Paul Gilbert has been playing loud electric guitar since he was eleven years old. From endless basement rehearsals as a teenager, to packed clubs with Racer X, to sold-out arenas with MR. BIG, Paul has spent more than 3 decades as a dedicated rock performer. For years, Paul has used the model EX-29 to protect his hearing on stage and in rehearsal. “EX-29′s block out the loud stage volume, and they allow me to have the perfect mix at the perfect level. Save your ears too!” (Photo by Emi Gilbert)
Peter has been voted ‘Best Jazz Drummer of the Year’ ten times by the readers of Modern Drummer magazine.
Peter appears on over 600 albums and film scores, and has won two Grammy Awards, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music (1992)
“I wont use another set of headphones while tracking or producing in the studio!! Extreme Isolation are by far the best”.
Paris Toon, 2011 Producer/Songwriter Artist of the Year Phoenix R&B Soul group Mothers Favorite Child
Nik West records with Paris Toon:
“The first time I used Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones was on a session where my regular headphone cable was going bad. The studio had a pair of EX-25s so I gave them a try. I was so impressed that I have not used anything but EX-25s or EX-29s on a session since. I always bring an extra pair to sessions and lend them to any players that are near the drum kit while tracking. The isolation and clarity allows for relaxed playing for hours with no ear fatigue. I love these headphones!
Travis A McNabb
Sugarland/Better Than Ezra/Studio www.travismcnabb.com
“Dude!! I rolled with the 29′s today. Beautiful!!! They sound amazing! And they don’t squish my head!!!!!”
Adam Shoenfeld
http://www.adamshoenfeld.com/ http://www.myspace.com/adamshoenfeldmusic
“One of the most important things for me in the studio are my headphones.
The EX-29s sound great! The perfect isolation protects my ears, and they
are extremely comfortable to wear! The designers or engineers really got
it all with the Extreme Headphones!”
Nir Z
Nir Z has recorded with various artists and bands including Genisis, John Mayer, and Wynonna.
“Awesome! They actually stay on my head when I’m rockin’ out!! Sounds Killer!! Keeps those pesky guitars outta my ears!”
Peter Keys,
Lynyrd Skynyrd
These headphones have the most clean and balanced sound I ever had during a studio recording or practicing. They are designed for drummers and they totally blew me away, excellent!”
George Kollias
Drummer for Nile
Direct Sound Extreme Isolation headphone artist, jazz drummer, Dave Calarco at Cotton Hill studios, Albany NY http://www.cottonhill.com/ View Dave’s video review of our headphones on YouTube. 
“I was using the Extreme Isolation Headphones in the studio, recording our latest album ‘Doomsday Machine’…They are both comfortable and isolate good enough to get separation from the acoustic drum sound. This allows you to have the mix at a lower more listenable level, which every drummer knows is a good thing!”
Daniel Erlandsson
Arch Enemy<
“Extreme Headphones are by far the best isolation audio headphones I’ve ever heard. I love ‘em! All the best and thanks!”
Larry Aberman– Currently performing with Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity” at New York New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas | www.larryaberman.com
Vincent Dee
Fred Dinkins is one of the top drum instructors at P.I.T, Musicians Institute, located in Hollywood, CA. Fred comes from St. Louis, MO, and has been playing professionally for over 20 years. He is the author of the drum instruction book “It’s About Time.” Visit his website at www.freddinkins.com.
“I recommend the EX-29 to anyone working in the audio field at any level: from the amateur to the experienced professional.
Extreme Isolation Headphones advocate Enrico Sesselego is an internationally respected instructor and recording engineer who has worked with The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Slash, and Paul Gilbert among many others in the music industry.
Enrico Sesselego
“I love these headphones! For years I have made my own headphones for the studio as I had trouble finding anything that would give me the isolation that I needed and the sound quality at the same time. I am so excited to have found my ideal solution. The EX-29 is by far the best isolation headphone on the market today.”
Ryan Hoyle,
Collective Soul
“I use my Extreme Isolation EX-29 headphones in the Nashville studios daily and they work perfectly every time. No ear fatigue at all, even on those all day sessions. The new incrediflex headband is virtually indestructible!!
