When the earplugs work as promised, things should sound the same, just not as dangerously loud. Think of it like an electrical circuit that has resistance points but still allows electricity to pass through. They do so by utilizing a specially designed attenuation filter that allows a reduced amount of sound to pass through to a resonance channel that simulates the acoustic performance of a non-occluded ear canal. Musician earplugs are designed to reduce the volume yet allow you to safely experience the sounds around you. While foam earplugs are great for sleeping, mowing the lawn, or doing any activity where you want to block all sound waves from reaching your ear canal, they are terrible for loud situations when you still want to hear what’s going on, such as at concerts, clubs, sporting events, or workout classes. The zippered carrying pouch is tiny enough to fit in the smallest jeans pocket, but we wish it included a keychain attachment so it would be harder to lose.įor this guide, we focused on the style of earplug geared toward musicians. The Loop earplugs provide solid protection, will stay in place through dance moves and workouts, and have a discreet design that doesn’t protrude from your ear. Although some other competitors offered higher levels of noise protection, they either fit uncomfortably or sounded too muffled-so no one on our panel wanted to wear them. These earplugs are comfortable to wear for an extended time and come with enough tips (four pairs) to fit nearly every ear shape. The Loop set was the only pair that every one of our testers said they would be happy to use regularly.
Compared with cheap foam earplugs, which are designed to block all sounds, a good pair of universal-fit (aka musician-style) earplugs like the Loop Experience Earplugs will provide a light-years-better listening experience, allowing you to hear music and voices at a safer level.