BTW if you are close to AES/San Francisco in October, every time I’ve attended there’s a booth or two where you could get free molds for musician custom earplugs. Saves you $80 or so. And you could get free exhibition passes.
As for hearing protection, what’s more important, having a good set of ears into old age avoiding painful tinnitus or getting another DJ controller?
…True story, I went and checked some of the local clubs close by where I live a month ago. And at one establishment one of the DJs suddenly ran out to the front of the establishment and used a washing cloth close to his ears while he looked in pain. I suspect he is now into the red zone concerning getting deaf.