Clear Audio - Ear Filters for Musicians

groundzero · 07-11-2005, 03:30 PM

Clear Audio - Ear Filters for Musicians

Information:
25db noise reduction
Reusable
Washable
Includes a plastic case

Construction: 5/5
These ear plugs are made of a molded blue rubber-like substance. They feel very soft and comfortable. They can be washed with a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol or water if they get dirty and so they will last as long as you don't lose them.

Sound: 4/5
Any ear plug is going to distort the sound as it reduces it. These ear plugs are a great balance between the "10 for $5" Wegman's brand foam ear plugs and the $15 super high tech ear plugs. They drop the sound to a very comfortable level while still maintaining very nice sound quality (the highs of cymbal crashes are noticably less crisp).

Value: 5/5
For $4 (at musiciansfriend.com) they're one of the best investments you can make, not only for practicing but for loud shows as well. It only takes a few minutes at a high volume to begin to damage your hearing; if your ears ring afterword you've done irreparable damage. For $4 you can get these which will last you as long as you don't lose them and protect you from losing your hearing. They even come with a handy little case. I don't think you can find an item with better value in the musical world.

Overall: 4.5/5
If you've got plenty of money to spend on a $15 pair of ear plugs you can find a pair with even better sound quality than these. If money is a concern, these ear plugs are a great buy for very cheap. One important thing to note is that you should read the entire package before using them. If you take them out by pulling straight out you can damage your ear, you need to twist them as you pull to help break the seal.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/421223/

Wintermute · 07-12-2005, 05:53 AM

Something to think about. For regularly gigging musicians an set of earplugs should definately be a consideration, and the more even their frequency absorption the better. I'm actually thinking about some of the $50-ish custom made super fancy nice ones edge was talking about, but that's because I'm starting to do more live sound work, where being able to hear the relative frequncies with as little interference as possible is quite important. For a musician playing, as long as your sound levels are being controlled well by someone else, you should be able to get away with cheaper plugs like these, as with the arrangement of stage monitors, you normally can't hear the overall mix anyway!

Bass_swede · 07-12-2005, 07:03 AM

I have similar earplugs, they are really good, but when gigging I tend to forget them and they will just wait for me in the gigbag

The B · 07-14-2005, 09:36 AM

Usually when i'm about to go jam or something that is the last thing on my mind. However a useful find, i don't think i will ever remember to use them, let alone buy them once i leave this site...:-(

Keep Bassin'!!!

twopelu · 09-24-2005, 07:31 AM

I always use these things when jamming or practicing with my band but I cant use them when playing live cause I wont be able to hear the whole mix properly. These things are a must, dont be foolish and use them in order to not hurt your ears, which are one of your main toold to create music.

Nice review.

edgebass5 · 09-24-2005, 01:04 PM

I've tried those plugs before and was quite happy with them. Then I went out and spent $162 on a custom fitted pair from an ear care and balance physicians office. The difference was night and day. Where the Clear Audio ones would decrease sound volume by attenuating specific frequencies, the custom ones did no such thing. The other thing that the custom ones do that is quite a nice thing is that they don't give you the "balloon head" feeling that the Clear Audio and other budget plugs do.

One last thing of note, according ot the doctor at the office where I was getting my custom plugs, he said that the most any commercially available set of plugs will reduce sound is by 10db. So, I think the packaging on those Clear Audio ones might be a bit misleading.

Now, the question is whether or not you want to spend $162 on a set of ear plugs

~~1-D~~ · 09-25-2005, 01:59 PM

I have those earplugs there awesome!!

sinister · 10-04-2005, 01:30 PM

Do you know where I could get them from in the UK?

sixxbassist90 · 10-05-2005, 04:58 PM

when you say it reduces 25 db of noise, whats db stand for.

ridethelightning · 10-05-2005, 07:23 PM

decible, the unit of measurement of sound.

80sfollowerBass666 · 10-11-2005, 01:28 PM

so to give you a rough idea. the avg rock concert anywhere really is about 105db-115db(tht wud be fekin loud)

125db is the pain threshold. still not sure wot that means but i think its permanent ear damge from being exposed to this ammount of noise for even a short period of time.

just as a bit of fun. your heart stops at 255db or around tht.

isnt that great?

im thinking og buying some of those ear plugs. as now i have a 450watt bass cab i think my ears are gonna be going down the road of deafness and some of the thing my guitarist has told me about problems with hearing. for instance, hes been told about people who work with PA systems who are totally stone deaf. people who have so much of that high pitched sound in your ears that they have to have a cd player or something playing whte noise so they can sleep. i dont wanna be like tht!

