It’s all about the music, thanks to special hearing aid technology

 

 

When Troy Spracklin opened Switch computers in September 2004, the South Surrey resident must have thought he was living the dream.

 

Then, a few months later he received a call that would change his life. That call was from Etymotic Research Inc., an Illinois-based firm specializing in hearing-aid technology for scientists, people with hearing impairments and musicians. The company needed someone to meet with U2 – at the time the biggest band in the world – which happened to be rehearsing its upcoming tour in Vancouver.

 

For Spracklin, a life-long U2 fan, it was the chance of a lifetime. “U2’s been my favourite band all my life,” said Spracklin, who has Canadian distribution rights for Etymotic. “It was truly a dream come true. “As I walked into GM Place they were sound-checking Vertigo. It was a surreal, emotional experience.”

 

A few weeks earlier, U2 guitarist Edge had been on a flight with producer Steve Lillywhite. He was listening to Lillywhite’s iPod, which included a pair of ER-4 earphones, made by Etymotic. “He said, ‘Why is my listening experience nowhere near as clear as these?” Spracklin said. “He was blown away by the sound quality, and someone like Edge knows what sound is.”

 

Spracklin fitted the guitarist, and a number of U2 sound engineers, with their own earpieces, for use during performances. He now spends part of his time traveling to concerts throughout North America and working with the band.

 

He’s also working with the British band Coldplay, and a number of smaller acts.

 

“With U2 I’ve been to probably seven or eight shows across North America, with Coldplay about the same. We go down and make sure everything is the way it should be. We talk to the engineers and get feedback,” he said. “For me it’s work, but it’s the greatest work you can do. “Working with this band is the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

 

Etymotic’s ER-4 Earphones are tiny silicone buds which mold to the inside of a person’s ear, muffling ambient noise. For a typical user it can block converstion, traffic, air conditioning and other distractions.

 

For a musician who plays to 15,000 screaming fans, it can make or break a performance. “The impact is a better performance all the way around. It is so important that when Edge comes in on lead guitar, (bassist) Adam Clayton and (drummer) Larry Mullen and Bono all hear exactly the same thing,” Spracklin said.

 

“It basically lets him hear his instrument on stage. You can imaging how hard it is for him to hear his instrument while on stage.”

 

And by using Etymotic’s ER-4s, Spracklin said the guitarist can block out external noise without having to crank the sound to dangerous levels. “It’s hearing himself as close to perfect as available. It helps him hear himself better, because it takes out the ambient noise. “I love the fact our product makes him better at what he does.”

 

http://www.peacearchnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=44&cat=23&id=708660&more=

Well, that's very interesting - I'd like to test them, but my earphones are good enough for me.

‘Why is my listening experience nowhere near as clear as these?'

 

I wonder if he worded it like that? :laugh4: