[pennylane]

This has happened to me twice now. The right channel of my Etymotic ER-4P (a few years old) gets clogged soon after take-off on airplane rides. At first I thought it was just a coincidence and the filter just needed to be replaced, but since it happened again, I thought maybe something isn't working right. Has this happened to anybody else? I'm using bi-flanges, if that makes a difference.

It's a bit frustrating because airplane rides are one of the main reasons I got the Ety's.

 

[jsmithepa]

Are u sure it isn't your ears? U tried swapping the R/L?

And do u always sit by a starboard's window? a window seat can get a bit windy ya know (airline joke).

 

[Assorted]

Just making sure:

1. Your earphones are in your bag/pocket, out of your ears.

2. You know they aren't clogged.

3. Airplan takes off.

4. The right earphone is suddenly clogged.

Because that would be wierd :/ If you were wearing them while the plane was taking off... I don't think you should have.

 

[pennylane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assorted /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just making sure: 1. Your earphones are in your bag/pocket, out of your ears. 2. You know they aren't clogged. 3. Airplan takes off. 4. The right earphone is suddenly clogged. Because that would be wierd :/ If you were wearing them while the plane was taking off... I don't think you should have.

Yes that's exactly correct. I'm sure they aren't clogged because I often wear them right before I get on the plane, and the filters have only recently been replaced (the two plane rides I took were less than a month apart, and of course I switched out the filter after the first plane ride).

It's really weird. Especially since it only happens to the right ear. I don't see how the bi-flange would affect it but next time I go on an airplane I'll try different tips. Should I give Etymotic a call?

 

[LaBreaHead]

"Should I give Etymotic a call?"

Maybe an ear, nose and throat specialist? Are you certain it's a physical clog in the Ety filter, and not a sinus- or cabin pressure-related issue?

Edit: I'm not being facetious -- I've noticed weird pressure issues on planes, but espeically with flanges (using the Ety bi-flanges on ER6i's) -- I've since switched to foamies, which I prefer for several reasons. Once, in the pre-earphone era, I thought I had lost my hearing in one ear one a one-hour flight ... it seems I was flying while I had a bad head cold, and my hearing was affected for about a week. So I would investigate further, if I were you -- a simple test would be to switch to foamies the next time you fly (and take an antihistamine before you get on the plane!).

 

[blipmusic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaBreaHead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are you certain it's [...] not a [...] pressure-related issue?

What he said. (Sorry for messing with your quoted words, LaBreaHead ). Try pinching your nose and blow and see if that helps. Happens to most people when there's a pressure change. Sorry if I'm being too obvious but try it before running off to an expensive audiologist. FWIW, my right ear seems to experience this to a higher degree than my left.

EDIT: In the case of foamies I've had one of them "pinch together" blocking sound while the other was fine possibly due to different shaped canals on my left and right side but seeing as you're using flanged rubber tips that shouldn't be problem.

 

[pennylane]

I'm sure it's not a "my ear is temporarily not working" issue. I've tried out regular ear phones and they work okay. I've tried the Ety's after leaving the plane and no sound comes out of the right channel still. And replacing the filter is what fixes it.