sixxbassist90 · 10-11-2005, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80sfollowerBass666

so to give you a rough idea. the avg rock concert anywhere really is about 105db-115db(tht wud be fekin loud)

125db is the pain threshold. still not sure wot that means but i think its permanent ear damge from being exposed to this ammount of noise for even a short period of time.

just as a bit of fun. your heart stops at 255db or around tht.

isnt that great?

im thinking og buying some of those ear plugs. as now i have a 450watt bass cab i think my ears are gonna be going down the road of deafness and some of the thing my guitarist has told me about problems with hearing. for instance, hes been told about people who work with PA systems who are totally stone deaf. people who have so much of that high pitched sound in your ears that they have to have a cd player or something playing whte noise so they can sleep. i dont wanna be like tht!

oh! wow! noise is dangerous. how many decibles would a 120 watt amp be?

edgebass5 · 10-11-2005, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixxbassist90

oh! wow! noise is dangerous. how many decibles would a 120 watt amp be?

watts do not equal db's. Its impossible to accurately answer your question without knowing the speaker cabinet you're using, the bass you're using and relevant output voltage specs on all applicable devices.

sixxbassist90 · 10-11-2005, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgebass5

watts do not equal db's. Its impossible to accurately answer your question without knowing the speaker cabinet you're using, the bass you're using and relevant output voltage specs on all applicable devices.

ok. so theres a lot of different things that effect the db.

sinister · 10-12-2005, 09:11 AM

My ears are important, so sorry but if i seem rude, i just really want a pair of these before i do my first gig.

Where can I buy these in the UK? Preferably off the internet.

I found a few links taking me to descriptions of the products but nowhere to actually buy from so far.

80sfollowerBass666 · 10-12-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixxbassist90

oh! wow! noise is dangerous. how many decibles would a 120 watt amp be?

yeah its kinda scary.
well as the other guy said lots of things affect db. for instance i notice that if i completly shut my window and door the noise is louder because less of the sound waves created are rebounding off the walls and stuff. which is why large stadiums require a lot of stacks stuck together in a neat way so they can get constructive interferance which boosts the sound etc etc blah blah blah. but id say your 120watt could possibly reach 90-95db (possibly 100, but i wouldnt know coz ive gone straight form a 60watt to a 450watt lol) in your bedroom. i know it sounds close to gig volume but +1db is quite a large increase in volume. a quiet library is 30db's lol.

fig nuts · 10-14-2005, 09:19 AM

What?

Misanthropic · 10-17-2005, 07:01 AM

It's dB (not db). Also it's decibel (not decible). The name of the unit comes from a guy named Bell (wonder why the default measuring unit is in decibel and not just Bell... 120 decibel = 12 Bell).
You can hear sounds at about 30 dB and over. Normal speech is about 50-60 dB and the pain limit is about 125 dB, as said...

As for those blue earplugs... When I was working at a factory we got earplugs that looked exactly like those... I could have taken hundreds of them if I'd wanted... Never tried 'em while playing/listening to music though...

07-11-2005, 03:30 PM	#1
groundzero lindy hopper Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 828	Clear Audio - Ear Filters for Musicians Clear Audio - Ear Filters for Musicians Information: 25db noise reduction Reusable Washable Includes a plastic case Construction: 5/5 These ear plugs are made of a molded blue rubber-like substance. They feel very soft and comfortable. They can be washed with a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol or water if they get dirty and so they will last as long as you don't lose them. Sound: 4/5 Any ear plug is going to distort the sound as it reduces it. These ear plugs are a great balance between the "10 for $5" Wegman's brand foam ear plugs and the $15 super high tech ear plugs. They drop the sound to a very comfortable level while still maintaining very nice sound quality (the highs of cymbal crashes are noticably less crisp). Value: 5/5 For $4 (at musiciansfriend.com) they're one of the best investments you can make, not only for practicing but for loud shows as well. It only takes a few minutes at a high volume to begin to damage your hearing; if your ears ring afterword you've done irreparable damage. For $4 you can get these which will last you as long as you don't lose them and protect you from losing your hearing. They even come with a handy little case. I don't think you can find an item with better value in the musical world. Overall: 4.5/5 If you've got plenty of money to spend on a $15 pair of ear plugs you can find a pair with even better sound quality than these. If money is a concern, these ear plugs are a great buy for very cheap. One important thing to note is that you should read the entire package before using them. If you take them out by pulling straight out you can damage your ear, you need to twist them as you pull to help break the seal. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/421223/

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07-12-2005, 05:53 AM	#2
Wintermute There Can Be Only One Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lancaster, UK - Coldest place in the Universe Posts: 13,885	Something to think about. For regularly gigging musicians an set of earplugs should definately be a consideration, and the more even their frequency absorption the better. I'm actually thinking about some of the $50-ish custom made super fancy nice ones edge was talking about, but that's because I'm starting to do more live sound work, where being able to hear the relative frequncies with as little interference as possible is quite important. For a musician playing, as long as your sound levels are being controlled well by someone else, you should be able to get away with cheaper plugs like these, as with the arrangement of stage monitors, you normally can't hear the overall mix anyway!

