If you’re a musician and want to keep enjoying music for a long time to come, keep reading, because today we’re covering earplugs for musicians.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional or an amateur, or even whether you play rock or classical music, because the problem comes from prolonged exposure to high volumes, and this can lead to tinnitus or hearing loss, especially at the higher frequencies.
Famous deaf musicians?
The most serious cases are those that have ended in deafness, the most famous being Beethoven, but the list of famous artists with hearing problems is a long one, including names like Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Brian Johnson of AC/DC, and Luis Miguel.
Which type of music is worse for my hearing?
It’s also important to understand that the genre doesn’t really matter — it’s not true that genres like heavy metal are more damaging than classical music, and Beethoven is a clear example of that.
The key factor behind hearing system degeneration is always prolonged exposure, although each type of instrument or music can have its own quirks, which is why different types of filters are available, as we’ll see in the next section.
That’s why it’s a good idea for musicians and music enthusiasts to use suitable hearing protection from a young age. But it becomes even more important when sound exposure is prolonged, for example, a musician who plays their instrument every day of the week for several hours at a time.
Types of earplugs for musicians
Acoustic earplugs for musicians need to protect the ear from loud sound without throwing off the frequency balance of what they hear. In other words, using hearing protection shouldn’t affect the quality of the music.
If we separate earplugs by their shape, there are two types of protection:
• Custom-made earplugs.
• Standard earplugs.
With standard earplugs, there are many types on the market, but as we mentioned earlier, the key requirement is not throwing off the frequency balance of your hearing — so foam earplugs, hearing bands or protective earmuffs are unlikely to do this job well, since they don’t come with an acoustic filter.
In this article, we’ll focus on the custom-made earplugs produced at specialist hearing centres, but if you’re interested in standard earplugs for musicians, the key thing to look for is the acoustic filters they include.
Custom-made earplugs for musicians
Custom-made earplugs offer the advantages of comfort when worn for long periods, and adaptation to each musician’s specific hearing needs.
To manufacture them, the audiologist takes a custom mould of your outer ear, and the final earplug is made from that mould, fitted with a hearing filter.
The acoustic filters give this type of earplug flat attenuation, meaning the music should sound the same but at a lower intensity, although the filter can be adjusted to vary the attenuation — for example, to give better protection for certain instruments.
Attenuation levels
There are various filter brands, but we’ll focus on Etymotic.com, the brand we use at our hearing centre in Valencia, which offers three attenuation levels: 9 dB, 15dB and 25 dB.
Each filter level is recommended for a different type of instrument — here’s a table taken from the brand’s website.
| Instrument type | ER•9* | ER•15* | ER•25* | Harmful sound comes from: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small strings | • | • | Own instrument, other strings | |
| Large strings | • | • | Brass | |
| Woodwinds | • | Brass, percussion | ||
| Brass | • | • | Own instrument, other brass | |
| Flutes | • | Percussion | ||
| Percussion | • | • | Own instruments, other percussion | |
| Vocalists | • | • | Own voice, speakers, monitors | |
| Acoustic guitar | • | • | Drums, speakers, monitors | |
| Amplified instruments | • | • | Speakers, monitors | |
| Music bands | • | Multiple sources | ||
| Music teachers | • | Multiple sources | ||
| Recording engineers | • | Speakers, monitors | ||
| Sound equipment | • | Speakers, monitors |
In terms of attenuation level:
- The ER-9 filter provides 9 dB of attenuation at low frequencies and 14-15 dB at high frequencies.
- The ER-15 provides 15 dB of attenuation. Music heard through these filters keeps the same quality as the original, just quieter.
- The ER-25 is designed more for percussion and rock musicians, and provides near-uniform attenuation of 25 dB.
These filters are interchangeable once the custom mould has been made, so you can swap between different filters to suit each situation — for example, using a different filter when rehearsing at home than the one you’d use in a rehearsal space or at a concert.
Price of earplugs for musicians
The price of earplugs for musicians depends on each hearing centre. If you’re looking for earplugs for musicians in Valencia, or at one of the centres that work with BienestarAudio elsewhere in Spain, a pair of musician’s earplugs costs €225, and €130 for a single one. This price includes the mould, one filter, and a free hearing check-up so you have a record of your hearing over time.
If you’d like to buy new filters for other occasions later on, the approximate cost is around €99 for a pair of filters, and €70 for a single one.
If you’d like to book an appointment, get in touch with us and we’ll carry out a free hearing check-up and give you a personalised quote.
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Frequently asked questions
Prolonged exposure to loud volumes — whether at concerts, rehearsals or recording sessions — can damage hearing, especially at high frequencies. Earplugs for musicians reduce the risk of tinnitus or hearing loss while preserving sound quality.
Standard earplugs are usually generic and lack acoustic filters suited to music, which can distort the sound. Custom-made earplugs, on the other hand, are made from a mould of your ear and include special filters that protect your hearing without altering sound quality.
Various filters exist — for example, the brand used at our centre offers three attenuation levels: 9 dB, 15 dB and 25 dB. The right choice depends on the instrument or environment, ranging from gentle reduction to stronger protection, depending on sound exposure.
Yes. Custom-made earplugs with acoustic filters are designed to reduce volume evenly across all frequencies, so the music sounds the same, just quieter. This lets you keep playing or listening without compromising the sound.
For professional and amateur musicians, DJs, sound technicians, concert staff, music students — in general, anyone regularly exposed to high sound levels.
For anyone regularly exposed to loud music, yes. Cheap earplugs can offer partial protection, but they tend to distort the sound. Custom-made earplugs with filters provide effective protection, preserve sound quality, and protect your hearing in the long run.
