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Thread: Attenuating earplugs

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    Attenuating earplugs

    Does anyone use the type of attenuating earplugs that reduce the sound volume evenly across the frequency range. If so, are they any good for dancing with and do they look strange?

    I went to a freestyle last night at Wilton and found the music too loud, even at the back of the hall, and have a hissing ear today. I did a geeky sound level measurement with my phone and it was at a level not recommended for more than 30 mins. Since other people didn't seem worried, I would like to find a way that allows me to go to freestyles without going deaf.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    I've used them on stage, and loved them.

    The music is all there, totally... even with the details and subtleties... just quieter.

    I've never danced with them in, but imagine they'd be fine. The most bizarre part is talking (or trying to) with them in... Ur own voice is really loud, yet U can't really be heard... U need to learn to balance ur spoken voice!!

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by MrB View Post
    I did a geeky sound level measurement with my phone and it was at a level not recommended for more than 30 mins. Since other people didn't seem worried, I would like to find a way that allows me to go to freestyles without going deaf.
    Talk to the DJ and/or the venue manager and explain the health & safety implications and legal implications to them. Hate to be a killjoy but the music shouldn't be so loud that you're still affected the next day.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    I don't know what the health and safety limits are, so don't feel I can say anything when other people don't seem too worried. Also, I wouldn't want to be the person everyone points at saying " it was him, he made us turn the music down and ruined it for everyone else".

    All I know is it was way too loud for me - my phone showed 97dB(A) at the back of the hall and I couldn't hear what other people were saying. From what I have found on the interweb, that level isn't bad in the very short term, but you shouldn't stay there for more than about 30 mins without expecting some problems, especially if you do that every week.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Unfortunately the best option may be to simply stop going to that venue. Using earplugs is going to help, but you may be inclined to remove them for chatting etc. And I think using earplugs could also cause your ears to try even harder to 'hear' thus increasing sensitivity to sound, though this may only apply if you already have hyperacusis (senstivity to sound).

    My rough guide is if you have to lean right over and shout/speak loudly into a person's ear to have a conversation - then its time to leave. I love dancing, but I'm not going to destroy my hearing for it. I know too many people with permanent hearing loss and tinnitus to risk it.

    And aside from that, I like going dancing to socialise as well and if the volume is too loud to have a conversation comfortably then it spoils my enjoyment of the evening.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Thanks for the replies.

    Before I give up on a venue, I might try the earplugs. Sometimes my regular venue's music is turned up a lot higher than it usually is, so it is difficult to know what to expect. I am guessing that there is no min/max levels that are used - just whatever the person in control of the volume feels is right on the night.

    There appears to be a brand "Alpine Music safe pro" that have 3 different levels of sound reduction. If anyone has used them and has any comments....

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    I haven't used those ones... the ones I had (made to measure) were discreet and were -15 dB, which was LOADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    There are -45 dB, but that just seems ridiculous... wouldn't work for any kind of music/dance situationsat all...

    I hope this helps.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by MrB View Post
    Thanks for the replies.

    Before I give up on a venue, I might try the earplugs. Sometimes my regular venue's music is turned up a lot higher than it usually is, so it is difficult to know what to expect. I am guessing that there is no min/max levels that are used - just whatever the person in control of the volume feels is right on the night.

    There appears to be a brand "Alpine Music safe pro" that have 3 different levels of sound reduction. If anyone has used them and has any comments....
    I think the Alpine ones are the ones ChrisB and I use....Chris?? If so, I don't know about him, but I always use the highest level (gold) except when I've lost them or inadvertently put them through the washing machine, in which case I use the silvers (next one down). I use them all the time, they're totally comfortable and they do cut the noise to comfortable levels. You can ease them in and out when you want to adjust what you can hear; you don't even need to take them out. You can see them a bit, but they're not massively obvious. I think it's mainly the coloured plug at the end which is visible as a spot disappearing into your ear.

    I don't know anything about attentuating ear plugs - what's the difference between them and the others?

    ...Music is always too loud for me, with very few exceptions, and I get tinnitus for the next 8 hours or so if I don't use them. In my experience, DJs don't want to turn the sound down, or if they do, it's by very little, and then they turn it straight up again. Most people don't seem affected at a venue even if I'm actually in pain from the noise, so I don't ask that often now.

    I don't know this makes me especially sensitive, but my hearing isn't as good as it used to be in conversation so I'm probably going deaf anyway...

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Thanks - I think the made to measure option is a bit expensive as a first attempt. I am just hoping the Alpines don't look too obvious.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by CheesyRobMan View Post
    Talk to the DJ and/or the venue manager and explain the health & safety implications and legal implications to them. Hate to be a killjoy but the music shouldn't be so loud that you're still affected the next day.
    AFIK there are no health and safety implications, except for employees. I did a lot of searches on sound levels, and all I could find on the official sites was a recommendation that the public should not be able to get with a metre or so of the speakers. Nevertheless my local venues have made efforts to address the situation.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Thanks Moondance. They sound like the way to go for the moment. By attenuating I mean equal sound reduction across the frequency range, rather than foam sound blockers.

    I thought it was just me with the problem with loud music. I did ask whether the sound could be turned down once, but it was tweaked back up over the next few tracks, so I also don't bother any more.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    I suspect that my hearing is damaged from years of working with jet-turbine engines and small arms with insufficient protection, but I find that:
    a. At some venues, the music hurts my ears and leaves me with a "buzzing" afterwards, when everyone else seems OK.
    b. I tend to struggle to hear conversations when there's any kind of background noise, while everyone else seems to manage OK.

