User:Evagebel/sandbox

Musician's or 'Hi-Fi' earplugs[edit | edit source]

Musicians are exposed to potentially harmful levels of sound, which can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory symptoms. Because of this, musicians may choose to use earplugs. There are multiple types of earplug that a musician may choose from depending on the type of music, instruments being used, and the number of performers. Depending on their type of instrument, musicians may choose to use preformed earplugs, custom earplugs, custom in-ear monitors, foam earplugs, or level-dependent .

Musician's earplugs are designed to attenuate sounds evenly across all frequencies (pitches) which helps maintain the ear's natural frequency response and thus minimizes the effect on the user's perception of bass and treble levels. These are commonly used by musicians and technicians, both in the studio and in concert, to avoid overexposure to high volume levels. Musician's earplugs generally achieve this by incorporating a tiny diaphragm to reduce low frequencies, together with absorbent or damping material for high frequencies. These earplugs are not intended for protection from very high noise levels (beyond 105 dB). Preformed earplugs, such as the ER-20 earplug are universal (non-custom) earplugs with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of about 12 dB. A more expensive option is the custom musician's earplug, which is custom-made for the individual listener. These earplugs are typically made out of silicone or vinyl materials and come with a vent and a variety of filters that can change the amount of attenuation provided. Common filter attenuations are 9, 15, and 25 dB, and with these filters, the musician can adjust their earplugs depending on the music they are playing. In order to have custom musicians' earplugs made, an audiologist administers a hearing test and makes molds of the ear. A company then makes a custom ear-piece into which the different filters may be inserted. These types of earplugs will provide the flattest attenuation and the truest isolation from outside noise, as they fit firmly into the individual's ears. They also provide much better protection from very high noise levels. This type of plug is quite popular amongst audio engineers who can safely listen to loud mixes for extended periods of time. However, they can be quite costly, being intended for constant re-use unlike simple earplugs which are disposable.

Alternately, musicians may use in-ear monitors, which are essentially headphones that also serve as earplugs by attenuating surrounding sound. In order for in-ear monitors to double up as hearing protection, custom earpieces should be used. The process for having custom earpieces made is similar to that or the custom musician's earplug and, similarly, the earpiece will be made of silicone or vinyl. While using an in-ear monitor can help protect hearing, the amount of protection provided by the monitor depends on the listening level that the musician chooses. Because of this, if the musician sets the monitor to a high level, the monitor may attenuate surrounding sound while still providing a potentially harmful level of sound directly to the musician's ear and therefore no longer serve a protective function.

Although not by definition a musician's earplug, foam and level-dependent earplugs also may be used. These types of earplug do not provide the flat attenuation that is characteristic of a musician's plug, but may be useful for some musicians, such as percussion or timpani players.