quote:

Originally posted by Snufkin We would if we could but the local supplier isn't bringing them unfortunately - you're best ordering them direct or settling for the KSC-50s

do you guys have a store? would be interested in coming down to check it out if u do

got mine today =)

just trying them out now.. bit uncomfortable but will get use to it i guess. my left side goes in really far.. but im having troubles getting my right in very far at all.. and it hurts a bit

just had my sound system at full.. sounds perfectly clear and reduces so much.. im pleasantly suprised

the bass is still there but the highs are *almost* completely gone which is great.. doesnt reduce too much so u cant hear whats going on.. for example i can still hear myself typing on the keyboard and hear my dad talking fine

definately worth the $35

quote:

Originally posted by Lanithium hear my dad talking fine

damn! sounds like these are not the right ones for me.....

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www.djmuli.com

quote:

Originally posted by muli damn! sounds like these are not the right ones for me.....

my $1 bunnings ones still work fine for me

quote:

Originally posted by Huebor my $1 bunnings ones still work fine for me

they were good, definately saved me from the painful globe sound system.. but the little i could hear of people talking to me i couldnt understand anyway.. had to keep taking them out everytime someone said something to me which was a pain in the arse!

I think i'll have to pick up a pair of ear plugs after reading this thread I've had a slight tinnitis in my right ear since a crazy ear infection when I was 10, it's annoying as hell, but only noticeable when i'm laying in bed and it's very quiet (or if i put pressure on my ear drum.)

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NB I went to a venue I've never been to before.

My ears a ringing after using my new plugs. My old $1 plug, my ears don't ring @ all, but the music isn't as high. That's all that needs to be said for me, really. I wan't no tinnitus vs perfect clarity (if I wanted that I wouldn't wear plugs FFS).

Going to try them again @ a new club, as well as trying them @ the same place Cam is at, but so far, 1st test says $1 are better protection for your hearing, at the cost of muffled highs.

--djway(who goes off grumbling about ringing ears again!)

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quote:

Originally posted by Lanithium do you guys have a store? would be interested in coming down to check it out if u do

As of next week we'll have a semi-storefront, it'll be "under construction" though so there won't be a lot to look at
Details will be on website when we're ready.

Hi guys, I'm back again.

Here's an article on the ravesafe.org site I found.

Hearing damage real issue for ravers

"As a licensed audiologist in the USA, I was pleased to see that you included information about hearing loss from exposure to the loud music of raves, but there were some inaccuracies that need to be addressed.

First, the damage that occurs from exposure to loud music is not only permanent, it is immediate. Many ravers and clubbers will experience permanent hearing damage during the party, but may not notice it until later, often in the form of difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise, like in a restaurant or at a party. As time goes on, the damage can worse and problems can include difficulty even in quiet situations. Another common result of exposure to very loud music is ringing in the ears (tinnitus), which most ravers and clubbers report hearing immediately upon leaving the party. This tinnitus is a symptom of damage to the structures of the ears.

A recent study revealed that the level of sound in dance clubs in San Francisco often reached 115 dB, the same loudness level as a sandblaster and louder than a power saw. These sound levels can cause damage within seconds, not minutes or hours. It's important to note that these measurements were taken at some distance from the sound speakers, such as at the bar. The closer you are to the sound source, the louder it is - a sound that is 115 dB from 12 feet away can be 121 dB at 3 feet away! Dancing in front of the speakers is the surest way to permanently damage your hearing.

Sticking toilet paper in the ears will, at most, reduce sound levels by about 7 dB and is wholly ineffective. Of particular danger is that doing so can give ravers and clubbers a false sense of security, leading them to move closer to the speakers and therefore, to even greater damage. Earplugs designed specifically to reduce the loudness of sounds are the only safe defense from hearing loss. The cheap foam plugs you can buy at the drug store are quite effective when used properly (less that $1 US per pair). Custom-made high-fidelity earplugs that are formed specifically for an individual's own ears last for many years, are much more comfortable than foam plugs, and provide excellent protection while maintaining a clear, crisp sound quality (about $150 US per pair).

Unfortunately, you're correct in stating that commonly used ear plugs block "most of the sound" out-- the inexpensive foam earplugs over-reduce the high-frequencies, reducing the clarity of the music and making it sound muffled and "boomy." High-fidelity plugs eliminate these problems, but they are somewhat expensive. Can rolled-up tissue paper or toilet roll be considered "better than nothing?" Tissue paper provides a false sense of protection that can actually be worse than nothing because it leads party-goers to believe they can safely dance nearer the speakers, etc., thus potentially resulting in greater damage.

There is one particular compromise in terms of cost/sound quality/protection. There are hi-fidelity "stock" earplugs called "ER-20's" that retail for about $35 US per pair. These are not custom fit but they are comfortable and long-lasting. They provide about 20 decibels of attenuation-- typically adequate for most environments-- but without reducing the crispness, clarity and naturalness of the sound quality. The only potential drawback is that when they're in place, they look a bit like Frankenstein ears because there's a stem that sticks out of the ear. Then again, maybe it would start a new fashion trend among club kids. . . !



And if you think that hearing loss is only for old people, or that it can't happen to you, it's important to know that Great Britain's Royal Institute of the Deaf found that 62% of regular clubbers have symptoms of hearing loss."

Letter from Steve Benton ([email protected])

17th January 2001


Source: http://www.ravesafe.org/letters/letters_17012001.htm

I decided to finally spend some time looking into the various plugs that Etymotic are offering.

This is an important graph:



The sound level at the dance events we go to would be around 115dB.
From the graph, just a few minutes exposure each week without protection is unsafe.

An ER-20 plug would bring the level down to 95dB for your ears.
This would allow you to spend 4 hours each week. Spending more time than that each week can be damaging.

An ER-25 plug would bring the level down to 90dB for your ears.
This would allow you to spend around 11 hours each week exposed to sound at 115dB. That's almost 3 times the time "limit" for the ER-20!

Now onto these graphs:





We can see that deeply-inserted foam ear plugs offer the best protection, however there is extreme attenuation above 2KHz, which results in muffling of the sound... a bit like decreasing the treble down to 0 and leaving the bass high... which is a poor quality listening experience. Music, especially trance, is not meant to be experienced that way! I've tried it before, the music just doesn't feel the same... there's little point in going to an event if that's the way I am going to hear the music!

Shallowly-inserted ear plugs isn't any better than the ER-20, until above the 1KHz point. The uneveness then results in muffling.

The best option is therefore the ER-25. You get crisp and clear sound so that you can experience the music as close as possible to how it is meant to be experienced, and a good amount of attenuation to allow your ears to be exposed to up to 11 hours per week of sounds at 115dB. The upfront cost may seem high, however this is something you can use for many years. A nice jacket or pants could cost as much, and what do they do for you?

Wade, did you get to try your plugs out at other places?

Cam, did you get the ER-25, and could you tell us how and where you got your plugs? I'd really like to know how your plugs go, so please tell us.

Those of you who have bought plugs, please share your experiences with us.

Thanks guys.

Oh crap!! i need plugs!

quickly people, do your testing.

test test test!

recommend!

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