How to stop the music... (sort of)

Posted by: nickpeacock on 31 October 2016

Richard, please let me know if this infringes any forum rules...

It's not often that we want to stop hearing the music, of course, but the gig-goers amongst us who are worried about our hearing may be interested in a product that I have just bought, namely Flare Audio Ltd's "Isolate" range of ear protectors. They are designed for repeat use a with removable earfoam tips of different sizes; the body is metal - I bought the titanium version. When fitted correctly, they are designed to allow only bone-conducted, rather than direct, sound.

Recommended by a professional sound engineer buddy of mine, I hope that these will avoid the need for those horrible cheap foam things from now on...

(I shall be road-testing them at the Christine and the Queens gig at Brixton Academy on Thursday!)

Posted on: 31 October 2016 by Eloise

nickpeacock posted:
(I shall be road-testing them at the Christine and the Queens gig at Brixton Academy on Thursday!)

Thats what I love about Naimites ... such a wide and varied tastes in music. So many "Audiophile" forums are stuck up and people listen to a narrow range of genres.

Hope you enjoy Christine...

Posted on: 31 October 2016 by nickpeacock

Eloise posted:
nickpeacock posted:
(I shall be road-testing them at the Christine and the Queens gig at Brixton Academy on Thursday!)
Thats what I love about Naimites ... such a wide and varied tastes in music. So many "Audiophile" forums are stuck up and people listen to a narrow range of genres.
Hope you enjoy Christine...

Ha - last night it was Wooden Shjips at the Scala - now there's a band!

Posted on: 01 November 2016 by joerand

Interesting to read about these. I use foam earplugs regularly to protect my (remaining) hearing; any exposure to loud motors or machinery beyond a few minutes, sporting events, concerts, etc. The problem for me with direct foam inserts is that they tend to push earwax into the ear canal which eventually results in a wax plug that needs to be removed. When practical I use headphone style hearing protection as an alternative, but who wants to wear those outside the home or yard? I've taken the cheap foam plugs I use in and out of my ears at concerts and determined that the dB protection they give is more important to me than any reduction in SQ. I wouldn't spend $60 for titanium core foam plugs or half that for the aluminum model. Then again, I'm not an avid concert goer. Could be good VFM for one who is, especially with ears younger than mine.

Posted on: 01 November 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Nick - I use something similar when playing if things get too loud during rehearsals. Works quite well.

Posted on: 01 November 2016 by blythe

I have several pairs of similar in-ear "defenders" including some Etymotic ones which cut the volume but still allow some of the high frequencies through, so it doesn't sound like having fingers in your ears.
As someone who has suffered from tints for several years, I value protecting what's left of my hearing and even relatively "quiet" gigs, I always wear them. Same when playing drums or electric guitar.
I just wish I'd done so when I was a young lad...
They only really do in a few mm so they shouldn't push wax further into your ears.
JORAND, wax is a problem I also suffer with, I'm just resigned to "oiling" my ears every week with Olive oil to help to keep the wax soft, then have them syringed once a year.