjb63]

get yourself a pair of industrial ear muffs, put them on over youe earbuds and your away! you wont need half the volume you would otherwise.

Thats what I do, it works pretty good.

[Vipercussionist]

If you just use earbuds, headphones, or in-ear monitors, the volume has to be loud enough to hear the music over the drums (or near the volume of the drums at least). That's pretty loud and will lead to deafness. What I suggest, that I've heard from hearing specialists, is to wear foam earplugs and wear earmuff-style headphones over them. The combination of earplugs and enclosed headphones will drastically cut down the volume of the drums reaching your ear canal (there's still bone conduction to deal with, though). Plus, with the enclosed headphones, you won't have to turn the headphones up as much as you would with earbuds on in-ear monitors, even with the earplugs in. I've used this method for practicing, playing live, and studio work, and it works great! Oh, and use regular "industrial" earplugs...stay away from hear-os and other earplugs that claim to EQ the sound, as they let more dB through than regular plugs.

Hope this helps! I also do this in the studio, and I'd say it's the only way to fly. I even use the same type of earplugs for playing live, it eliminates my need for a drum monitor as my drums sound great like that and BONUS, I can hear myself sing just fine too. WIN/WIN!!
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Most respect the badge, but all fear the drum.

[DrewTheShoe]

I went to Lowe's, bought $17 generic over ear, ear muff style (like the Vic Firths) hearing protection and I use JVC earbuds inside, iPod up to about half volume, I can my Dominic Howard perfectly fine and comfortably.

Just my two cents.