Speak up, sonny.
I have been going to concerts for a while now and one of the few smart things I've done is to pick up a package of earplugs. Some of the shows I go to are really loud, especially because I stand really close to the stage and speakers, so I can get good photographs. Plus, it was great to have a pair in my bag for flying: do you know how loud it is to sit on top of a jet engine?
Unfortunately, the earplugs I bought are disposable, construction grade. Not that there's anything wrong with them-they block out sound really well. And if I were operating a jackhammer, I'd want 29 dBs of noise reduction.
However, they block out sound too well because they block out as much of it as possible. This means that high-pitched sound like voices are damped far more than low-pitched sound. So the music I listen to live is a little muddy. The lack of hearing loss is a good tradeoff though, so I keep these earplugs in.
Etymotic Research specialises in making hearing protection for musicians and the like. Musician's earplugs have their frequency response designed to be flatter, so high-pitched sound is damped about as much as low-pitched sound; so things are evenly quiet, not distorted. But I'm not a musician, so I don't care to pay hundreds of dollars for an ear mold and special earplugs. But they also sell a slightly cheaper product for casual usage. Instead of $120 a pair, they're more like $12.
The ER-20 earplugs come in a little carrying case and are reusable. I talked to their sales guy and they'll last you a long time, as long as you clean them with warm water. So I've been thinking of ordering two pairs for myself. But then pphaneuf wants to put in an order with me as well. And look, bulk purchases qualify for discounts!
So I'm wondering if any of you would like to chip in for a bulk purchase? I'm not looking to profit, so I'll sell them to you at cost.
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