Looking for recommendations for good ear protection during concerts. I want ear buds that don’t just muffle all the sound but limit higher unsafe frequencies while allowing you to still enjoy the music. I did a search and came up with a bunch of different kinds and varying reviews on amazon, I also asked my friend who is in the live audio business and he said I needed custom molded IEMs but that seemed a little over kill for me, even if it’s the best way.
This Site shows the common ones I’ve seen.
Thanks!
EDIT: thanks everyone for the reaponses, I will go through and look at each of the recommended solutioms works best for me.
While I was playing in a band, I was using some earplugs like these: Alpine MusicSafe Pro - Clear / Thomann.de. I was wearing them for every band practice and shows. It wasn’t the exact same ones though. I can say I still have a good hearing today, I can still hear the high pitch noise from some power supply and I don’t have any permanent ringing in my ears. So, they did a good enough job for me, standing next to a angry drummer and maxed-out guitar amplifier twice a week for 4 years :)
I use EARPEACE ear plugs when riding my motorcycles but also use them at concerts. They have ones for moto, music, sport, and sleep but I just use my moto ones for everything. Haven’t tried any of the other varieties to see how they compare in the real world.
I enjoy them because they cut down on the shitty frequencies that’ll damage your hearing but still allow you to hear things clearly. Also pretty nice that you get 3 ear plugs per order in case you lose one. It also comes with an aluminum carrying case for them so you can throw it in your pocket or bag and not have them get damaged or covered with pocket fuzz.
They’re pretty damned inexpensive too for what they are.
I use the Sennheiser Sound Protex Plus and am satisfied.
I asked a similar question to this a couple of weeks ago due to me needing them for work, and I ended up going with the Loop Experience 2 and they’ve been fantastic.
They dampen the sound around me but I can still hear voices clearly, and they’re really comfortable and I barely notice I’ve got them in.
I own a pair of Etymotic ER20XS ear plugs and I like them. I haven’t had the chance yet to try them out at a concert, but I have worn them on other occassions. I think they’re reasonably comfortable and the sound quality is still good while wearing them.
I have the Earasers with their case and keep it on my keychain. Super happy with them. Use them as drummer for all the rehearsals I do without my IEMS or any loud concerts I go to. Super comfortable and I can still talk to people fine with them in since they don’t muffle the sound too much.
Just got a pair of eargasms too but haven’t put them through their paces yet, but they’re a different style of earplug that’s more substantial but might have slightly better sound. They’re also a little cheaper usually and they come with a case.
If you get the Earasers case make sure to sinch it tight when closing otherwise it has a habit of unscrewing in your pocket.
The eargasms look good also, ill compare them to the earasers and see which ones fit my needs best.
Etymotic makes exactly what you’re looking for.
That said, there is no such thing as hearing protection that doesn’t muffle high frequencies at least somewhat. But what you can do instead is buy earbuds with ANC + audio pass through and foam tips. But keep in mind that the audio will be colored by the frequency response of the headphones, making live audio sound more like a recording. You’ll still get the benefits of the live experience, however, because you’ll still be able to feel the bass.
Keep in mind that these kind of earbuds are basically hearing aids, however. So they won’t be cheap. They’re known as “hearables” and “OTC hearing aids”. And not all of them form a seal around your ear, which means that not all of them are suitable for hearing protection. Which why you’ll need to do your homework and find some that have foam tips. Also be prepared to spend hundreds, possibly thousands.
Or you can just deal with a little bit of muffled audio and buy the Etymotic earplugs. That’s what I would do.
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Anything thats rated for a certain db reduction. I like disposable ones personally because they tend to be more comfortable (edit: or maybe I just refuse to try the insanely expensive shit, so I could be missing out). The 3M ones in the article you linked look great, just make sure you know how to roll them and insert them
I have a set of vibes and like them
