The Loop Experience earplugs are worn in your ear canal and the 'loop' part sits just outside. (Image credit: Becca Caddy) Eargasm offers up a very fairly priced pair of earplugs to suit modern music lovers of all walks of life, and are one of the most popular choices of earplugs by far. We’re music fans here at Louder. Therefore, we test our plugs in the only proving ground we know – live music venues and band rehearsal rooms.

However, if you want to be able to switch between sound and silence easily, the best noise-cancelling headphones might be worth your money. Add to that the high-fidelity acoustic filters these earplugs utilize that allow concert-goers to enjoy music clearly while preserving their hearing. This means you’ll still hear the music at a reduced dB rating, but without the muffled ‘blurry’ quality foam earplugs give. Vibes have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 15, which is at the higher end for Hi-Fi earplugs (but not high in the context of hearing protection). When you put them in, you should notice a significant volume reduction, otherwise you are not getting a good fit! As two of the most popular on the market, the Earasers vs Eargasm debate is highly contested. For me, the Earasers just edged over for its slightly more natural sound attenuation.

Low frequencies should actually be attenuated because often they are detrimental to your hearing and your intelligibility of speech,” Jérémie Voix says this is called low-frequency energetic masking. He explains that if you’re on the tube or metro and you’re having a conversation, it’s the low frequency that’s masking your speech. Traditional earplugs just fill the ear canal with foam to try to attenuate as much sound as possible," Davies says. "This is still the best and cheapest way to give the most attenuation with an earplug, but it works much better the higher the frequency." Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs decrease volume without muffling sound. Unlike traditional foam earplugs—which lower only high-frequency (treble) sounds and leave us with unintelligible bass notes—Vibes lower all frequencies by about 22 decibels (dB). They do this through an earbud with comfortable medical-grade silicone tips and a protruding stem made from polycarbonate plastic with an (almost invisible) aluminum acoustic filter inside. The Loop Quiet earplugs are more like typical earplugs in that they reduce noise by 25 to 27dB, which Loop calls a 'medium' noise reduction.

Normal volume (LAeq: 57 dBA, peak: 78 dBC): Can I still clearly follow a movie at a moderate volume? Although these earplugs have decent noise reduction levels, there are others on the market that do a better job. However, to make them reduce noise, I have to insert these earplugs relatively deep into the ear. The stem then protrudes just enough so that I can grab it, but I wouldn’t want to insert these earplugs any deeper. Choosing the best noise-cancelling headphones if you have an auditory sensitivity is the same as finding the right earplugs – everyone is different. When compared to the original PartyPlug earplugs, you’ll be able to see a big difference in overall quality. The originals didn’t have the linear filter or some other cool accessories you’ll see with the PartyPlug Pro earplugs, like the addition of cleaning spray or a carrying cord.

Well-made, discrete hearing protection, at a reasonable price

We rank the best earplugs for concerts, festivals, and other music events, so you can enjoy every rhythm guilt-free! Name For comparison, I have also included my results for 3M’s Push-Ins (blue line), one of my favorite reusable no-roll earplugs. These earplugs have an NRR of 28. Someone with misophonia is typically disgusted or irritated by the sounds of people eating. Autistic people, or those with ADHD, sometimes find sounds extremely loud or have difficulty processing sounds in stressful or already noisy spaces. The Flare Calmer earplugs don’t reduce sound. Instead, they reduce certain frequencies that the company says people find most irritating and distressing. What we need is more research about the complex relationship between sound exposure and health outcomes, which is what Danielle Benesch, a Master's student working alongside Jérémie Voix at the École de Technologie Supérieure in Montreal, is interested in finding out.

Noise reduction is the primary function we’re after when seeking out earplugs, but that’s not all. It’s important to consider what sound is actually going to make it to your ears. Take a look at our Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones review and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review, these are the most highly-recommended pairs of over-ear cans money can buy with class-leading ANC built-in. Step 3: Listen to one or two full songs at a live concert and slightly adjust the depth that the earplugs are inserted into the ear until the clarity is optimal. Do not insert into the inner ear canal.Enjoy live music as it's meant to be enjoyed: clear sound quality and no hearing damage! Are there different sized ear tips? Any other loud environment where you want to keep your ears comfortable and safe, but still hear clearly! Another major factor is comfort. Earplugs should feel good, so you can wear them when you need to. But this is also important because many people with sound sensitivity also experience tactile sensitivity (or tactile hypersensitivity), especially Autistic people.

For our select range of products which will be sent with via courier, delivery typically takes between 2-4 working days. People who have hyperacusis (the proper term for noise sensitivity) may find everyday sounds louder than other people do. Then some might feel irritated by sounds now and again or find it difficult to focus when they’re in crowded or noisy spaces.