Plugs... Yes or No?

[Magius]

Etymotics

 

[Diamond45]

So if most people have to wear earplugs at a metal concert, what should that logically tell sound engineers in the metal world?

I think you're answered your own question. However, will anybody listen? Or are they deaf as well?

 

[xman]

A must when your ears start hurting !

 

[ApolloFC]

No. Progpower was simply nothing compared to 3 / Porcupine tree when I saw them at bogats in cincinnati. (I didn't think to buy them ahead of time either) 3 / Porcupine was my first real show at a "small venue" like bogarts and I didn't know what to expect. Granted after 3 / Porcupine tree I began watching them towards the back where the bar was (also because I'm 5`9 .. hard to watch a show when almost ever guy is taller than you) I wasn't in the pit but I was relatively near it (I was the dude standing up and air drumming to pagan's mind the entire set...literally) People around me didn't seem to have plugs in either as far as I could tell. The only problem I really had was that my voice went from like a 0-7 (from good to worse) cause I was talking much louder than I usually do but that was no problem after a day of rest or so. Will I wear plugs at the next prog power I go to? As a "just-in-case" thing perhaps. Most likely I will just get better (for listening) seating.

 

[General Zod]

This is what I do. It works.

Spend the $12... it's well worth it for the health of your hearing, the quality of sound, and so that you don't look like someone with toilet paper in his ears.

Zod

 

[edgeofthorns]

Yep, I want to be able to hear my kids talk to me when I'm older!

~Brian~

 

[wolf2112]

So if most people have to wear earplugs at a metal concert, what should that logically tell sound engineers in the metal world?

Strangely enough, even though I had them in, I didn't even need them when I saw Rush in 2002. Best live mix I've ever heard!

 

[ratanda]

Cool, I'm going to try out these Etymotics. Where can you buy them? Normally I buy a giant pack of Walgreen/CVS brand foam ear plugs.

Every now and then there will be the concert where earplugs are NOT needed. Where you can hear everything pretty clearly and not be deafened (I would normally notice this at ProgPower shows in the past actually), and that's really really nice, but typically, earplugs are a must.

 

[shreddy]

See my post above with the Amazon links, thats your cheapest price you can get those for. I used to buy them at the local Violin shops but had to drive there and pay tax. Got a pair from Amazon for $8 added some other items to my list so I could get the free shipping and there is no tax.

Rick Pierpont, Entymotics makes them for smaller ear canals as well they're called Baby Blues.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

For those of you that are musicians and want a serious pair of Etymotics you can go get some custom formed ones to your ears, they run about $150-200
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx

 

[Jibrille]

Cool, I'm going to try out these Etymotics. Where can you buy them? Normally I buy a giant pack of Walgreen/CVS brand foam ear plugs.

Every now and then there will be the concert where earplugs are NOT needed. Where you can hear everything pretty clearly and not be deafened (I would normally notice this at ProgPower shows in the past actually), and that's really really nice, but typically, earplugs are a must.

There's two colors on sale at Amazon
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-White/dp/B0015WNZBI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253287714&sr=1-2"]White with Red Stem[/ame] - $7.52
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Purple/dp/B0015WNZB8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1253287714&sr=1-6"]White with Purple Stem[/ame] - $7.67
As usual, free shipping if you spend $25 or have Prime.

I usually grabbed them directly through Etymotic but they're $12 each and you have to pay for shipping.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

 

[Kimavir]

ProgPower is actually really quiet as far as most shows I've been too. I wear plugs for most shows, but never feel the need at PP since the volume is tastefully low.

 

[SharkBlack]

So if most people have to wear earplugs at a metal concert, what should that logically tell sound engineers in the metal world?

Turn it up!

 

[Pabla]

If by "cheap ones" you're referring to the crappy foam or wax earplugs that are available in drug stores, then yes, it makes a huge difference. Those earplugs are designed to block out as much sound as possible. The problem is, they block out a lot more high-frequency sound than low-frequency sound. That's great for a noisy construction site or something, since excessive high-frequency sound does more damage to your ears than excessive low-frequency sound... but at a concert, the result of these cheap earplugs is that a lot of the higher-pitched sounds, like lead guitars, get too muted, and you wind up hearing a muddy mix of mostly low-end frequencies. On the other hand earplugs made specifically for music, such as the Etymotics earplugs many have mentioned here, are designed to reduce the sound level more evenly across the frequency spectrum, so you get a much more even reduction in overall volume, as opposed to having too much of the high-frequencies blocked out. The bottom line is, foam earplugs will ruin a concert, to the point where it's hardly even worth going. Definitely get a pair of earplugs designed for music. Keep in mind, it won't be 100% pristine sound as if you were wearing no earplugs at all... but it still sounds good, and will greatly reduce the chances of long-term hearing loss, which is cumulative (i.e., your hearing gets damaged a little more every time you are exposed to extremely loud sound). Seems like a reasonable tradeoff to me.

Really appreciate your input. Yes, I did use the cheapy foam ones before and everything sounded muffled. I will defo get a pair of good ones to test out.

BTW, which brand would be the "rolls royce" of ear plugs for max music enjoyment?

 

[madFive]

I usually always wear those little light-blue-green foamy disposable ones that you get in drug stores. 18-20bd reduction, and they're the most comfortable thing to my ears that I've tried (all the nicer diaphram ones I've tried chafe my ears, and I can't wear them for very long).

I almost always wear plugs to metal shows; the majority of the shows I go to, you have to wear them, or it's just outright painfull. But this year PP didn't seem too loud at all: friday, I brought my plugs and didn't even bother using them; saturday I forgot them, and there were only a few moments where I regretted this (squeaky notes from Pagan's Mind singer). My ears were ringing a little the next day, though; so I probably will go back to wearing them regaurdless from now on.

 

[AirGuitarLoonhouse]

Started a few years ago. The good ones actually make it everthing sound better, like going from regular TV to HD. Also, I want to be able to hear my kids. Especially in about 10 years when they start trying to sneak in the house after being out late!

I highly recommend the Etymotic ones. I've been in their office and I've done some work with them. Top notch research and team they have!

 

[Pellaz]

Always.

I usually just pick up a box of the barrel-shaped foam ones at CVS and then give the extras to friends. The conical-shaped ones tend to slide or worm their way out of my ears, hence I get the the barrel-shaped plugs...and the Etymotics plugs have me a bit leery since they also seem to be somewhat conical-shaped.

During shows, I do sometimes pull them out if a band plays a favorite song...plus I always try to 'test' and see what the unblocked audio sounds like.

(As a sidenote, Center Stage sells pairs of earplugs for $1.)

No, but I wish I had during the announcement for PP-XI

No kidding! I had mine out during the announcement video and halfway through I thought "Well, shit, this is really fucking loud....oh, well, too late!"