Everyone knows how important hearing is - especially if you're a dDJ, producer or even if you're just an avid club goer. Unfortunately, we rarely look to invest in our ears until it's usually too late.  

Earplugs that come and go are usually ones that can be found at any corner store or supermarket. I, like many, have actually gone through a dozen pairs of these throwaway earplugs over the past ten years; if not more. One day I talked to a producer about getting custom fitted musician earplugs by Westone since he swore by them. I chose Westone because they were, quite frankly, the most reputable company with the best reviews on the net. It was one of the best decisions I could have made.

The first step was getting an appointment with an audiologist and then getting the "other stuff" out of the way. This included a mold of my ears, a hearing test to test the general health of my ears, and selecting the style of the plugs.  An hour and a half later, I had my mold done and my hearing checked.  One week later and my Westone ES49 earplugs were in my hands.

They come with a nice leather pouch, -15 db filters (already installed), complete silence filters, some lube and instructions/manual for the care of the plugs.



Note: you can get -9 db, -15 db, or -25 db filters.

Breaking it down:

Look: 10/10 - I chose Otoblast clear with blue cat eyes.

Fit: 8/10 - I had to get used to it, even though they're custom, it feels very different compared to any other plug I've had to this point.

Durability: 10/10 - Otoblast is supposed to last the longest of the three materials.

Usability: 10/10 - They work as advertised, I chose -15 db and they come with an extra filters that completely silence the plugs.

Overall: 9/10 - Best DJ purchase I've made in awhile, and the first DJ purchase related to my health. I use them at clubs, throw my headphones right over them and they don't muffle the sound, just lower the volume.

Total cost: $183.

More info: Click Here for Westone ES49 Manufacturer's Information on the Earplugs