Ear protection

I know you said that you weren't particularly interested in fitted ones, but I don't think you'll get 'off the shelf' ones that'll give you flat attenuation the way you want.

I got a pair of Elacin ER15s. These are custom made noise filters, having a flat 15dB attenuation across the frequency rang of 250 Hz to 8KHz. This is the important frequency range for speech discrimination and understanding,
therefore of importance in preserving our hearing within this frequencies.

The main advantage of the device is that being custom made it may be worn for long periods without discomfort and prevents the "plugged" sensation within the ear as it's main function is to reduce the noise level rather than block the ear.

I had to have a ear test and a 'fitting' ... but it was quick and easy. They are very comfortable, and it really does sound like the volume has just been turned down.

Alot of my DJ friends also use them ... and you have to be able to hear the music correctly to DJ.

I seem to remember the cost was something around £180 ... which ain't much to pay to protect your hearing

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I am afraid that if you want ear plugs with good audio quality (flat attenuation of the whole audible spectrum), you need to hunt for ER plugs from etimotic research. Audio Prothesist are ftting them. They take a print of your ears. The only drawback is the price (around £100)

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Thanks for that. I've been to their site ( www.etymotic.com ) and ordered the cheaper ER-20 standard fit plugs ($10) which claim 20DB of flat attenuation. If they don't do it I will investigate the dear fitted ones.

Tony.

ER-20

These both trade at £91+vat per pair and impressions can be done by your local friendly hearing aid dispenser (like myself) for around £40 per pair (total around £150).

Must say I risk it myself, but I am still suffering after Neil Youngs encores at Sheffield in June

Not enough to cause major probs, things just very slightly muffled in that ear.

Why on earth attend shows that blast your ears out. A few hours of fun is not worth a lifetime of hearing difficulties.

Surely the promoters should ban excessively high noises.

Amazed

Mick

You're right. This is another reason for buying an expensive "live-sounding" hi-fi with a volume control.

I've had friends saying "you spent how much? I could go to a gig every day for the next 10 year for that kind of money"..... and get hearing problems.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Here's the scary part: if 85dB(A) is tolerable - though not a good idea - for long periods of time, what is the exposure limit for minimum effect at higher levels? From the American Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines the numbers work out like this:

• 95 dB - 4 hours
• 100dB - 2 hours
• 110dB - 30minutes
• 120dB - 7.5minutes

The time is cumulative, so a couple of concerts averaging 110dB will have caused you permanent hearing loss, regardless of whether you experienced tinnitus or NITTS (noise induced temporary threshold shift).

Meanwhile the problem gets worse. One study I have read noted that ambient urban noise levels in the UK have risen 15dB in the last 30 years, and now we're trying to drown it out - so don't overlook the ubiquitous walkman as a source of problems. The page I pulled the figures from cited an Australian study concluding that ...'today's 10 to 15-year-olds will start to lose their hearing 30 years sooner than their parents'.

Earplugs - even expensive ones - suddenly seem incredibly good value.

MC

90dB for 4 hours
93dB for 2 hours
96dB for 1 hour

As stated earlier I think the biggest risk is lack of decent compression at small gigs / discos. I remember seeing Motorhead etc 20 years ago with PAs that paled into significance next to todays disco rigs

Still its good business for me

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Originally posted by Martin Clark:
UK limits on exposure to noise at work start at 85dB(A)

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Which brings up another interesting point. The values used here are on the A-weighted scale - that's the 'A' in db(A). This is one of a series of scales that are related to the typical frequency response of a human ear. Our ears respond differently depending on both frequency and overal sound pressure, and these scales attempt to generate an average that matches the ear response under various conditions.

The A scale was designed for general sounds - conversation, work noise - but not sounds with a significant low frequency content, or significant pressure. For full range music, it is considered better to use the C scale - dB(C) - for measuring the pressure. Unfortunately the governmental standards bodies in both the US and the UK have yet to modify their recommendations and laws to take this into account, inspite of significant lobbying from the pro-sound world.

The problem with using dB(A) specifications is that if the situation being measured contains lots of low frequencies, the dB(A) scale will not take account of it. So you could be suffering damage and not realise it.

Major concerts are now being checked for compliance with the relevant laws, but those laws may be "bad" law in the sense that they are based on use outdated research and don't take account of dB(A) vs dB(C) issues.

Steve

Regards

Mick

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Originally posted by Mr Tibbs.:
I am certain my hearing never fully recovered to its pre-Extreme level.

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Quite likely - the advice is that once you experience "level shift" (ringing, numbness, pain, etc.) you have done damage. The only question is how much.

As I tell the bands that I do live sound for - you only have one set of ears, be careful!