Ear plugs for the Elise

[milcher]

When we got the 107 peak reading, it was a first gear run to redline. My bud was taking the reading, the meter was centered in the car at ear level with the pick up on the meter facing the rear.

We did a few more tests that same evening in 2nd and 3rd gears with the passenger holding the meter at head level on the window side of his head with the pick up facing to the rear. These readings were 105 - 106 db. These levels were also peak readings, not sustained levels. I'll get some more readings when I can. It is much easier to do this with a passenger working the meter.

BTW we did a quick test of my stereo with the car at rest, with the volume set at 26 of 30 the reading was 105 db sustained. The FF Street header (cat installed) QS exhaust combo is very loud at WOT, but very tolerable under all other conditions (besides WOT).

[lotusport]

Originally Posted by milcher

...the meter was centered in the car at ear level with the pick up on the meter facing the rear.

We did a few more tests that same evening in 2nd and 3rd gears with the passenger holding the meter at head level on the window side of his head with the pick up facing to the rear.

That partially explains it, at least. If the mike is facing forward, like the driver and passenger, the sound recorded should be somewhat less. Still, I think those readings are higher than they should be.

The FF Street header (cat installed) QS exhaust combo is very loud at WOT, but very tolerable under all other conditions (besides WOT).

I still want to make mine louder.

I keep hoping that someone with a slightly used QS will want to get rid of it (due to spousal complaints or neighbor complaints ) and permit me to buy one at below-retail or "street" price.

[uclacyc]

Hey Randy, I just got these earplugs (new from eBay and saved $4) and used them for a concert on Sunday, and they work amazingly well. I saw that the drummer was also using the same earplugs.

I think that they will work very well for my drive from NorCal to SoCal this weekend.

The following chart from Etymotic.com shows why they are better than foam earplugs, as they don't cut off the sound in the high-end frequencies, so that you can still hear things, just less loud, like talking/yelling to your friend in a concert. As the site says, they "replicate the natural response of the open ear so that sound heard with these earplugs is as clear as the original, just quieter."

[XPcarguy]

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

I recommend these for long drives. You will arrive much more refreshed because the wind and sound on your eardrums is a tiring thing.

This is a great deal, so take advantage of it.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4069679

I saw your link for jr.com and contemplated throwing my $.02 in. I'm a big Etymotics fan and personally wanted to recommend those. I've got 3 sets of just plugs and the ER-4Ps for when I want more noise. Anyway, your link was a dirty trick and you were miles ahead of me the whole time.

[Lotus-Position]

I'm a musician and do live sound reinforcement as well. I got a pair of custom "poured" earplugs from Westone like those shown here: http://www.westone.com/content/184.html I needed to reduce overall volume while maintaining the frequency distribution.

You have to go to an audiologist to have the casts poured, then Westone makes a mold and produces the plugs. The nice part is that you can swap the filters out for different dB levels. I have 15dB, 9dB, and "0dB" (plugs) filters. They are so comfortable, I forget I even have them in. The bad part is the first set is around $150, and the filters are about $80 a pop (except for the plugs which are only about $5).

I wear them while driving all the time. With the radio turned way up, the increased effective signal to noise ratio actually makes it listenable!

[ZAMMY1]

in the elise, i often turn off my electric earplugs but when i'm running the kubota diesel mower in the field, i use foam plugs.
they're more effective for me.
either one works well on the wife, tho. (just kidding!)

[shay2nak]

The Ety's are not cutting it. My ears are still being massacred. They help a lot and I can't believe I drove about 2000 miles without plugs. For sure I have f*cked up my ears some.

I found another set for sale on McLaren Merc's F1 team site. They're the same as the Ety's but they have 4 cones instead of 3. I can't get on the site to post stuff here...I think i'll have to wear earmuffs.

[Lotuslvr]

Thanks-Wind & engine noise are a bit much in my Super 7. I will switch from foam if these work.