[kasperl]

Is there some kind of earplug that will lower the volume of music, but will still allow voices to pass through? If so, where can I get them, and what would the price be?

[beatspete]

Doubt it.  You can get proffesional quality earplugs that would lower the volume of all sound without imparing it, but just filtering voice?  That would need some sort of computer.

Why would you need them, anyway?

[WeatherOp]

The only ones I know are those BOSE headsets. The reduce sound, but are like $200.

[Clave]

We used to have them in the air force on range days.  They quite small and pretty much reduced gunfire noise to a bearable level.  They were hollow, made of squidgy plastic with a metal disc in the middle (probably old technology now)

I'm sure a lot of DJs and the like have access to earplugs, try some disco shops....

[kasperl]

Because I might be able to live with the cigarette smoke in bars, but I just cannot stand the volume in the average pub/club over here.

And it's not as much as filtering voice, as allowing conversation over music without damage to the ears. And I might try that, Clave.

[Stealth]

the Honda Goldwings have a system on them, where the rider and passenger have headsets, and you can be listening to music, but if one of the people on the bike (driver or passenger) talks, it lowers the volume of the music, so you can clearly hear what's being said, and when the said person is finished speaking, it raises the music again.  that's kind of what you're looking for, right?

[kasperl]

No, I'mm looking for a way to go into a bar without getting hearing damage.

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Just use normal earplugs to suppress everything, and communicate in sign language.

[kasperl]

You do learn how to read lips quite quickly in places like that, but still.....

[Setekh]

Originally posted by kasperl
Because I might be able to live with the cigarette smoke in bars, but I just cannot stand the volume in the average pub/club over here.

And it's not as much as filtering voice, as allowing conversation over music without damage to the ears. And I might try that, Clave.

Yeah, I empathise. Actually, the noisiest place I go to frequently is church - when people hang around afterwards, with 150-200 people all in one room, it gets pretty loud.

[kasperl]

Well, that would be basic noise levels in my schools cafetaria/auditorium (one way to small are, someone was on a friggin budget.)

This noise is actually quite a bit over the pain barrier. I mean, the actually louder parts in the music (sudden vocals, drum solo's)  are enough for me to instinctivily cover my ears.

[Tiara]

I take it you haven't been to Nightmare in Rotterdam? Now THAT was loud.

I only went because some friends dragged me into it but I mostly stayed in the techno/hardhouse area instead of the really hardcore music. That was litterally deafening. Loud music can be fun... up to a point.

[kasperl]

Never been out in Rotterdam, period.

I'm near Eindhoven, so the Stratumseind is the area were most of my mates go out.

[Martinus]

Originally posted by Tiara
I take it you haven't been to Nightmare in Rotterdam? Now THAT was loud.

I only went because some friends dragged me into it but I mostly stayed in the techno/hardhouse area instead of the really hardcore music. That was litterally deafening. Loud music can be fun... up to a point.

[color=66ff00]Too true, got an earfull of jungle/techno/trance from about 7pm to 6am one rather fun night a few months back.

Gets you the next day, everyone including yourself seems to have a lisp as you lose high frequencies temporarily.
[/color]

[kasperl]

Temporarily if you're lucky.

My hearing isn't all that good for frequenxy distinction anyway, and I do intend to keep on playing bass guitar. It might be nice if I can tune the thing by ear too.

[pyro-manic]

Try standing in front of the PA stack at an Iron Maiden show. I was pretty much deaf for two days afterwards....

[Clave]

I sat inside the bass speaker at a concert once, Motorhead I think....

But, I don't do loud stuff any more.  

[whinge mode]

And another thing - goddamn shops that have really loud music.  What's that about?

[/whinge mode]

Protect your ear people, you only get one set, and when they are borked, so are you....