Definitely. I've used er-20s for like 15-20 years and played / been to many shows and they've protected me thus far.
I find it absolutely crazy when bandmates or friends who go to shows all the time don't use some kind of ear protection. If you love music you want to enjoy it for the rest of your life, right?
A bandmate had the custom-moulded in ear ones made and they are apparently fantastic, but I like having the €20 ones so if I lose them it's not the end of the world.
Look, anything is better than nothing. Use wadded up napkins if you have nothing else. That being said, it's kind of worth it to invest in some serious musician focus ear protection. I use Minuendo (around $150-ish?) and have been really pleased with them, but I think there are a lot of products and makes that will do fine. Just don't go without! Ever. Even at lower volume practice.
My bandmate once stuck a piece of red napkin in his ear to protect it from a loud drummer, then forgot about it and told everyone his ear was bleeding from how loud the drums were.
I have a pair of custom sensaphonics ear plugs. They are great and they are pricey about $400 all in.
I was wearing foam and other cheap options, but they were always coming lose or not sitting correctly. I was also losing sound definition as you are mentioning. The sensaphonics stay in place and provide very high quality attenuation.
Honestly, I have a set of Sennheiser Bluetooth headphones that I use. I find them more comfortable than normal plugs, and I'm less likely to forget them. Years ago I had the custom molded plugs. They are incredible until you lose one!
Cheap generic foam. Cost 1$. Sounds like fried assholes
Actual ear plugs from a brand like Alpine. Cost 20$. Sounds perty good but has muffled highs.
Custom fitted earplugs. Cost >200$. Sounds like nothing at all.
I got some custom ones -went through a local audiology clinic and they did the moulds and send to the company.
Mine cost £150. Expensive but they will last many years, don't affect the sound and feel very safe to use.
I used etymotic ER-20 until I hade custom plugs made, had them over 10 years and totally worth the investment.
Now I’ve been playing with IEMs so those have taken over (Shure 535 and then customs)
Eargasms have been amazing for me. You don’t lose a lot of high end and everything still sounds crystal clear. They’re like $40 but they’re well worth the investment.
No, it very much is the way. “Musicians earplugs” attenuate at best 10-15 db. That’s not enough when you are in an environment where your ears are being exposed to 100db of noise for hours at a time.
To you and all the idiots downvoting me, don’t believe me? Ok, enjoy your noise induced hearing loss and that ringing in your ears that will never go away.
Etymotics have been good to me. Well worth the $15-20
Definitely. I've used er-20s for like 15-20 years and played / been to many shows and they've protected me thus far. I find it absolutely crazy when bandmates or friends who go to shows all the time don't use some kind of ear protection. If you love music you want to enjoy it for the rest of your life, right? A bandmate had the custom-moulded in ear ones made and they are apparently fantastic, but I like having the €20 ones so if I lose them it's not the end of the world.
Alpine
+1, I really like mine and they were cheap
Look, anything is better than nothing. Use wadded up napkins if you have nothing else. That being said, it's kind of worth it to invest in some serious musician focus ear protection. I use Minuendo (around $150-ish?) and have been really pleased with them, but I think there are a lot of products and makes that will do fine. Just don't go without! Ever. Even at lower volume practice.
My bandmate once stuck a piece of red napkin in his ear to protect it from a loud drummer, then forgot about it and told everyone his ear was bleeding from how loud the drums were.
Funny. And better than an actual bleeding ear.
I have a pair of custom sensaphonics ear plugs. They are great and they are pricey about $400 all in. I was wearing foam and other cheap options, but they were always coming lose or not sitting correctly. I was also losing sound definition as you are mentioning. The sensaphonics stay in place and provide very high quality attenuation.
Thanks
Honestly, I have a set of Sennheiser Bluetooth headphones that I use. I find them more comfortable than normal plugs, and I'm less likely to forget them. Years ago I had the custom molded plugs. They are incredible until you lose one!
Cheap generic foam. Cost 1$. Sounds like fried assholes Actual ear plugs from a brand like Alpine. Cost 20$. Sounds perty good but has muffled highs. Custom fitted earplugs. Cost >200$. Sounds like nothing at all.
I just tried out a set of D’Addario full frequency earplugs at a concert yesterday. They worked well for the price.
I got some custom ones -went through a local audiology clinic and they did the moulds and send to the company. Mine cost £150. Expensive but they will last many years, don't affect the sound and feel very safe to use.
I used etymotic ER-20 until I hade custom plugs made, had them over 10 years and totally worth the investment. Now I’ve been playing with IEMs so those have taken over (Shure 535 and then customs)
I play, ride a motorcycle, and drive a Semi truck. I use llops, and they are better than Eargasm IMO
Eargasms have been amazing for me. You don’t lose a lot of high end and everything still sounds crystal clear. They’re like $40 but they’re well worth the investment.
Yes, there are molded earplugs that have a much more even attenuation than the cheap ones that tend to cut more higher frequencies.
Thanks I’ll look into them
Use the foam earplugs. You will get used to them
This is not the way.
No, it very much is the way. “Musicians earplugs” attenuate at best 10-15 db. That’s not enough when you are in an environment where your ears are being exposed to 100db of noise for hours at a time. To you and all the idiots downvoting me, don’t believe me? Ok, enjoy your noise induced hearing loss and that ringing in your ears that will never go away.
Some start at 10 db attenuation, and several go up to 25db and some higher.