What are custom earplugs and why care?
Custom earplugs are made from medical-grade silicone and are fit to your unique ear canal anatomy to ensure maximum comfort and seal. Specifically made for music settings, they house special acoustic filters which reduce volume on a flat scale across the frequency spectrum. The interchangeable filters come in four different decibel reductions: -10dB, -15dB, -20dB, -25dB and -27dB to suit all of your sonic needs.
Will they make the music sound bad like foam earplugs?
Nope! Unlike foam earplugs which muffle the music, Crystal Guardians turn down the overall volume to protect your ears while preserving the fidelity of the music.
If that doesn’t grab you, they’re also glittery and accessorize nicely.
How do I get fit for Crystal Guardian earplugs?
Custom earplugs require making an impression of your ear canal. There are 3 ways to do this:
Come to a Crystal Guardian pop-up! Click the pink banner above to find out pop-up details this month and sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date with future pop-ups. At pop-ups, ear impressions are included in the price of the earplugs.
Appointments at Studio G outside of pop-ups are possible M-F 9-5 but have a $40 appointment fee. Book here: https://crystalguardian.setmore.com/
You can also visit an audiologist local to your area to get ear impressions taken and ship those to: Studio G c/o Crystal Guardian 44 Dobbin St. Brooklyn, NY 11222. We also accept 3D scans from audiologists.
What does taking an ear impression mean exactly?
The ear impression process consists of checking the ear canals for wax, and if they are clear, placing a foam block inside and backfilling the canal with a silicone material that sets in four minutes. If you have an earwax cleaning routine, it is recommended to do this prior to meeting. If you know you have heavy earwax build-up, you should get a professional ear cleaning before our appointment.
Do I get the finished earplugs immediately after the ear impressions are taken?
No, the final earplugs are made through a mold-making process and turnaround time is typically around 2 weeks.
Where is Crystal Guardian located? Do you do walk-ins?
We’re located inside Studio G in Greenpoint at 44 Dobbin St, Brooklyn, NY. We don’t accept walk-ins, please book an appointment.
Do you keep my ear impressions on file if I ever need to order more in the future?
Yup! All customer ear impressions are safely stored on file in a secret vault located 300 feet underground.
I’m not local to the New York-area. Can I still get earplugs from you?
Yes! You can visit an audiologist local to your area to get your ear impressions taken and then ship those to: Studio G c/o Crystal Guardian 44 Dobbin St. Brooklyn, NY 11222.
What specifications should I tell my audiologist if I’m sending in ear impressions?
Please make sure the ear impressions go COMPLETELY PAST the second bend in the ear canal and the concha is filled in fully. If this is not the case, the impressions will be rejected. Feel free to text me a photo when you get impressions made to confirm they’re useable. For vocalists, I recommend an open jaw impression with a bite block. For instrumentalists, I recommend recreating your embouchure during the fitting. For all others, I recommend the jaw be in a neutral, comfortable position during the fitting.
I lost my earplugs. How do I re-order?
You can place a re-order on CG’s online store, the same way you placed your original order. Please specify it’s a re-order on the order form. It is typically recommended to get re-fit if it has been more than 3 years since the initial fitting.
I lost only one earplug. Can I re-order one side?
Yes! —> Replacement for 1 earplug side
What filter is best for me?
-10dB: lightest filter, popular for performers (except drummers who should have more protection) to maximize sonic awareness (often swapped to a heavier filter when not performing), club workers/bartenders who need to prioritize verbal communication, loud acoustic performances, loud restaurants or bad comedy shows
-15dB: popular for general club and concert use, for those wishing to prioritize volume or for those going out under 3-4 hours/day; also popular for musicians/DJs
-20dB: most popular for heavy club and concert use, prioritizing long-term protection
-25dB and -27dB: for those who are more sensitive to noise or whose preferred spot is in front of speakers; good for that screeching noise show
