| iDJ test drives the ER15 and loves them! |
 More and more DJs are using earplugs to protect their hearing. Anne Savage puts ACS’ custom-moulded Elacin ER15’s to the testThese days, DJs are becoming aware that all those hours spent in loud nightclubs present a very real health hazard. Basically, every time you’ve got ringing in your ears after a night out, it’s a sign you’ve done some permanent damage to your hearing. Multiply that by the amount of time DJs spend in clubs (most playing out at least two nights a week) and you soon realise that DJ’s most precious asset – his or her hearing – is taking a right old hammering. Which is why many DJs now choose to use earplugs to help reduce the risk of hearing loss and/or tinnitus (that’s when the ringing in your ears becomes permanent). And the ER15’s from Elacin/Advanced Communications Solutions are the Rolls-Royce of the earplug world. Firstly, they don’t simply block out noise physically: instead, they use an ‘attentuating filter’ which eradicates the most harmful frequencies (which are very, very high-pitched to the point of being inaudible – we’re in dog-whistle territory here!), while simultaneously reducing everything else by 15dB right across the board. And secondly, each and every pair is custom-made for the individual user, so they fit perfectly. That kind of quality is reflected in the £165 price tag, of course, but what price would YOU put on your hearing? A good impression So when the guys at iDJ phoned up and asked whether I’d be interested in road-testing a pair, I jumped at the chance. And so a fitting was arranged. What normally happens is that you’d go to the offices of one of ACS’s many distributors across the country, and they’d take the ‘impression’ for your earplugs there, but as we were dealing direct with the manufacturers (who are based near Luton), we arranged to do the fitting at London’s Charterhouse bar. Which meant there was enough room for iDJ’s photographer to set up all his lights, and gave us the perfect excuse to have a drink or two afterwards! All ACS fitters are qualified audiologists and, at the start of the fitting, will ask you a few questions about your hearing, as well as checking there’s no wax build-up in your ears. Thankfully, mine passed muster (in fact I was told I’ve got particularly clean ears, so nyer!), so we could proceed. First they insert a cotton wool bung into the second bend of your ear canal, then they fill your ears up with a quick-drying blue foam out of a syringe. It’s a bit like being underwater, and it takes about five minutes to set. Then they simply remove the cast they’ve taken, label it and you’re away. It took about a week for my ER15 earplugs to arrive in the post and I must admit I was quite excited when they did! They come in their own little leather carrying pouch, complete with a small tube of lubricant (just in case you have any difficulty getting them in) and little ‘wax pick’ – lovely! – to keep them nice and clean. There’s a red dot on one and a blue dot on the other, so you know which goes in which ear. I did find putting them in the first couple of times a bit difficult… but only until I actually bothered reading the instructions, which tells you how to hold them. Once I’d read that they went in nice and easily! And once you’ve got them in, you can really tell that they’ve been made for your ears. I’ve tried normal earplugs in the past and they get quite uncomfortable quite quickly, but you can happily wear the ER15’s for hours at a stretch without any discomfort. What’s more, they’re pretty much invisible, so any worries you had about looking like Morrissey with his hearing aid are groundless! Having tried them out around the house a few times, the real test was going to be using them ‘for real’, in a club setting. So when I was heading off for my next gig, at Slinky in Bournemouth, of course the ER15’s went in my bag along with my headphones and mobile. While hanging around the club before my set the earplugs were a real bonus. Surprisingly you actually find you can hear better with them in, just because all the harshness is taken out of the blaring music, and they make it easier to hold a conversation. I did find mixing with them in quite difficult, but I had been warned this might be the case at the first. Some DJs do wear the ER15’s while they’re mixing, some take them out for the duration of their actual set – it’s down to individual preference. Personally, I’m going to keep plugging away at it, if you’ll excuse the pun. Because for someone like me, who spends far too much time shouting over noisy soundsystems, these earplugs are a godsend. The likes of LTJ Bukem, Tom Middleton, John Digweed and Gilles Peterson – not to mention numerous leading rock musicians and several Formula One teams – swear by their ER15’s, and now I know why. Verdict They’re expensive, but they’re worth it – they’re probably the best earplugs in the world! Five Stars. Alternatives If £165 is a bit beyond you, you can get Elacin ER20 earplugs for just £13.95. These use the same filter as the ER15’s but are ‘one size fits all’ plugs rather than being custom-made |
We'll keep your ears on file...
ACS is pleased to announce the introduction of a new state of the art scanning technology that means ALL customers that order custom made hearing protection and in-ear monitoring products from ACS will have their ear shape on file at ACS for up to 4 years. The device will scan the impressions and save as a file on the database so customers can order new products or replacements instantly without the need to have new impressions taken. What's more, this service will not cost customers anything extra on top of the standard product charge, it is just a little something we want to do to make your experience with us even more enjoyable!
Please be aware that the scanning service began on May 1st 2010 so will only apply to customers that ordered thereafter.
Reviewed in the Financial TImes
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Garry Taylor of Team Suzuki writes about Biopact
"We have used the hearing protection for many years and it has proved invaluable. The earplugs provide a comfortable solution to the noise of the pit without affecting our ability to do the job. I have no problem in endorsing the product and saying they are a definite asset" Stephen Fry bathes in the delights of his T2s
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Please note - ACS products require good deep impressions in order to create a seal in the ear so it is important there is no wax block in the canal that will stop the audiologist from taking an impression. If you think you may have a wax build up, please visit your local GP for a consultation before booking an appointment with a dealer. You may be charged a fee if the audiologist is unable to take an impression.
Pendulum use ACS monitoring and protection
Pendulum use ER series hearing protection, our T1 and our T2 monitors for their live performances.
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iDJ test drives the ER15 and loves them!
The likes of LTJ Bukem, Tom Middleton, John Digweed and Gilles Peterson – not to mention numerous leading rock musicians and several Formula One teams – swear by their ER15’s, and now I know why.
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