New earplugs: best investment ever!

Thunderstix

Senior Member
I wish I had gotten these ten years ago. Custom-molded earplugs with ER filter 25dB. They reduce volume without distorting the sound and are by nature comfortable and safe. Unlike regular earplugs or headphones, they offer clarity and sensitivity of sound. They came with a carrying pocket and cleaning tools.

You can get them with three different filters and in different colours. I'm gonna order another pair with 15dB filter to be used with a closed headphone (which attenuate another 10 dB). For a small charge, they can be insured so in case of loss you get a new pair for free. Removing them can be tricky at first because they seal off the air and if you do it wrong, you'll feel a painful pressure. After a few trials I found the trick and they now come loose without trouble.

They should be mandatory for every drummer, beginner or pro. At € 150 they seem expensive but there's no other tool that improves the quality of sound and health safety more than these little fellows. A single cymbal costs more, think about it. My advice, get them as soon as you can and wear them on every concert, party or drum session. From beginning to end. Just go to an audiologist and ask for an ER filter.
 

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I wish I had gotten these ten years ago. Custom-molded earplugs with 25dB filter. They reduce volume without distorting the sound and are by nature comfortable and safe. Unlike regular earplugs or headphones, they offer clarity and sensitivity of sound.

You can get them with three different filters and in different colours. I'm gonna order another pair with 15dB filter to be used with a closed headphone (which attenuate another 10 dB). For a small charge, they can be insured so in case of loss you get a new pair for free. Removing them can be tricky at first because they seal off the air and if you do it wrong, you'll feel a painful pressure. After a few trials I found the trick and they now come loose without trouble.

They should be mandatory for every drummer, beginner or pro. At € 150 they seem expensive but there's no other tool that improves the quality of sound and health safety more than these little fellows. A single cymbal costs more, think about it. My advice, get them as soon as you can and wear them on every concert, party or drum session. From beginning to end.

NICE Thunder!!!

I've been wearing ear protection for more than 20 years, if I didn't, at this point I guarantee I'd be unable to hear at ALL after all the loud bands I've been in.

I don't have the nice expensive ones you use, but I'm so used to the 29db foam insert style ones that they work for me. BONUS, I DON'T NEED A MONITOR AS I CAN HEAR THE BALANCE BETTER WITH PLUGS!!

I too recommend SOME kind of ear protection, once you loose some of your hearing, it ain't EVER comin' back, so don't go there!!!
 
I thought foam or wax earplugs would suffice but was I wrong! Foam or wax doesn't seal well and either let too much noise through or blocked too much out. Plus they exert pressure on the ear drum, get dirty soon and irritated my hearing canal. This is also harmful.

Get custom plugs, they're worth every penny and you'll be grateful you did. It's a life saver.
 
Amen to the initial post! There's no other type of plug that's in the ballpark of these in terms of your being able to hear well balanced tone while being protected. I've tried basically everything and they all stink compared to these real-deal molded plugs. Everyone who I've ever convinced to buy them kicks themselves for not getting them a decade earlier. You won't ever know until you invest and try them.

Sensaphonics.com is the best brand of these too, they're clear, go deeper in your ear and seal way better. I tried westone and it took four attempts at the ear mold before finally getting a good seal. Even then the material isn't as soft as the good clear stuff and is therefor prone to breaking the seal when you move your face around too much.

If you're thinking about getting them, just take the plunge! They're expensive, but everyone who's gotten them has been very glad they did.
 
What brand are they? I have used a few different custom molds over the years.

Also, you should be able to get the style where the attenuators stick out. That way you don't need two pair - just two sets of attenuators.

Jeff

I can interchange filters but the doctor disapproved of changing them often because then the sealing will loosen. I can get filters separately for € 30 each. The insurance costs € 20 and the plugs with filters came at € 170. My trick: get the insurance, after a few weeks tell your specialist you lost the plugs and you'll get a new pair. Now order two extra filters and you have two pairs for € 250 instead of € 360 :-D

Maybe he'll approve of getting me a new pair with different filters, thus saving another € 60. I'm gonna find out in a few weeks ;)
Anyway, if money is a concern, one shouldn't play drums in the first place. These plugs are #1 on my list.

I got them in Europe and every country will probably offer different options and prices. The brand is called Exinore but there are many more and they all use the same patented ER filter.
 
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I thought foam or wax earplugs would suffice but was I wrong! Foam or wax doesn't seal well and either let too much noise through or blocked too much out. Plus they exert pressure on the ear drum, get dirty soon and irritated my hearing canal. This is also harmful.

