Ear plugs recommendation

[etbone]

Foam plugs don’t reduce db enough. I sit directly behind French horns and in front of percussion. This is a large adult advance group.

[Burgerbob]

The best move is some custom fitted earplugs with removeable filters- talk to your local audiologist. I have a couple pairs of these for really loud gigs.

I usually use these, though:

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Researc ... r=8-5&th=1

[tbonesullivan]

Whoa.. the foam ones don't reduce ENOUGH? Those are usually around 30-32 dB attenuation, and are above the HiFi ear plugs and custom plugs you can get, which are usually much less attenuation. My custom molded Westone earpugs have 9 and 15 db attenuation filters for them. They do have 25 dB filters as well, but that isn't as high as the foam ones.

[ghmerrill]

I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish. If it's serious to total reduction of sound, then plugs fitted to your ears are probably the best way to go -- either from an audiologist/ENT specialist or one of the DIY ones off Amazon that are now supposed to be quite good.

If you're trying to eliminate "irritating" or "distractive" noise but let other sound pass through, there are some pretty good, but pricey, noise cancelling hearing aids that might be worth looking at. TETRA is one brand.

Otherwise, I use SureFire EP4 for match shooting. They have several different models. They've been the most comfortable and effective that I've found. Also, they have a "filter caps" feature which allows you to pull a little (attached) plug out of one or both to allow higher sound levels. The EP4 version provides 24dB reduction. The EP7 (less comfortable, I think) provide 28dB reduction.

I've used the Etymotic Research ones too -- specifically for band a couple of times, and they're good too, and pretty comfortable.

But one of the problems with playing in a decent-sized band is that it makes a decent amount of "noise" -- some of which you really need to hear.

[Matthias]

I had customized hearing protection from Elacin over 15 years ago.

At the time, this was the hearing protection that was purchased by many German orchestras as protective equipment for musicians.

Unfortunately, I lost the earplugs at some point.
After that, I had simple ones from Amazon because I didn't need them that often. But when I needed them again, they were so terrible. I heard myself so loudly that I could no longer hear the others and could no longer intonate.

I then did a bit of research and spoke to a scientist friend of mine in the field of audiology.

She recommended the customized hearing protection ACS 15.
In addition to the filter, this hearing protection has a small opening (vent) to reduce the occlusion effect (hearing yourself as loud as when you speak and have your fingers in your ears).

I then had an impression made by my local acoustician and sent it to the german laboratory Scheinhardt.

It worked wonderfully and I am very happy with the result. You can hear the others much better than with the non-fitted earplugs and, to my recollection, also better than with the Elacin earplugs.

(I use the 15 dB filters and am very happy with them.)

[AndrewMeronek]

I also like the Surefire earplugs. They fit well and consistently, which makes a big difference (compared to foam plugs which can be highly variable), and they're not too expensive.

I got some custom-made earplugs once and I found them to be pretty disappointing for the cost.

If earplugs aren't enough, then adding more layers is the only thing you can do. Add earmuffs, then add a motorcycle helmet. Sound that is loud enough will start to reach your eardrums and inner ears through your skull bones and not just your ear canals.

[BrassSection]

Howard Leight MAX foam plugs work best for me for hours of weed eating, sitting on loud tractors, or backyard pistol and rifle shooting. Rated NRR of 33.

[elmsandr]

Foam plugs don’t reduce db enough. I sit directly behind French horns and in front of percussion. This is a large adult advance group.

To return to this, are you using them properly? Really. Follow the instructions. If you aren’t reaching over your head with your other hand to insert them, they aren’t in there and not as effective as they could be. Same for holding them like that for like 30 seconds each (depending on which ones you are using).

As has been made obvious by the general ability of the public to wear surgical masks, it is very easy to not properly apply PPE and greatly reduce the effectiveness.

Cheers,
Andy

[hyperbolica]

I've been playing in a big band with ... trumpet players right behind me. I just happened to have a set of cheap Home Depot plugs in my bag, and put them in. Actually, I just put one in. It totally removed the part of the trumpet sound that was annoying me, but left me still able to hear things like the part of the drum sound that I needed to hear.

I've played in loud bands before, and now I have ringing in my ears. I don't have any desire to keep doing that to myself.

[Doubler]

If foam ear plugs reduce the sound of firearms to relatively safe levels (and they do), they'll do a decent job of protecting you from the sounds of French horns and percussion. You must roll the part that you insert into your ear canal in your fingers until they are compressed as much as possible. Then (as elmsandr has mentioned) reach over your head with your opposite arm, and pull up on your ear as you insert the compressed ear plug, and release your ear after you press the ear plug in. It will expand, and when it does, you no longer need to apply pressure to the ear plug; you're all set for that ear. Tapered foam plugs are easier to use, as they fit a range of ear canal sizes.

Whether the results will be satisfactory depends upon the individual. Different players prefer different musician's ear plugs, so experimenting may get you closer to your goal. I'd suggest finding ones that have adjustable attenuation in order to tailor the equipment to the situation. Musician's ear plugs are designed, with varying degrees of success, to retain as much useful timbre as is practical, both from you and your ensemble.

[harrisonreed]

I have a pair from ACS, but I have trouble playing with ear plugs in. If it's really loud, I put foamies in but don't seal them. Wish I could recommend something to you but even the ACS ones drastically distort what I'm hearing when I play and make playing in tune or at the right volume difficult.

[OneTon]

Not all ear canals are shaped the same. Some people’s ear ear wax may interfere with retention. I have a custom filtered set ($145.00) but prefer a “rubber” reusable from E.A.R. In a small 1.25 inch diameter blue plastic case. A loose fit is sufficient reduction for most cases and I can still have decent feedback. When a particular trumpet player is directly behind me, I insert them per previously mentioned instructions as far as they will go in. Feedback is just about zero. Some orchestras and our guitar player use a large plexiglass or Lexan sheet to provide a barrier.

Some people are more sensitive to gunfire than others. This may be attributed to attenuation of the ear canal and the health or genetics of the other components. I have often used double protection, ear plugs and external passive headphones, on ranges, and always as a passenger in military aircraft.