07-12-2005, 07:03 AM	#3
Bass_swede Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,666	I have similar earplugs, they are really good, but when gigging I tend to forget them and they will just wait for me in the gigbag

07-14-2005, 09:36 AM	#4
The B B B B B-UNIT!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Texas rocks....Hook 'em Horns Posts: 229	Usually when i'm about to go jam or something that is the last thing on my mind. However a useful find, i don't think i will ever remember to use them, let alone buy them once i leave this site...:-( Keep Bassin'!!!

09-24-2005, 07:31 AM	#5
twopelu gettin used to be back Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Madrid Posts: 3,528	I always use these things when jamming or practicing with my band but I cant use them when playing live cause I wont be able to hear the whole mix properly. These things are a must, dont be foolish and use them in order to not hurt your ears, which are one of your main toold to create music. Nice review.

09-24-2005, 01:04 PM	#6
edgebass5 overpriced trendy garbage Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,607	I've tried those plugs before and was quite happy with them. Then I went out and spent $162 on a custom fitted pair from an ear care and balance physicians office. The difference was night and day. Where the Clear Audio ones would decrease sound volume by attenuating specific frequencies, the custom ones did no such thing. The other thing that the custom ones do that is quite a nice thing is that they don't give you the "balloon head" feeling that the Clear Audio and other budget plugs do. One last thing of note, according ot the doctor at the office where I was getting my custom plugs, he said that the most any commercially available set of plugs will reduce sound is by 10db. So, I think the packaging on those Clear Audio ones might be a bit misleading. Now, the question is whether or not you want to spend $162 on a set of ear plugs

09-25-2005, 01:59 PM	#7
~~1-D~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 97	I have those earplugs there awesome!!

10-04-2005, 01:30 PM	#8
sinister Blka Bla Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 699	Do you know where I could get them from in the UK?

10-05-2005, 04:58 PM	#9
sixxbassist90 Ill need 'bout tree fitty Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 6,202	when you say it reduces 25 db of noise, whats db stand for.

10-05-2005, 07:23 PM	#10
ridethelightning MX Tinsel Team - Water! Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,164	decible, the unit of measurement of sound.

10-11-2005, 01:28 PM	#11
80sfollowerBass666 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 19	so to give you a rough idea. the avg rock concert anywhere really is about 105db-115db(tht wud be fekin loud) 125db is the pain threshold. still not sure wot that means but i think its permanent ear damge from being exposed to this ammount of noise for even a short period of time. just as a bit of fun. your heart stops at 255db or around tht. isnt that great? im thinking og buying some of those ear plugs. as now i have a 450watt bass cab i think my ears are gonna be going down the road of deafness and some of the thing my guitarist has told me about problems with hearing. for instance, hes been told about people who work with PA systems who are totally stone deaf. people who have so much of that high pitched sound in your ears that they have to have a cd player or something playing whte noise so they can sleep. i dont wanna be like tht!

10-12-2005, 09:11 AM	#15
sinister Blka Bla Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 699	My ears are important, so sorry but if i seem rude, i just really want a pair of these before i do my first gig. Where can I buy these in the UK? Preferably off the internet. I found a few links taking me to descriptions of the products but nowhere to actually buy from so far.

10-14-2005, 09:19 AM	#17
fig nuts Hey you behind the bushes Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Co. Durham, England Posts: 486	What?

10-17-2005, 07:01 AM	#18
Misanthropic too close to see... Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 1,083	It's dB (not db). Also it's decibel (not decible). The name of the unit comes from a guy named Bell (wonder why the default measuring unit is in decibel and not just Bell... 120 decibel = 12 Bell). You can hear sounds at about 30 dB and over. Normal speech is about 50-60 dB and the pain limit is about 125 dB, as said... As for those blue earplugs... When I was working at a factory we got earplugs that looked exactly like those... I could have taken hundreds of them if I'd wanted... Never tried 'em while playing/listening to music though...