How's your hearing?

[mambonewb]

Can you imagine yourself *NOT* being able to hear the music you love to dance to? Doesn't sound like fun, does it?

If you go out dancing at numerous places like I do, you might want to consider ear protection. In my earlier Salsa-holic days, I remember going to El Pollo Inka in Gardena and coming out afterwards with my ears ringing. This was a DJ'ed venue and he kept on cranking up the volume to the point that the sound was distorted.

After this episode, I started wearing ear protection. Not tissue or cotton stuffed into my ears but real hearing protection. I started out using Sonic II ear plugs by North but am now replacing them with ER-20 Hi-Fi earplugs from Etymotic Research.

The Sonic IIs cut out the high end frequencies but I've found that they aren't effective if the DJ or band is boosting the low end. This is how they were designed. I was feeling the pressure against my eardrums in spite my wearing them. It didn't feel very comfortable.

The ER-20s on the other hand, reduce the sound level entering your ear by 20 decibels across all frequencies. Speech & music stay clear, just quieter as if the volume had been turned down.

So, do you protect your hearing?
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What? What did you say? ;)

[borikenSalsero]

Before I really got heavy into Salsa I used to read all over the net dancers complaining about the music level. Which, I never figured what the big deal was...

As I started traveling outside NY City Salsa Venues, I finally realized what the buzz was all about. In NY City is pretty much a given that Salsa only venues will not play music to the levels that other towns do.

The worst I've heard was in Puerto Rico. The places I went, the music was so loud that the floor tiles felt as if they were bouncing. It was a total nightmare. I still can't figure out how the locals found it pleseant to dance to such morbid sound. I think I lost at least 20% of my hearing that night.

[SalsaWinnipeg]

I never protected my hearing, but I can certainly see why you would. Fortunately, I've only been to very few places so far that had music cranked up really high. It was very unpleasant :(. I think I'm going to get me some of those ear plugs.

What really amazes me is that some people I've talked to about this issue really like this extreme volume of music at the club. Perhaps, it is because they've already lost part of their hearing, LOL... They say since it's a club it should be loud!

[mambonewb]

In addition to the ER-20, there's the Hi-Fi Hearos which have the same characteristics (they even look alike).

I got my ER-20s online from the earplugstore.com.

You can also check your local music equipment stores.

[peachexploration]

....I still can't figure out how the locals found it pleseant to dance to such morbid sound. I think I lost at least 20% of my hearing that night. Same here in Orlando. One of the reasons (and there are many.. :lol: ) why I home early tonight. Don't know what's with DJs playing music so that your ear drums ache. :x

[pr]

I always use my earplugs when salsa dancing if the volume reaches a certain level (It happens almost always :x). If I should forget my earplugs I would definately go back and get them or find something else to put into my ears. :P 8) I really don't want to lose anything of my hearing because I use it a lot. :)

[lucretia]

Sasabor SummerClub at Henriksberg in Gothenburg was rebuilt/refurnished this spring. They joined a project for saving the hearing ability.

They switched the floor, material in the ceiling and walls to stop "reflection" and amplifying from different loudspeakers (when two different soundwaves interfear and make a louder sound than expected).

The result was excellent!

When I find the link I'll post it (if it is in english).

/luc

[lucretia]

In English:
http://www.arbetslivsinstitutet.se/workinglife/05-2/05.asp

More in Swedish:
http://www.ammot.se/akustik-dagbok.php#dagbok.

There are a few mailadresses though. If any one is keen to know more....


/luc

[mambonewb]

Looks like PR and I are in the minority here.

I am curious though, as to the reason(s) why one chooses not to protect their hearing. You can still hear (and feel) the music when wearing them. For myself, I'm making sure I can go on enjoying my lovely Salsa music until they put me into the ground! :)

One of my musician friends mentioned to me that one reason why bands and DJs crank up the sound so much is because their hearing is probably already shot!!! They keep turning it up the volume until they can "hear" the music.

The ER20's work very well. Just have to exercise some care in taking them out (twist slowly to remove). If they make me look "nerdy", so be it. It hasn't stopped any of the ladies from dancing with me ;)

[peachexploration]

I think soon I'll be doing the same thing. My ears just stopped ringing after being at home for an hour after dancing. :x

[praecantricis]

I haven't been to a Salsa club in London where it was loud enough to warrant the use of earplugs... then again, not been to a huge variety of places.

[borikenSalsero]

One of my musician friends mentioned to me that one reason why bands and DJs crank up the sound so much is because their hearing is probably already shot!!! They keep turning it up the volume until they can "hear" the music.

It could also be that it is very hard to hear the music in the DJ booth of many venues. So a DJ really has nothing to go by to let him know how high the music really is. At which time they would appreaciate it if someone told them to tone it down, as it is very hard to run around listening to each speaker checking for audio levels. It is also good to tell them what speakers to tone down, and what range (high/mid/low).

However, most of us really don't know enough about music listening to tell them what sounds out of wack, but we can sure tell that it sounds too loud. Hopefully the DJ isn't one of the deaf ones.