Get custom plugs, they're worth every penny and you'll be grateful you did. It's a life saver.

I use low pressure foam plugs, and I am QUITE good at inserting them correctly, so no worries about how well they seal!! I again am QUITE USED to the sound of them, so it doesn't bother me a bit.

I also use a FRESH set every night, clean and nice for my ears. 200 pairs costs about $25 bucks, a pittance considering.

See 'em HERE
 
Amen to the initial post! There's no other type of plug that's in the ballpark of these in terms of your being able to hear well balanced tone while being protected. I've tried basically everything and they all stink compared to these real-deal molded plugs. Everyone who I've ever convinced to buy them kicks themselves for not getting them a decade earlier. You won't ever know until you invest and try them.

Sensaphonics.com is the best brand of these too, they're clear, go deeper in your ear and seal way better. I tried westone and it took four attempts at the ear mold before finally getting a good seal. Even then the material isn't as soft as the good clear stuff and is therefor prone to breaking the seal when you move your face around too much.

If you're thinking about getting them, just take the plunge! They're expensive, but everyone who's gotten them has been very glad they did.

Bill and I have have been talking about this. He repeated my thoughts that not all molded plugs seal as well. Thanks to our conversation, I will be trying the Sensaphonics brand. Not all audiologists deal with every brand, so you may have to do some looking.

Jeff
 
Thumbs up - I also took the plunge on custom molded plugs this year and couldn't believe I'd held out so long. I use them EVERYWHERE - loud bars, concerts, parties, trade shows, practicing, etc. Some of the best money I've ever spent.
 
I don't want to argue. If you're happy with foam/wax/hard plastic plugs, that's fine. I just hope that in the future you won't be mad at yourself.

I wore foam/wax/hard plastic plugs for years and my hearing got worse. These things aren't safe and their sound quality is horrible. They're made to block out noise, they're not made for musicians.

We aren't afraid of spending thousands of dollars on drum gear but we save on our health and hearing. I find that hard to believe. Ignorance is bliss.
 
I agree, ear plugs are a crucial investment for any drummer, you only really notice the difference when you take them out during your practice session, hit a cymbal or drum and then realise you can't stand how loud it is! Well i wouldn't pay that much as the docs pro plugs cost a fraction of that price and work really well in noise reduction but you can still hear perfectly well.
 
sometimes when i play drums in combo or at a band practice, i tear off a square of toilet paper and shape them to fit comfortably in my ear. IMHO, they cut out the harsh sounds of the amps and cymbals and are thin enough to wear you still hear everything. i could just be a goon though lol
 
sometimes when i play drums in combo or at a band practice, i tear off a square of toilet paper and shape them to fit comfortably in my ear. IMHO, they cut out the harsh sounds of the amps and cymbals and are thin enough to wear you still hear everything. i could just be a goon though lol

Be prepared to have some hearing loss some day soon...
 
Well, just in the past couple of days, I've found myself with tinitus, and have a CONSTANT ringing in my ear..... Even tho I've been wearing shooting earphones for the past few months.
 
You need to wear plugs, or you will have hearing loss.

I used WESTONE molded plugs for years. The cons are they harden after time, when this happens they become uncomfortable and the filters fall out easier (replacement filters are $40 ea US). They're also hard to clean as wax gets deep into the canal.

Im actually happier using Etymotic BABY BLUES, they're small(er) and you can adjust the amount of seal, something you can't do with molded plugs, they're also easy to clean and @ $12 a pair no worries if you loose one.
 
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How do you explain this?

Is drumming dangerous when you have tinnitues even though you're wearing earplugs?


Well, I was wearing army headphones and the noise level is drasticaly lower so to are the high frequencys, I'd love to know myself, so someone plese answer.
 
How do you explain this?

Is drumming dangerous when you have tinnitues even though you're wearing earplugs?

If you hear constant ringing, the damage is already done but it can get worse to the extent of having problems hearing anything above the level of the ringing and also experiencing trouble sleeping. What makes this a worsening problem is listening to music or being subject to noise as in a construction environment at a higher level than what originally caused the tinnitus. It will only get worse, not better. When the loud music stops, the ringing begins. Protect your ears or what ever you have left of your hearing.

I have a very small amount of tinnitus mostly from not adhering to the advice I am giving when I was at an early age. Now because of my work I see an audiologist two to three times a year, not just because of the tinnitus but in case I start having a high frequency fall off problem that to an extent most people will experience when they start getting older.

Dennis
 
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