    Is that because of damage in certain frequency ranges and not others?
    Or is it just because I'm ready for my Zimmer frame?

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I suspect that my hearing is damaged from years of working with jet-turbine engines and small arms with insufficient protection, but I find that...


    Or is it just because I'm ready for my Zimmer frame?
    ... albeit one fitted with a Prat & Whitney J58 and a 20mm cannon mounted on the front..

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by MrB View Post
    I thought it was just me with the problem with loud music. I did ask whether the sound could be turned down once, but it was tweaked back up over the next few tracks, so I also don't bother any more.
    Not just you - I find sound levels uncomfortable at most venues.
    Quote Originally Posted by MrB View Post
    By attenuating I mean equal sound reduction across the frequency range, rather than foam sound blockers.
    I do use the cheap foam ones - they are livable-with in terms of hearing the music.
    Quote Originally Posted by Moondancer View Post
    I think the Alpine ones are the ones ChrisB and I use....Chris??
    Hmm - where do you get them?
    Love dance, will travel

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Nah; I'm not ready for a zimmer either (yet). If you think it's bad at MJ venues, try going out into the "real" world and dancing in 'muggle' nightclubs Communication drops to one word shouts, gestures and looks. Come out of places like that and you're hearing a background 'buzz' for a long time... at least I am.

    Normally the speakers point away from the stage, so it's quieter behind them. Although I mostly get told to turn it up rather than down

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I suspect that my hearing is damaged from years of working with jet-turbine engines and small arms with insufficient protection, but I find that:
    a. At some venues, the music hurts my ears and leaves me with a "buzzing" afterwards, when everyone else seems OK.
    b. I tend to struggle to hear conversations when there's any kind of background noise, while everyone else seems to manage OK.

    Is that because of damage in certain frequency ranges and not others?
    Or is it just because I'm ready for my Zimmer frame?
    A and b for me too. Gav, you should definitely try earplugs for the post-dance tinnitus. I shan't comment on the Zimmer frame as I don't think we've danced together yet!

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I suspect that my hearing is damaged from years of working with jet-turbine engines and small arms with insufficient protection, but I find that:
    a. At some venues, the music hurts my ears and leaves me with a "buzzing" afterwards, when everyone else seems OK.
    b. I tend to struggle to hear conversations when there's any kind of background noise, while everyone else seems to manage OK.

    Is that because of damage in certain frequency ranges and not others?
    Or is it just because I'm ready for my Zimmer frame?
    a) is tinnitus, a sign that hearing damage is probably occuring. I know someone with mild permenant tinnitus from one night years ago at a live gig. Its background for her and really only bothers at night when there is no other noise. I also know someone with more severe tinnitus which is very debilitating, a constant noise that makes concentrating on anything else very difficult.

    b) that means you have some hearing loss, that's a fairly common indicator, not able to hear conversations. If it detoriates a hearing aid will help, but that can bring all the noise up.


    To those who have tinnitus or buzzing after being somewhere, or sound hurting their ears - definitely use earplugs - don't let your hearing get even more damaged. If the noise was affecting me that way I wouldn't even stay 10 mins in the venue! (I know that makes me sound boring but I want to protect my hearing.)

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    Not just you - I find sound levels uncomfortable at most venues.I do use the cheap foam ones - they are livable-with in terms of hearing the music.
    Hmm - where do you get them?
    Quote Originally Posted by Moondancer View Post
    I think the Alpine ones are the ones ChrisB and I use....Chris?? If so, I don't know about him, but I always use the highest level (gold) except when I've lost them or inadvertently put them through the washing machine, in which case I use the silvers (next one down). I use them all the time, they're totally comfortable and they do cut the noise to comfortable levels. You can ease them in and out when you want to adjust what you can hear; you don't even need to take them out. You can see them a bit, but they're not massively obvious. I think it's mainly the coloured plug at the end which is visible as a spot disappearing into your ear.

    I don't know anything about attentuating ear plugs - what's the difference between them and the others?

    ...Music is always too loud for me, with very few exceptions, and I get tinnitus for the next 8 hours or so if I don't use them. In my experience, DJs don't want to turn the sound down, or if they do, it's by very little, and then they turn it straight up again. Most people don't seem affected at a venue even if I'm actually in pain from the noise, so I don't ask that often now.

    I don't know this makes me especially sensitive, but my hearing isn't as good as it used to be in conversation so I'm probably going deaf anyway...
    Yes ours are the Alpine MusicSafe Pro. They are attentuating ones which means they block out more noise at higher frequencies as we are more sensitive to those. I use silver or gold but can't really tell any difference between them. I wouldn't say any are completely perfect but they are better than using foam. You can get them somewhere like here http://www.enhancedlistening.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=975 but I did find a 3 packs for 2 offer when I got mine. And as pointed out you will find them in all sorts of random places (normally the washing machine!) which mean I'm down to my last pair already. Oh and I've noticed they can get in the way a bit in a very close hold but surely the music level goes down then anyway?

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I suspect that my hearing is damaged from years of working with jet-turbine engines and small arms with insufficient protection,
    You should've invested in some short sleeves.

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    Re: Attenuating earplugs

    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisB View Post
    Oh and I've noticed they can get in the way a bit in a very close hold
    Blinkin' heck, hun, how close can you get that your earplugs get in the way???

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