Every professional musician performing on stage, every sound engineer, and every avid concert fan could certainly benefit from the use of custom ear plugs designed specifically for listening to music. They are as important as good speakers and finely tuned instruments. Maybe more so, because they provide superior hearing protection along with quality sound and that makes the likelihood of hearing loss less severe.
Regular plugs block sound and hearing becomes muffled. That works for hearing protection but, for musicians and music lovers alike, there is a definite need to be able to hear all of the frequencies: high tones, medium tones, and low tones. Musician's ear plugs come in different ranges for different frequencies depending on your need. There are different filters. The -9db filter can be for use when you want to filter out ambient noise. A -15db filter is the one most commonly used by musicians. And a -25db filter is used when you are in very loud environments.
Anything above 85 decibels is considered potentially harmful and can cause nerve damage and temporary or permanent hearing loss. Let's say you are performing on stage or are listening to music that is at 100 decibels (which is the equivalent to the noise level of a chain saw). With unprotected ears, you are at risk of hearing damage. With ear plugs fitted with -15db filters, you have just lowered the volume down to the acceptable 85 decibel range and are still able to clearly hear the sound.
Ear plugs for musicians are engineered to be distortion free and, in effect, lower the volume across the board for all frequencies. The variety of filters are tuned acoustically so that you do not lose any of the quality of the sound. Some ear plugs offer the added convenience of being able to interchange filters so you can adapt your protection to whichever setting you may be in.
Consult a hearing protection professional such as an audiologist or a hearing aid distributor. This is your first step in acquiring ear plugs tailored just for you. The specialist will discuss with you what your needs are and what the best type of protection should be. Then they will make an exact impression of your ears.
This impression will then be sent to the manufacturer who will engineer your ear plugs according to your specifications. There are quite a few companies who specialize in musician's ear plugs and offer the different kinds of filters. The internet makes comparison shopping easy and comfortable.
Do your homework. Ask your musician friends and recording engineers. Take a look at online reviews. Consult with your audiologist. You will benefit from quality custom ear plugs and so will your music.
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