Isolate Earplugs. Scam or not?

Efftup

Senior Member.
Here is a new Indiegogo campaign I found.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/isolate-switch-off-your-ears--4#/
Basically the theory is this:
ISOLATE® technology works by a revolutionary approach in the materials used. Noise is blocked by a dense material suspended in soft memory foam to isolate it from the effects of conduction. The result is total direct noise isolation for your ears for the first time ever without any electronics!
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Basically they seem very simlar to these:

Only made of metal instead:

and although they claim the plastic ones are fiddly, they fail to explain why theirs are less so, cos they fit in basically the same way.

#is there anything to this solid metal keeping the sound out better?
Or is it another scam?
 
#is there anything to this solid metal keeping the sound out better?
i dont want to watch the video twice, plus his accent is thick, so correct me if i got it wrong. it doesnt seem to say it keeps out more noise but rather the noise allowed in isnt muffled like it is with foam earplugs. It's "clearer sound". The video shows wearing them at loud concerts, so there would be no point to blocking sound completely right?
upload_2016-10-8_18-13-59.png

and, btw, even if they suck they are alot cooler looking then the ones you pasted there. :)



does this mean anything as far as ear plugs?
Titanium's low internal damping factor is one of the most outstanding features as good sounding metal. This is because the majority of the wave motion created by string vibration is transferred to the guitar body without being absorbed by the metal material. This happens because of a unique hexagonal close-packed crystallization structure of Titanium -- which also stabilizes strings vibration. http://www.detempleguitars.com/temp/faq3.php
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yea at 1:26 in the video he says "giving you sensation that youve simply lowered the volume"

but it still somewhat a foam head so the sound coming around the metal into the foam will still be muffled.
bottom line, they still look cooler.
upload_2016-10-8_18-25-43.png
 
I don't see how these would be any better than a foam ear plug. Occlusion is caused by blocking off the normal airflow in the ear, these plugs will still do this.

I've used foam ear plugs for so many years and so often, I don't even notice the occlusion. Many of my musician friends say these work great and occlusion is nearly eliminated. They do cost a couple of hundred dollars, since you have to have a specialist custom mold them to your ear.


Musicians Earplugs™ are custom high-fidelity earplugs developed by ETYMOTIC over 25 years ago, following president Dr. Mead Killion’s participation in a noise study for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They are still the highest fidelity of any earplugs available. Musicians Earplugs are a custom product, made individually for each user. They can be purchased from hearing professionals.

Musicians practice and perform in a variety of different settings. They are exposed to high levels of sound, sometimes for long periods and may require different amounts of protection depending on sound levels encountered during rehearsals and performance. Some musicians use one type of attenuator in one ear and one type in the other, depending on the source and location of the sound.

Benefits
  • Reduces sound levels evenly so that music and speech are clear and natural, not muffled as with other earplugs
  • Reduces risk of hearing damage for many noisy occupations and noisy venues, such as airshows, parades, athletic events and motor sports
  • Enhances the music experience for audiences while protecting hearing
  • Lets musicians hear their own instrument and their blend with others
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http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/erme.html
 
As a drummer/muso - I have been using the foam plugs for years when I rehearse by myself or with my band - besides taking the edge off my snare and cymbal hits, I am still able to hear guitars and vocals clearly. Combined with a couple of beers....they work a treat!
So maybe there is something to the plugs mentioned above but I doubt it would be much and the fact you probably can't clean them (just what I want....5 years of ear wax build up on them) I'd rather use the foam ones once and bin them at the end of the session. So $50aud for 200 plugs or $200aud for just one pair that can't be washed or need foam replacements. I know where my dough is going.
 
