Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Peter Kowalczyk" data-source="post: 88501" data-attributes="member: 4308">Re: Custom Earplugs - New Molds, Filter LevelsI have had a set of Etymotic filters (both ER9 and ER15) w/ Westone molds for some time.&nbsp; I have found that I almost never use the &#039;15 dB filters; and even the 9s feel like more than enough attenuation for my own musical applications (mostly concert attendance and playing/rehearsing with my own band).&nbsp; Brad, the response chart you linked to helps explain why - the HF rolloff causes makes it feel like I&#039;ve lost the transient response and &#039;presence&#039; of the entire mix.&nbsp; Listening to someone else&#039;s mix, I pop &#039;em in only at the onset of discomfort or noticeable fatigue.&nbsp; It makes it very difficult to rehearse or perform with a band - transient timing information and tonal nuances are muted.&nbsp; Perhaps I&#039;ll try the 15s again; maybe the flatter response will make up for the greater attenuation.On a similar topic, anyone ever cleaned the filters themselves?&nbsp; After several years of service, the membranes on the filter buttons are noticeably grimy.&nbsp; Surely, this isn&#039;t helping with aforementioned HF rolloff issues.&nbsp; Etymotic&#039;s site suggests &quot; If dust or dirt accumulates on a button, remove it gently with a cloth or small soft brush &quot;, which seems open to interpretation and prone to error...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Peter Kowalczyk, post: 88501, member: 4308"] Re: Custom Earplugs - New Molds, Filter Levels I have had a set of Etymotic filters (both ER9 and ER15) w/ Westone molds for some time. I have found that I almost never use the '15 dB filters; and even the 9s feel like more than enough attenuation for my own musical applications (mostly concert attendance and playing/rehearsing with my own band). Brad, the response chart you linked to helps explain why - the HF rolloff causes makes it feel like I've lost the transient response and 'presence' of the entire mix. Listening to someone else's mix, I pop 'em in only at the onset of discomfort or noticeable fatigue. It makes it very difficult to rehearse or perform with a band - transient timing information and tonal nuances are muted. Perhaps I'll try the 15s again; maybe the flatter response will make up for the greater attenuation. On a similar topic, anyone ever cleaned the filters themselves? After several years of service, the membranes on the filter buttons are noticeably grimy. Surely, this isn't helping with aforementioned HF rolloff issues. Etymotic's site suggests " [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Lucida Grande]If dust or dirt accumulates on a button, remove it gently with a cloth or small soft brush[/FONT][/COLOR] ", which seems open to interpretation and prone to error... [/QUOTE]

Verification