Musicians

Benefits of In-Ear Monitor (IEM) Systems

• Freedom of Movement
• Improved Sound Quality
• Consistency among venues
• Less Temporal Distortion
• Reduced Vocal Fatigue
• Reduced Risk of Hearing Loss

This unique IEM system allows you to hear both your monitor mix and a selectable level of on-stage ambient noise, while keeping your ears acoustically sealed.

Do you use Shure or Etymotic Earphones to enjoy great sounding music?

Custom Sleeves are designed especially to improve the performance of these products. You will experience greater isolation and fuller sound quality! And chances are you will also find yourself turning the volume down. This means less risk to your hearing in addition to an enhanced music experience!

• Replaces supplied fit-kit adapters
• Made from comfortable, soft-gel silicone
• Available in a variety of colors

Sleeves are available for these models:

Please call our office to schedule an appointment. Washington Audiology Services, Inc. will provide the ear impressions, order the product, and ensure proper fit at the time of delivery.

Musician’s Earplugs (available as custom or ready-fit) reduce sound levels to your ear while maintaining a more natural sound quality when compared to traditional earplugs. Different levels of filtering accommodate different listening needs.

They’re great for musicians, concert go-ers, night club employees or anyone who wants to enjoy a higher quality of music without all the buzz.

Etymotic ER 20 Hi-Fidelity Earplugs (ready-fit)

• Low in cost
• Available in 2 sizes: Regular or Baby Blues (for children or adults with smaller ear canals).
• Reduces sound levels evenly across all frequencies

Custom Earplugs

• Available with interchangeable ER 9, 15 or 25 filters
• Made of a unique, super soft silicone gel

What’s the buzz?

All that ringing, buzzing and muffled hearing is trying to tell you something.  These are signs that exposure levels are damaging your hearing.  Without preventative action, damage may become permanent.  Imagine if the ringing never stopped!

Q: “I love going to concerts, but I don’t like the way my ears ring for hours and hours afterwards.  I’ve tried using those foam earplugs. They help but I don’t enjoy the music as much. It’s not just quieter. It sounds different somehow.”

A: That’s a great observation. Most standard earplugs cut out high pitch sounds much more than they cut out the lows. This results in sound that is quieter, but also less clear and less “bright”. Musician’s earplugs which use ER filters may be a solution for you.

Q:  “I’m  a musician.  I’ve heard a lot about in-ear monitor systems.  In addition to all the great performance benefits they offer, they will also protect my hearing, right?”

A:  Excellent question!  In-ear-monitors provide isolation from ambient sound levels, so in that regard they provide a significant hearing protection benefit. Keep in mind, however, that if the mix delivered through your earpiece is too loud, your hearing is still at risk. How do you know if the set level is unsafe? Currently, this can only be determined by using an in ear probe microphone measurement which must be performed by an audiologist who has this equipment. Unfortunately, this type of testing is not yet very accessible.

At the very least, we recommend that you set your mix levels no louder than necessary, and that you have your hearing tested annually. We provide a complimentary baseline hearing test with the initial purchase of your in ear monitors.  Periodic retesting of your hearing will identify if any damage is occurring and can provide opportunity for making corrections to prevent further hearing loss.