Maybe I'm getting old but when I go to night clubs I always wish I had earplugs - they always have the music so loud it's almost painful.

This is possibly so that all those who have damaged their ears by going to loud night clubs can actually hear the music I suppose, but I digress.

The problems with real ear-plugs of course would be that a) they'd cut out most of the music and b) they'd look silly.

What I want are earplugs that don't cut out the music, just turn down the volume a bit. Oh, and that look cool too.
-- tobythepig, Jan 05 2002

tobythepigtrythisoneforsize http://www.musician...ics.com/hearfaq.asp
lots of questions answered [po, Jan 05 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

EarWear ER-20 Hi-Fi Earplugs http://www.musician...etail/base_id/35825
Volume reduction without the muffled sound. Reduces volume by 20dB. Uses a patented tuned resonator and acoustic resistor to reduce volume without muffling high frequencies - lets you hear all the frequencies better than ordinary foam plugs. Soft and durable. Reusable, washable, comfortable. [thumbwax, Jan 05 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

I think this is baked, but I don't know where to look for proof. My son had earplugs that cut out some of the most harmful noise when he was playing in a band. He could still hear what was going on, though.
-- TeaTotal, Jan 05 2002


You guys are amazing! I'm going to order a pair of ER-20's right away!
-- tobythepig, Jan 05 2002


I understand the not wanting to see them part. Maybe you could get small plugs that you insert with a special plastic tool but have a flesh-colored string that you could use to extract them when you're out of the lets-see-how-distorted-the-sound-gets-when-we-crank-the-speakers night club.
-- seal, Jan 06 2002


Most earplugs have a decibel range. You can get ones that are colour coded to various decibel ranges. Go to any company that sells safety equipment, and they'll advise you.

Down at the local gun club, they had these earmuffs they used, which had tiny microphones attached to both sides. They would cut out all noise above a certain level, so you could have a conversation, but as soon as a pistol was fired, it'd block out sound. Not a good alternative for the night club, and a little OT, but i thought it was a cool idea.
-- gargarax, Jan 07 2002


Actually, standard disposable foam earplugs do not cut out all the sound. I've worn them on jobs where co-workers also had them in and you can still have a conversation. I've also worn them to clubs/concerts where I find the music actually sounds better with the plugs in. Any hardware store will have them.
-- mrthingy, Jan 07 2002


I've carried on conversations with earplugs (actually, in a noisy bar I once found it easier to hear the conversation with earplugs than without!) but most earplugs do not preserve audio fidelity. So I'll award a croissant even though thumbwax says this is baked.
-- supercat, Jan 08 2002



random, halfbakery