On 28 Sep 2006 12:10:50 -0700, wrote:

Hi. I hope that this group is appropriate for this question.

I was recently at a rock concert and was lucky enough to find a spot
near the stage. The show was great, but too loud. I had a pair of
cheap earplugs that the health department gives out, so I slipped them
in. The music then sounded awful. I noticed the guys in the band used
ear plugs also, but I assume that their plugs didn't diminish sound
quality as much.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good brand of ear plugs that
will allow me to enjoy the music while not damaging my hearing?

Thanks.

The ones you can buy by the dozen in Boots are as good as any. Look up
the Fletcher Munson curves of equal loudness and see what happens to
the frequency response when you knock 20dB off the level. It is
screwed. The plugs will also add their own unflatness. This is what
the guys in the band will be hearing as well, but they aren't fussed
about the quality - they've heard it all before. They just want to
still be able to hear when they are fifty.

If you still can't handle the sound quality, find other bands to
watch.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com