Klarinet Archive - Posting 000409.txt from 2010/11

From: Shannon McNeely <smcneely_01@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Musician earplugs
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:00:46 -0500

Rachel,
Musician earplugs are only available from an audiologist because they
are custom made to fit your ear. They do a good job of managing the
noise level and because they are available with three different
"filters", you can pick the amount of noise reduction that you want
and balance the reduction with the loss of quality of hearing (I think
the clarinet timber sounds flat (not intonation - harmonics and
quality of the sound) . If you simply want to reduce the noise level
as an audience member, you can purchase earplugs made for listening to
music over the Internet (I bought from earplugstore and they were
about $20.00). There will be a degradation of the quality of the music
but it is not too bad (personal opinion). If you want to play an
instrument with earplugs, I would recommend that you go to an
audiologist. They work much better in allowing you to hear yourself
along with the people next to you while making the loud brass and
percussion tolerable. Playing clarinet, you will still sound a bit
like you are playing in a barrel, but the relief is palpable. I have
tried both the earplugs I purchased online and those from an
audiologist and the later work better if you are playing in the group.
Don't purchase earplugs for sleeping. They cut out so much that the
music sounds terrible. Custom earplugs should be returnable if you
don't like them. Mine were, so it gave me a chance to see if I liked
them.

Hope you find what you need.

Shannon McNeely

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