Custom musicians’ earplugs reduce volume without destroying timbre

Evidence

The appearance of musicians’ earplugs, a development of Dr. Mead Killion at Etymotic Research, revolutionized my hearing protection program (www.etymotic.com). These are custom-fitted earmold devices that reduce the volume without destroying timbre. The 15 dB attenuating version is useful. I remain in touch with my surroundings, headphones work on top of them, and I can sleep comfortably. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1884

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces what musicians’ earplugs are and why flat (timbre-preserving) attenuation matters.