Duane Norman Crystal Gayle/Nashville Studios www.duanenorman.com
“I have been using the headphones religiously and can say that they are my favorite way to play live hands down!!! I am taking them on our second tour to Europe to use live. They are truly amazing.”
Mike Young, aka “Powder,” drummer for“The Saddle Tramps”
Drummer Terry Bozzio using Extreme Isolation Headphones in a studio session.
Fame Award winner
Clinician of the Year Award winner (twice)
Drum Magazine Drummer of the Year and Best Clinician Award winner (twice)
Schlagwerkrant Magazine (Holland) Best Drummer Award winner
Player Magazine (Japan) Best Drummer
Award winner
“I am just loving my Extreme Isolation Headphones. I work on new arrangements at home and appreciate the quiet concentration that these headphones allow for me. The range and clarity make tracking and playback a joy.”
Jane Miller is an Associate Professor in the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music. With roots in both Jazz and Acoustic Guitar, she performs solo guitar shows, plays with her jazz group, and freelances with a variety of players in the New England Area. She is a composer and arranger, and has contributed many solo guitar arrangements to the Berklee Guitar Department library. She is a contributing writer for Premier Guitar Magazine and Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Her group has recorded three CDs, available on her web site, www.janemillergroup.com
“The Direct Sound EX-29s are simply fantastic. Everything sounds crystal-clear, and the superb isolation lets me record even close-miked acoustic guitars with no audio leakage. They’re possibly the best headphones I’ve used in 30 years. Thanks, Extreme Isolation!”
Kent Burnside (Nashville guitarist, composer, and educator)
Morgan has climbed the readers polls in various drum-magazines recently. In 2010 Morgan was voted No.1 in Modern Drummers readers poll in the category “fusion”.
Besides playing with Frank Zappa, Morgan has also played with Fleshquartet, Steve Vai, Fredrik Thordendal (of Meshuggah) Spoonman, Glenn Huges, Tony Iommi, Terry Bozzio, Mike Keneally Denny Walley, Kaipa, Bolon Bata, Dweezil Zappa
MONTREAL DRUMFEST 2008
Morgan Agren,
MONTREAL DRUMFEST 2008
“I am so in love with these headphones! I use the Extreme Isolation EX-29 in White. Not only are they super comfortable to wear, they are also the best sounding headphones I’ve used in the studio. I also use them when I’m songwriting along side with my digital recorder. The Isolation of sound really allows me to get lost into the craft of songwriting. And I for sure can’t live with out these in the studio. They are vital in the studio for the recording of my upcoming album “Wild Horse”. Thank you Extreme headphones!”
Michele Vreeland Singer-Songwriter
“What Extreme Isolation Headphones give me is the ability to concentrate on what I’m doing or playing on-the-air. I hear nothing but what I’m supposed to hear. And I hear it all loud and clear…no outside distractions.
“That alone enables me to better entertain and communicate with my listening audience. Extreme Isolation…it’s all in the headphones!”
“Smash”
Broadcast Entertainer
103.3 FM Radio
FOX 2TV
“When it comes to recording, headphones are one of the first thing i think about.. because its gotta sound good in the cans. These headphones are wonderful, very comfortable, light weight, affordable and most importantly they sound great!”
Tony Graci
“The EX-29 headphones deliver me a comparable frequency response to my ATC SCM 200 speakers. This allows me to cross reference audio at the source in the room and feel confident with what I hear through my monitors in the control room. It’s the only headphone system that has given me the confidence to know what I’m hearing translates to the studio monitors accurately.”
Producer / Engineer Henry Hirsch, Waterfront Studio Hudson, NY Studio: Analog, Helios console, 3M 24 track tape. ATC SCM200 monitors, extreme isolation headphones Credits: Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Curtis Mayfield, Mick Jagger, Lionel Richie
Blue Man Group approved!
Paul Peress “Right out of the box, I dug these headphones. In the studio, they’re immensely helpful – canceling out any microphone bleed from my drums and of course cutting down the volume level which protects my hearing for the long run. They sound great, and expose all the nuances of any type of music, from great highs to realistic lows. I keep a pair in the studio, and athome. Don’t practice, fly, or record without them!!!”
Paul Peress has worked as Drummer and Music Director with Moby, The B-52′s, Brenda Russell, Regina Belle, Phil Perry, Tom Scott, Will Lee, Guy Davis, Candido, Jeff Golub. His original band, Paul Peress Project, has released 3 CD’s, and has appeared internationally from St Lucia to Lincoln Center to British Columbia.
Live or in the studio, My Ex-29′s are a crucial part of my everyday day setup, giving me the perfect sound everytime i put them on. playing live is where they really shine for me, with the amazing isolation, I don’t get that fuzzy head feeling after playing plus i hear everything much clearer in my mix, I can play a whole show/studio session and completely forget that i’m wearing them, as they are so comfortable.” As my drumtech say’s, “Don’t be a clown, get direct sound” He couldn’t be more right. Best headphones ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dean Hendy – Uk Session Drummer/Clinician www.deanhendy.com
The Extreme Isolation is the Best headphone that I used. When I start to play with the headphones I said “THIS IS SO AMAZING!” Give me the perfect sound and help me a lot giving me clear sound. The audio clarity is Wonderful and they are extremely comfortable to wear.
Simply the Best, top of the top. I love it
Leo Rodriguez
“With my new EX-25s, I feel like I finally have the best combination of comfort, great sound and the perfect amount of noise reduction. My recording process just got a whole lot easier and I’m having trouble remembering what I did without these amazing headphones!”
Matt Starr is a Los Angeles based drummer and producer who spends his time doing recording sessions and live dates in a variety of genres. He has performed with pop artists and singer-songwriters like Christopher Cross, Kevyn Lettau, Kiki Ebsen, Diana Booker, Lily Wilson and Sara Lovell and jazz artists such as Alphonso Johnson, Russell Ferrante, Jeff Richman, Bill Reichenbach, The Andrew Campbell Network, Brad Rabuchin, Billy Mitchell the Mark Harrison Quintet, and 2azz1.
He has played at the Hollywood Palladium, the Wiltern Theatre and legendary jazz hotspots like The Baked Potato in North Hollywood and Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood.
Matt teaches drums at the prestigious Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA) in Pasadena, CA.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Matt has studied under drummers Joe Morello, Jim Chapin, and Vito Rezza. He moved to Los Angeles in 2001. Matt Starr
“To put it simply, these are the best sounding isolation headphones on the market. The audio clarity is amazing and they are ‘extremely’ comfortable to wear. Whether I’m playing a session halfway around the world, or teaching in my home studio, Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones are all I ever use.”
Jim Riley,
Drummer and bandleader for Rascal Flatts
Rich Redmond is a top call recording drummer/percussionist based in Nashville.
Currently the drumming powerhouse behind country superstar Jason Aldean
“No bleed, Crystal Clear audio, Comfortable and Affordable. The best phones on the market. Thank you!”
Rich Redmond,
Drummer/Producer/Clinician
I did a great deal of research before going with Extreme Isolation Headphones. I find these headphones to be “dynamically consistent” from drum to drum (cymbal to cymbal). In other words, it’s a TRUE MIX to my ears. Other headphones block out certain frequencies, while allowing others to bleed in. The result is an uneven mix!!! Therefor I have a tendency to hit certain drums harder or softer, in an effort to blend my sound. This doesn’t happen with Extreme Isolation Headphones. My drum mix is consistent and true…just at a lower level. If these headphones will stay on my head they will stay on yours.
I won’t record without them…period!
Steve Moore, The MAD DRUMMER
The EX-29, I love the sound and have deep bass which is why I need as a drummer!
Javo Barrera
I love my EX-29′s!!! They have the perfect isolation for a drummer plus they are very light which is great for working long sessions and they sound amazing. What else can I ask for?
Waldo Madera
The isolation of the EX-29′s are incredible! You can have your headphone level blasting and barely hear any leakage. Gone is the problem of headphone feedback! A real coup for all broadcasters-especially those on the air!
Jhani Kaye
Program Director K-Earth 101 The Wave Los Angeles
There are no other headphones that we would use other than Extreme Isolation Headphones! During the shooting of “The Steel,” we never know what type of situation we’re going to run into. That’s why we chose the EX 25’s and 29’s. These headphones allow us to hear all the unwanted background noise before we hit the record button. Insuring perfect “takes” one hundred percent of the time!
Hey!!! We all know that the more accurately the sound is captured, the less time spent in postproduction fixing it!
Thank you Extreme Isolation for speeding up our production workflow!!!
The Steel Crew www.thesteelshow.com
Harley DeWinter
UnDvided/Independent/OCSA
“The EX-29′s sound amazing and feel great. These phones are now my go to phones for recording and live work, thank you!!!”
Ron Robertson
Teacher/Drummer/Vocalist at The Drum Studio
“For years I’ve used my in-ear monitors in the studio, but after several hours of tracking the ear fatigue can get outrageous. The EX-29 headphones provide more than enough isolation allowing for virtually no click bleed, they sound fantastic, and they’re FAR more comfortable to wear than in-ears.”
Miles McPherson (Kelly Clarkson)
The Official Headphones for 907 Records & Productions
“These are the best sounding isolation headphones we have ever used. The clarity is one of a kind. We use them for everything, from vocals to drums. Direct Sound Extreme Isolation headphones are all we ever use.”
Anthony Schofield
907 Records and Productions | Anchorage, Alaska
“I have been using the Extreme Isolation Headphones now for 5 years, and in terms of overall quality, endurance and performance, nothing comes close!!!!! I have used them on every Megadeth record I have performed on, and even on an entire tour leg back in 2004, when I was suffering from extreme ear infection and vertigo – The Extreme Isolation Headphones literally saved my ears from further damage, and for that alone I owe a lot of gratitude to them. I simply will not use anything else, end of story.”
Shawn Drover
MEGADETH
“There is a certain sound that I have been searching for, and Direct Sound has it!”
Cole Marcus
“I can hear the click but I don’t hear the Guitar. Can you turn the drums down in the cans? I don’t feel like I’m in the pocket with the bass and piano. These are things I don’t have to say or worry about since I’ve had my Extreme Isolation headphones. I can play the music with more feeling and expression because I hear everything so much better. Extreme Isolation headphones made for drummers by a drummer. Only one thing could be better-every body in the room has a pair.”
Charles Collins
Chad Sezliga
Robert Lunte is the founder of the internationally renowned contemporary voice training studio known as, The Vocalist Studio. TVS is a Seattle based studio for extreme singing vocal techniques and advanced vocal instruction. He is also the author and producer of the popular DVD training system for extreme singing titled, “The Four Pillars of Singing”.
Robert is the founder and CEO of The Modern Vocalist.com, the #1 Community for Singers on the Web.
“I love my EX-29s, not only for drummers, these headphones are great for singers too. They fold up nicely for the singer’s gig bag, are comfortable, sound killer and are a great value for vocalists on a budget”.
“Extreme Headphones are an important tool in my musical life. I practice with them without music for ear protection, I plug them in my Ipod, when I am preparing for a show so I can practice with the music. (the headphones allow me to hear the music over the drums which, is really nice.) I also use them when I am recording in my home studio for track playback. I really do enjoy my Extreme Headphones, they are VERY USFUL in many ways!”
Gaylelynn McKinney, drummer
Fivefold during rehearsal using JamHub’s TourBus silent rehearsal studio
and Your Essential Headphone Kit, the perfect match! FiveFold was a featured band at Direct Sound’s 2010 Summer NAMM display.
Fivefold
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, lighting and sound technician.
Some of the people / bands Sheldon has played / toured / or recorded with: United Soul / Parliament Funkadelic – Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield) Dewey Martin (Buffalo Springfield) – Bobby G. Griffith (Canadian Lawrence Welk Show) – Buzzy Feiten (Paul Butterfield, Stevie Wonder, The Young Rascals, Full Moon) – Timothy Eaton (Producer from Toronto Canada/ Timothy, Allman Bros, The Knack) – Paul Schaffer – Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf) – former Band Director with Tony Bellamy’s (Formerly of Redbone) Redbone Review
“I love my EX-29 Extreme Isolation Headphones. I use them for live shows instead of floor monitors, as well as using them in the studio. They are awesome, especially when using a click track. After being onstage my ears
used to ring quite often. I enjoy the hearing protection I get now at the same high stage volumes just by using my Extreme Isolation headphones. The staff and service at Direct Sound has been fantastic. Everyone there has always gone the extra mile and beyond to assist me.”
Sheldon “RocKit” Miller
Drummer with “On The Rocks” (Seattle)
Concentration is everything to me when I am in the studio. Direct Sounds Extreme Isolation headphones help keep me focused on the only sound I needed to hear… me!”
A-me, Shock City Records recording artist
“In Shock City Studios’ Control Room A we can mix at up to 124 dB and trust us, every client wants to. To protect the mix we must protect our ears by using Extreme Isolation Headphones. They allow us to listen critically while blocking up to 29 dB of ambient sound! They are also great for tracking singers and acoustic players because they also keep the sound in… that means no click tracks or scratch takes bleeding into the mic. Our studio would not be complete without them. The secret is out, they’re not just for drummers anymore.”
Chris Loesch & Doug Firley
Co-Owners & Producers
Shock City Studios, St. Louis, MO
Isaiah Fogle, a young drummer on a mission! This young man is an inspiration to all of us at Direct Sound Headphones. Isaiah is a remarkably talented young man who can light up a room with his smile, not to mention his drumming. We are proud to be a part of Isaiah’s very bright future.
www.isaiahfogle.com
“I think Extreme Isolation Headphones are some of the best out there, I use them in the studio for recording and I also use them out on the road as well playing live, I would highly recommend these to all drummers out there, they give that all around sound and isolate the noise very well!!! Very happy to have them around and also to be part of the Extreme Isolation family!! Thank you guys for all that you do.”
Ryan Burdette
Drummer for Justine Blazer
“Direct Sound Extreme Isolation headphones are, without question, the best I’ve ever used. I take them and use them at all my Voice-Over recording sessions. Simply stated. They’re Gr-r-r-reat.”
Lee Marshall
National Voice-Over Artist Voice for Tony The Tiger / Kellogg’s
Jeannie Deva – Celebrity Voice and Performance Coach / Recording Studio Vocal Specialist, endorsed and referred by engineers and producers of Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, The Rolling Stones.
“When I put these headphones on my ears the rest of the world disappears. All I hear is exactly what I want to focus on – the music. The designers even made it easy to know which phone goes on which ear by color coding left and right. I use these in the recording studio as a side check monitoring system when producing singers. While they’re slightly larger than what I’m used to, the additional isolation sharpens my audio perception so I can be spot-on coaching the vocals during tracking and in analyzing the results during playback”
Jeannie Deva
“I have been using Extreme Isolation headphones for over 4 years now. In all this time I have not come across another competitive product that would provide half the quality of Extreme Isolation Headphones. Impeccable in the studio as well as on stage, irreplaceable at rehearsals. I have tested, out of curiosity, several other products from the competition and it was like comparing a bicycle to a Ferrari. A gold medal for Direct Sound- Extreme Isolation Headphones. Playing the drums will never be as gratifying without EIH.
Icanraz DEVILISH IMPRESSIONS Polish metal drummer
“Whether I’m in the studio or just practicing with my ipod or a click track, your headphones are miraculous. I laughed the first time I came up against a Marshall stack 8 feet away. Truly incredible.”
John Cowsillbegan his career as a drummer and singer at the tender age of seven, playing clubs in Newport, Rhode Island, with his brothers. The Cowsills became a sensation in the late sixties, earning several top 10 hits, numerous television appearances (including their own hour-long TV special), and touring worldwide. After the family members went their separate ways in the early seventies, John played drums, percussion and sang with artists as diverse as Dwight Twilley, Bette Midler, Tommy Tutone and The Smithereens. He has also worked with Buzzy Feton, Billy Payne, Ernie Watts, Harry Chapin and the Bangles (his wife is the Bangles’ Vicki Peterson). During the eighties, John toured with Jan and Dean, who introduced him to Mike Love. John joined the Beach Boysin 2000, initially as a featured vocalist playing piano and percussion. John is presently back in his comfort zone–the drum seat–playing, singing, and touring year-round with the Beach Boys.
For a list of current Beach Boys dates, go to Beachboysfanclub.comfor tour info.
“The EX29′s are nothing short of EXTREME! Extreme quality, clarity, and an extremely comfortable fit. I choose Extreme Isolation, hands down!”
Josh Mighell joshmighell.com
“Extreme Headphones are extremely high quality and comfortable. I have been using the headphones in a studio session. I would recommend Extreme Isolation Headphone to anyone”
Peerawich Hruvijitpong