As a drummer/muso - I have been using the foam plugs for years when I rehearse by myself or with my band - besides taking the edge off my snare and cymbal hits, I am still able to hear guitars and vocals clearly. Combined with a couple of beers....they work a treat!
So maybe there is something to the plugs mentioned above but I doubt it would be much and the fact you probably can't clean them (just what I want....5 years of ear wax build up on them) I'd rather use the foam ones once and bin them at the end of the session. So $50aud for 200 plugs or $200aud for just one pair that can't be washed or need foam replacements. I know where my dough is going.
The foam bits are removable so can be cleaned or replaced if worn out. I think they are on pretty well though and there is a specific technique to removing them so I assume the foam bits don;t fall off in your ear like Deirdre is suggesting.
Presumably the sound is reduced cos there is something blocking your ear up, rather than the material the something is made from.
Best Earplugs I ever had were Doc's ProPlugs ( the diving version) They came in different sizes so you could get the size that fitted your ear, and were not too expensive. Originallly designed for swimmers, these were the ones for divers with a tiny hole in them to allow equalisation. but they did exactly the same as Doug's plugs do. They lost all that cymbal wash but otherwise just dampened everything down fairly evenly, unlike those squishy foam ones that muffle all the top end. also VERY comfortable to wear and not very noticeable either, unlike the plastic ones I posted in the OP.
 
The foam bits are removable so can be cleaned or replaced if worn out. I think they are on pretty well though and there is a specific technique to removing them so I assume the foam bits don;t fall off in your ear like Deirdre is suggesting.
Presumably the sound is reduced cos there is something blocking your ear up, rather than the material the something is made from.
Best Earplugs I ever had were Doc's ProPlugs ( the diving version) They came in different sizes so you could get the size that fitted your ear, and were not too expensive. Originallly designed for swimmers, these were the ones for divers with a tiny hole in them to allow equalisation. but they did exactly the same as Doug's plugs do. They lost all that cymbal wash but otherwise just dampened everything down fairly evenly, unlike those squishy foam ones that muffle all the top end. also VERY comfortable to wear and not very noticeable either, unlike the plastic ones I posted in the OP.
you pinch them and the clasp releasees it looks like. all i can picture is my niece messing with those hideous ear plug things she has constantly. But this guy did a review (of the 50L titanium ones) and he seems to be addicted t wearing them but hasnt mentioned any issue with the tip loosening oddly. ? Maybe there is a clasp on both sides which would prevent issues, but since i'm looking at a cross section the other clasp isnt shown.

I'm kinda jealous listening to his experience with them, i would love to block out the world a bit but i know the tips would be too large for me. :(

Are not meant to block a lot of sound? Their Indiegogo page states "ISOLATE® is not like any other ear plug; it blocks all sound from entering your ears including bass frequencies for the first time ever". Which one is correct now?



24bit
Paul8 days ago
No mate, they are not made to block a lot of sound. They are made to only block dangerous high frequencies and dB levels, as well as retain as much low end bass as possible. It will block the low end as anything covering your ears will, but this is a unique isolator that for whatever reason is able to retain hood heft in very loud venues near loud speakers of very loud places, you can still hear things around you in a somewhat balanced manner and that is what makes them unique. They try to retain balanced without totally muting everything, so you can still hear things around you, but also block dangerous high frequencies and dB levels.

....
These Flare Isolates are not mean't to block a lot of sound. They keep good low end, good amounts of bass. They block problematic or dangerous higher frequencies. There are many sets that block sound much better. But, these Flares are intended to let you hear what is around you without dangerous loudness, or without loosing too much bass.

http://headfonics.com/2016/07/the-isolate-noise-blockers-by-flare-audio/2/
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Recently I've been getting Facebook promo ads for this device only now its being touted as a SNORING attenuator. Why would I pay $30+ for a pair of these instead of a cheap pair of 32 SRF rated foam earplugs from CVS? Are they really touting the benefits of "clearer" hearing while I'm asleep? More tempting is another Kickstarter device. Its a mask your snoring partner wears that's supposed to create a "Get Smart" cone of silence around your partner, emanating a sound cancellation field from speakers in the mask. That would be pretty cool if it actually worked, but I think I'll wait and hear from some satisfied early adopters before I "kick" in any development money.
 
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