I go to several concerts a year, and I enjoy them so much more now that I have musician’s earplugs. Yes, it’s important to protect your hearing from tinnitus and hearing damage. But I mainly just love how they make the music sound so much better.
Normal foam earplugs muffle the sound, as if you put pillows over your ears. You lose all the clarity and detail that makes live music special. Musician’s earplugs keep perfect fidelity across all frequencies. It’s a night and day difference.
Getting Custom Earplugs
You pay around $100 for ear impressions from a local audiologist or hearing doctor. I went to Dr. Elizabeth Hoehl, who does this work frequently and knows exactly what musicians and concert-goers need.
Dr. Elizabeth Hoehl
124 Park Street, SE
Suite 202
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 791-1072
My Setup
I ordered from Sensaphonics in Chicago and got their ER Series plugs in translucent. I personally went with -15 decibel filters, which work great for most concerts. You can talk to the people at Sensaphonics to see what would be best for you – if you go to heavy metal shows, you might want stronger filters.
I also got filter locks to make sure they stay secure. The total cost was around $210.
The Learning Curve
Custom earplugs do take some effort to learn how to put in your ears properly. But once you get the technique down, they fit perfectly and make the concert experience super enjoyable. You can actually hear the music better, talk to friends between sets, and walk out without that ringing in your ears.
Trust me – if you’re a regular concert-goer, this is one of the best investments you’ll make.