the ancient words

even with a resonated MP, these cars are pretty loud....I've always worn earplugs when riding the bike, ever since my dad was diagnosed with significant hearing loss during a trip out to Colorado (wind noise through the helmet)...it's not short bursts of mega loud noise that kill your hearing but prolonged exposure to 85-90+ dBA

anyway, I think the car sounds better....tunes out alot of the racket

wReX

iTrader: (6)

I couldn't, infact I have to drive with the windows down. I gotta be able to hear what the car is doing.

littlemilla3

iTrader: (1)

I have DP/resonated MP/HKS hi power CB (strait through) and it isn't that bad, never hurts my ears or anything. The only time I can see it damaging my ears is if I drive WOT with the windows down everywhere I go.

As for wearing earplugs, was that a joke or do you really do that? If you really do that, I don't think it's very unsafe. You kinda need to hear stuff when you drive.

the ancient words

earplugs do not block noise, they filter out high intensity noise

you'd be very surprised what you can still hear....try it, you'll like it

BustedRX

Hi intensity noise such as say.. police sirens???

If Im not mistaken, it is illegal to wear ear plugs while driving for exactly that reason. Same with headphones.

littlemilla3

iTrader: (1)

A firetruck siren is probably more decibles than your car...

I don't think I'll try it because my car's noise doesn't bother me at all.

Black97VR4

Even with an unresonated midpipe, my car still doesn't seem too loud.

rx713bt

iTrader: (4)

I've been riding dirt bikes for about 15 years and streetbikes for about 7 years. I think the noise has already done some damage done cause I have a hard time hearing conversations compared to other people who don't ride. Many people use ear plugs on bikes. I love ear plugs, it helps reduce the wind noise when I ride my bike. I *hate* overly loud harely, rice rockets and cars.

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

My car's not loud enough to need earplugs. I used to wear them on my bike, and in my Toyota when I commuted for hours with the windows open (A/C was broken). Wind noise is the most damaging to your hearing, the high-pitched sounds at a steady loud volume.


You will still hear everything that you used to hear, including police sirens and other cars' tires, but the volume will be less. The quiet sounds will get quieter, and the deafening sounds will still be noticeably louder than the quiet sounds. The damaging sounds will be reduced to non-damaging levels. The exception is that sounds produced by you (such as chewing food, talking, or singing) will become much louder compared to the rest of the world around you.Try it sometime.

If you compensate by cranking your stereo, that is what's going to cause you not to hear sirens.

-s-

gen3RxProj

I think this is some serious overkill. I have the exhaust u can hear from 3 miles, and I still would neve fathom wearing ear plugs while I drive.

Just sounds foulish... I'd just get a different car man.

If I rode motorcycles, it would be a different story. I can totally understand that. ( wind)

rynberg

While I would never mod my car such that it required hearing protection, in general, many of you young people today are going to have significant hearing loss when you get older. Between loud car stereos, bars, etc., you really have no idea how much damage you are doing. Developing problems like tinnitus has literally driven people insane.

Not so much for driving, but people should be more aware of loud environments.

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

To all the critics who haven't tried it (especially those with modified exhaust): Go buy a pair of cheap earplugs (should cost about a buck or two), give it a try, and let us know what you think.



"I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am!"

-s-

neit_jnf

iTrader: (17)

I wear them at work everyday... very noisy environment

DamonB

My car's not loud so that's not a problem but when around cnc machinery at work or when at a loud racetrack I always wear foam ear plugs. They work great and they are cheap. They keep out the majority of the harmful stuff but you can still hear eachother talk. I always have a pair or two in the glovebox and a few sets in my desk at work.

Montego

iTrader: (1)

I have a mild streetport, DP, and MP with a stock muffler and the car is NOT loud at all.

I suggest to the few that have to wear earplugs: Change to a different catback.

Gamezilla

Resonated MP and RB catback results in my car being quieter than most trucks.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I can't understand how any of you willfully drive cars that will damage your hearing.

I guess my ***** isn't as small as I previously thought .

Dave

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

I don't think you're in dangerous territory until you've got one of those "can't really listen to the stereo or carry on a conversation" exhausts. Mine certainly isn't anything like that, and i've got a streetport, DP, resonated MP, and a PFS catback. Maybe if I went single or nonsequential i'd feel differently.

Shinobi-X

And the damage is cumulative as well.


YZF, what significant modifications do you have done to your car?

Scrapiron7

Rosary hanging on rear view mirror = 5 rhwp

Red-Rx7

More and more I think about it, I think I will install a communication headphone set; simular to what the Mclaren F1's have. It will be hooked into my Car-PC and have a mic boom so the driver/passenger can talk easily.

This will save my hearing, and also benifit the driving schools and stuff when I give people rides in the car

pp13bnos

iTrader: (1)

I don't drive my FD to much, but it would'nt be a bad idea for me. My car is loud, plain and simple. I'm running a DP, resonated mid pipe, and apexi N1 Duals....and a open wastegate. Other than that, I do alot of metal fabrication this time of year (Welding, cutting, grinding, etc.) and I allways use ear plugs. My dads hearing is pretty much useless because of loud cars when he was younger. Thanks for bringing something like this to my attention....I'll be using them in the future for shure. CJ

AgentSpeed

I work swing shift in a power plant so when I'm out in the plant, they are a must. I have an annual physical with hearing check done every year at work too. That helps monitor my hearing from year to year. Also when working nights, I were earplugs during the day when I'm asleep. That took some getting some time but it helps muffle the neighbors! Most loud things at home I always have ear plugs in. I've only rarely used them while driving. I can see where it would help, especially on long trips. Thankfully my car is just a weekend car and not too loud.
Good advice though.

Beny

i dont use earplugs when i race moto, that would be scary to me. I do however use them when i ride on the street. My other bike is a harley. with straight pipes.

Shad Laws

You are completely correct - prolonged exposure to moderately loud things DO kill your hearing over time.

I'm a perfect example, and it didn't even take motorcycles. For 6 years, I drove around modified cars with "not that loud" exhaust systems. Make no mistake - they weren't stock. They also weren't ricer loud. However, after driving and working on these things for 80,000mi, my hearing has gone down. I do not hear conversations as well as others around me. It sucks.

This is why I refuse to have anything other than a stock cat and stock catback on my FD. They make the engine nice and quiet, and I really like that. Maybe I'm just getting too old or something, but having a quiet car is more important to me than a few more horsepower... especially when I derive most pleasure from the car's handling, not the engine :-).

Take care,
Shad