Musician Earplugs and In-Ear Monitors
Musician Earplugs
Musician earplugs come in both custom and non-custom options. Over-the-counter musician earplugs can reduce sound levels by approximately 20 dB, enough to reduce harmful sound without distorting speech or music.
- Musician Earplugs. These earplugs are made for musicians playing a variety of different types of instruments. They’re available in several types of materials, from foam to a softer plastic, and enable the musician to hear the music being performed. These earplugs are also beneficial for concert-goers to protect their hearing while still enjoying the music.
- Electronic Earplugs. These earplugs are electronic and can be programmed to adjust to different pitches and sounds depending on the loudness and environment the musician is in. These adaptive earplugs allow musicians to hear the sounds that are important while filtering out damaging noise levels.
Custom-made earplugs fit more deeply in order to seal within the bony portion of the ear canal. This deep fit reduces what is known as occlusion, a hollow or boomy sound in the musician’s own voice that is sometimes experienced with lower quality earplugs. This style of deep-fit earmolds is popular with musicians because of the quality of sound they allow them to hear while practicing and performing.
Musician Earplugs Provide Protection For
- Musicians and music teachers
- Sound crews
- Recording engineers
- Concert-goers
- DJs
- Athletic coaches
- NFL football players
- Referees
- Motorcyclists
- Medical professionals
- Construction workers
- Industrial workers
- Truck drivers
In-Ear Monitors
For musicians who perform for large audiences, in-ear monitors (IEMs) are the current standard in musician technology. They allow the musician to hear the music clearly as the audience would hear it while still protecting the musician’s ears from extremely loud amplification systems and audiences.
IEMs work best if they are custom molded to fit each musician’s ears personally. These high-tech devices are used by musicians or audio-engineer professionals to deliver sound to the ear while creating a barrier to background and damaging noise levels. In-ear monitors are available in custom or universal options. Universal IEMs typically come with interchangeable foam or silicone tips to allow for a semi-custom fit.
Musician earplugs and in-ear monitors aren’t simply designed for individuals in a band, they can actually be beneficial to a number of different people, including:
- Students in the school band or orchestra
- Music teachers or conductors
- Sound crews and recording engineers
- DJs
- Concert or festival attendees
- Nightclub workers or patrons
- Entertainment industry staff
Custom Fit
Both earmolds and IEMs can be custom made (using an ear impression) to fit your unique ear shape.
The ear impression that is used to make the earmold is the most important part of the process of getting a good custom fit. The quality of the ear impression material and technique directly impacts the sound quality, sound isolation, and comfort that are achieved with the earmold.
Because this part of the process is so crucial, it’s important that you have someone who is experienced and trained in making ear impressions for high-quality musician earplugs. At Coates Hearing Clinic, our audiologists are trained in this process and understand the importance of a good fit.
Contact Us
If you are interested in musician earplugs and in-ear monitors, please contact Coates Hearing Clinic at (984) 205-6863 to schedule an appointment. For your convenience, you may also request an appointment online.
