I know many DJ’s on here advocate the use of ear protection not only when playing a set but when attending a club or gig,to help prevent tinnitus. I myself have recently started using ear protection, and have already noticed a huge difference in how much I am able to enjoy club events without being half deaf.
I’ve started using the Planet Waves foam Musicians Earplugs, -24dB, though I think that -24dB is a little too much. They cause the sound to be quite muddy and I found the drops in a techno set i was at on saturday a little less ‘oompfh’-y as they should have been.
As a poor student I cant afford custom moulded ones, but it made me ask the question, what does everyone else use?
Hearos from Guitar Center (or Etymotics as they are called elsewhere) are good and cheap, $15.
If you want custom molded earplugs and live close to San Francisco, visit the AES exhibition as every time I’ve visited AES the last times you get free molds for custom earplugs, a $70 saving.
Anyway, this is mostly of interest to those who want to DJ and produce beyond the age of 45.
I used these for several years. Mine were blue (blue and white are different sizes). The response was MUCH flatter than with foam earplugs of any kind. The earplugs still had a rolloff on the highs that was a little annoying, but didn’t really get in the way of mixing. These were not comfortable to wear for more than a couple hours, and they were annoying under headphones - so monitors are preferred.
I switched to the custom molded earplugs about two years ago. I will NOT go back. The response is greatly improved. The earplugs are comfortable to wear for 6 to 8 hours at a time, multiple days in a row. I went to an ENT and say the audiologist to be fitted for mine, and get a hearing screening to get a good baseline. It was the same price as the DIY kit for the earplugs.
EDIT: Here is a link to one kind of custom molded earplugs. Mine are similar.
