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Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:41 pm

my ears hurt. earplugs aren't very comfortable for long term use. any suggestion on reducing noise for 5-6 hours per day? I bet I could buy more comfortable earplugs than the crap fiddy cent foam jobs I've got, for starters.

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:28 pm

really good headphones like Vinny tends to buy, with noise cancellation/isolation of course.

Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:42 pm

yeah... there's not something i want to listen to for 120 hours per month. i have some mp3s at work, and i listen to them rarely.

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:59 pm

Just get a really long track of ocean waves or forest sounds or wind and rain or something like that.

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:47 pm

Noise-cancellation modifies the source, and costs quite a bit extra to boot. If you want isolation, go with in-ear monitors / ear canal headphones.

Headphone.com has a decent listing here, although you'll probably get better prices elsewhere (like amazon).

Headphone.com wrote:They provide the very best seal from outside sound of any headphone design, often well in excess of -20dB of noise blocking / attenuation.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:47 pm

Buy yourself a power tool (drill, saw, whatever) at home depot. Plug it in and duct tape the trigger down. The short term benefit is cheap white noise with a fair range of volume.

The long term benefit is that when your coworkers complain about the noise, you can tell them you're warming the tool up to use on the people you're trying to drown out. I'll bet the background noise goes away after that.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:50 pm

VLSmooth wrote:
Headphone.com wrote:They provide the very best seal from outside sound of any headphone design, often well in excess of -20dB of noise blocking / attenuation.

If all you want is attenuation, just buy some ear protectors from any hardware store. Most of what they sell is designed for people who have to wear them all day long or go deaf, so they should be more than adequate. I think mine are rated at something like 25dB, and I only paid $15 for them.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:34 pm

Yeah, junk the noise cancellation, not worth it.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:11 pm

Or get a full body bubble. Filled with water. 0 noise!

Post by **Jonathan** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:38 pm

I've got some new 33dB ones from the drug store which are a little softer than the ones Intel supplies. I'm giving these a go.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:29 am

I understand completely. I was in a server room for only four hours today and my ears were still ringing when I left work.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:05 am

I work best from 6pm to 9pm.. when no one is around. Having an office right net to the bathroom does that.

Vyrosama · Post by **Vyrosama** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:49 pm

Does it smell funky? Or can you hear people poop? Or do random ppl stop by at your office all the time? Or do you smell something funky and ask the person you hear pooping todo a courtesy flush?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:01 pm

Minor smell, most annoying noise due to random flushing, rinsing, towel dispenser, and people talking right outside. I gets worse when someone is escorting someone to the bathroom and standing there talking to random people just to make sure everyone in teh hallway knows they aren't just hanging around the bathroom, but escorting someone.

Vyrosama · Post by **Vyrosama** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:09 pm

At my workplace we have something called the bitch seat. It's a makeshift cubicle that was created to add extra space. It sticks out into the common walkway around the floor, so basically EVERYONE walking by can see what's on your computer screen, and what's worse is right behind you is the door to the common area/uncleared area/bathrooms. So if the fact that everyone walking by can see your computer doesn't annoy you or that you'll hear the door open and close throughout the day doesn't bother you then maybe the fact that you'll be the closest person to open the door when a person who doesn't have clearance yet gets locked out and knocks on the door to let him/her back in will (I had todo this for awhile, I eventually felt bad for the guy so I just held it in till lunch/after work).

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:11 pm

Hearos brand earplugs are indeed much more comfortable than e-a-r.

bob · Post by **bob** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:05 am

I bought a bulk pack of soft Hearos for friends who come over for music jam sessions. They're pretty comfortable, and may be the same style you got.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=421220

Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:42 am

Mine are blue.