Concerts and Loud Shows with Earplugs — How Safe Are They with 32 dB NRR Custom Earplugs?

[Don Tinny]

I'm not trying to be difficult here, I promise, but there are so many variables at play in what you're saying. Not all concerts are the same (including rock ones). Some are well controlled in terms of volume (especially some European Arena type shows) but others can be so loud and out of control that they would be dangerous under any circumstances. No disrespect intended here, but South America has a reputation for excessively loud rock shows.

We also have no idea if your earplugs were correctly inserted or not, or whether they fit your ear canal properly. I'm not discounting your experience at all, as my own tinnitus became severe in 2015 after repeated exposures to loud gigs (with no ear protection). To better understand the dynamics of your situation, though, all the facts would need to be known in order to make any kind of objective assessment.

There is a significant difference between attending a show that's 125 dBA - with incorrectly inserted or improper fitting earplugs - and a show that's 100 dBA with deeply fitted and well-sealed earplugs, for example. I'm not trying to say that you didn't use your earplugs properly or that the concert you attended was at a very dangerous threshold; I'm just highlighting the spectrum of potential variables that are at play.

The difference between 95 dB and 125 dB at a rock concert is huge. In fact, it's 1000 times more powerful.

There is a lot of variables, I agree. But I think that nobody can really enjoy a concert thinking about decibels, earplugs and monitoring tinnitus. I didn´t enjoy the concert, being sincere.

 

[Tom Cnyc]

It was a Gene Simmons concert in a small enclosed nightclub. I don´t leave the place beacuase the earplugs "killed" the higher frequencies and everything sounded bassy. I thought "Only HF sounds are dangerous". But the bass vibrations ruined me anyway.

Kiss is notoriously BEYOND loud.

They're also terrible.

Sucks your dealing with this. I'm not surprised to hear Kiss, AC/DC, Motorhead, My Bloody Valentine, Manowar, or Malmsteen come back.

All of them have a reputation for being blisteringly loud and I'd honestly not go see any of them.

I avoid dubstep shows also. Beyond the music just being bad it has a soundclash culture influence, and I'm not about subjecting myself to that shit.

 

[Don Tinny]

Kiss is notoriously BEYOND loud.

.

I can´t say for sure, because I was wearing earplugs, but it wasn´t the loudest concert in my life. I went to Napalm Death, Deicide, Dark Funeral and others thrash/black/death metal concerts without earplugs. I just ruined my recovery with Gene Simmons, but I think the same thing would have happened to me with any rock artist. Maybe I am wrong my friend.

 

[Tom Cnyc]

I can´t say for sure, because I was wearing earplugs, but it wasn´t the loudest concert in my life. I went to Napalm Death, Deicide, Dark Funeral and others thrash/black/death metal concerts without earplugs. I just ruined my recovery with Gene Simmons, but I think the same thing would have happened to me with any rock artist. Maybe I am wrong my friend.

Those are all abrasive bands.

I went to a lot of death metal shows also. I think the biggest issue with them is they're usually in small clubs.

I'm not here to tell ya what to do. I'm only here to tell people that do want to go out that statistically, they'll be fine and that I am a good example of that being true.

 

[Don Tinny]

Those are all abrasive bands.

I went to a lot of death metal shows also. I think the biggest issue with them is they're usually in small clubs.

I'm not here to tell ya what to do. I'm only here to tell people that do want to go out that statistically, they'll be fine and that I am a good example of that being true.

Well...I think that concerts don´t worth the risk. Even if the chance of getting damaged is "low", but it´s just a personal opinion based on my experience.

 

[Ed209]

Well...I think that concerts don´t worth the risk. Even if the chance of getting damaged is "low", but it´s just a personal opinion based on my experience.

I totally appreciate what you're saying and agree. There's a risk when attending concerts with tinnitus especially if one is unsure about using earplugs correctly and/or puts themselves at increased risk by staying when it's far too loud.

I think what me and @Tom Cnyc are saying is that for some people music is such an integral part of their life that cutting it out altogether is not so easy. We're just trying to bring a different perspective so that readers of this thread get a broader view of the subject. Hopefully, people can make more of an informed opinion.

Musicians themselves are probably the main focus for me, and like I said before, if music ain't your thing anyway then it's best to just stay away from gigs. It doesn't get any easier than that to guarantee your safety.

This thread also reminds me of the discussion I had with CJ when he talked about the crossroads he came to about whether he should continue or not. In his case, his tinnitus improved with the use of earplugs by about 75% (I think he said), and his career has been a monumental part of his life that has afforded him all kinds of luxuries and no doubt treasured memories. For him, he made the correct decision and went on from strength to strength. I only say this because it's the exact opposite side of the coin that's never represented but should be in order to balance things out somewhat. In fact, his bands latest album has just been voted the number 1 album of the year by the readers of Classic Rock magazine.

I'm not advocating that everyone should go to concerts, but I think more perspective is required.