ear plug test by me

[gearman]

There is a post now about 32db reduction ear plugs. I have been using Macks 22db reduction plugs for years but I didn't believe the 32 db claim.I bought some Walgreens 32db foam plugs and compared them to my Macks.The Macks are silocone sp?I set my white noise generator to 57 db at 3 feet.I sat 10 feet away and could still hear the sound with the foam plugs. With the Macks I could not hear the sound.I wont give all the details. I have studied sound for years and knew that the light foam ones could not match a more dense one like silacones.SP?Sound is very complicated and my test is very crude but the ranking is correct.How do you spell silacone?

[Wayne Orwig]

How do you spell silacone?

Silly cone.

I think one of the things that got me was conduction. I would wear plugs, yes the cheap foam ones. But I belive the windshields that I used cause low frequency rumble. That low frequency pounding on the helmet, would get conducted to my head, and the ear plugs would not stop it. In fact, I wonder if the ear plugs help conduct it.

Anyway, now I live with a loud 4100 Hz ringing in my head 24/7.

[Lcarlson]

Given your age as reported in your profile, you’re lucky to be hearing anything.

[Kiwi Dave]

I set my white noise generator to 57 db at 3 feet.I sat 10 feet away and could still hear the sound with the foam plugs. With the Macks I could not hear the sound.I wont give all the details. I have studied sound for years and knew that the light foam ones could not match a more dense one like silacones.SP?Sound is very complicated and my test is very crude but the ranking is correct.How do you spell silacone?

If you've studied sound you might have considered using pink noise as a more realistic test.

[Lannis]

Silly cone.

I think one of the things that got me was conduction. I would wear plugs, yes the cheap foam ones. But I belive the windshields that I used cause low frequency rumble. That low frequency pounding on the helmet, would get conducted to my head, and the ear plugs would not stop it. In fact, I wonder if the ear plugs help conduct it.

Anyway, now I live with a loug 4100 Hz ringing in my head 24/7.

Yep, 4000 hz is the usual "wind noise" frequency and is the middle of the range that my earplugs are designed to block out.

But too many years of riding without has left me with that same "ringing" in my head.    Most of the time my brain tries not to notice, but it's always there.

Now that I'm talking about it, I can't make it quit!   Besides which, it's quarter after one ... WAY past my bedtime ....

Lannis

[V7Record]

I just describe mine as sounding like Cicadas.  Makes it summer all the time in my world.
And yes, once it's mentioned I notice it and can't turn it off, just need to get distracted again.

[balvenie]

A tree full of cicadas is exactly what it is

[Rod]

It's called Tinnitus and 1 out of 5 of us have it from a history of loud music, motorcycles, and old age. No cure. You just get used to it (mostly).

[LowRyter]

It's called Tinnitus and 1 out of 5 of us have it from a history of loud music, motorcycles, and old age. No cure. You just get used to it (mostly).

I think the numbers might be reversed, best I can tell, only 1 out of 5 don't have it:  rock music, drag races, motorcycle riding and firearms.  check, check, check, check.

Tinnitus is one of those illnesses, other than symptoms, that they seem to know nothing about.

[wrbix]

What cicadas?............oh THAT.
Thanks guys, was successfully ignoring them until now. 

My cicadas seem to have come with my GA airplane. Paging Chuck in IN....can you hear me?