Concerts, music festivals, live performances – if you attend these events regularly, you may be familiar with the adverse effects of loud music on your hearing.
We all enjoy experiencing our favorite musicians on stage – seeing them perform live.
However, when the music really ‘hits’ and you hear that ringing in your ears, you know the pain is about to begin! To fix that, today we’ll look at the best concert earplugs.
The Best Earplugs For Concerts And Live Music
You should see the need for adequate hearing protection while attending concerts and other live events.
You should also be able to distinguish between the different types of earplugs available on the market and recognize a more adequate option for the particular music concert you are planning to attend.
So, without further delay, here are our top picks for the best earplugs for concerts and live events…
Top Three picks
1. Greatest Protection: Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concert Musicians
First on our list of top earplugs is the Eargasm’s High-Fidelity earplugs. These are state-of-the-art, top-quality earplugs that deliver some of the best protection you can wish for when attending live events.
The High-Fidelity earplugs by Eargasm are used by over 100,000 happy customers and are trusted by many musicians.
These earplugs are often recommended by associations providing information and management services for music festivals and concerts.
The best feature of the Eargasm High-Fidelity earplugs is that these earplugs offer the ability to enjoy listening to your favorite musician performing live or even hear people talking with clarity but not hearing excessive noise!
These earplugs rival the best non-custom earplugs out there. Please note, however, that the brand Eargasm is often confused with Earasers, so check out our guide on Earasers vs. Eargasm to learn more.
These earplugs have been designed to reduce extreme noise without affecting the sound’s quality.
Another neat feature of the design is that it is made with hypo-allergic soft silicone, which will allow you to wear them comfortably for very long periods.
Pros
High-level protection from noise
Very affordable price (about $30)
Trusted by the world’s top music festivals
Made from hypo-allergic soft silicone
Perfect for extended wear
Cons
Not readily available as other options, especially foam-based earplugs
Not sold in all countries so shipping costs may apply
- FIRST CLASS HEARING PROTECTION - Our High Fidelity Earplugs protect your ears from harmful noise levels while...
- PRISTINE SOUND QUALITY - Our innovative attenuation filters allow you to hear the world around you, just at a...
- USE EARGASM ANYWHERE - Fantastic ear plugs for concerts, noise sensitivity, tinnitus relief, motorcycles,...
Verdict: Though Ergasm’s High-Fidelity earplugs aren’t readily available compared to foam-based earplugs, they are a great deal for the money. You may need to cater for shipping costs in some countries, but it’s worth it if you need high-level protection against outside noise.
2. Best Design/Most Stylish: Loop Earplugs for Concerts, Music and Musicians
Loop Earplugs for concerts, music, and musicians are a revolutionary new type of earplug for concerts. The first thing you will notice about these foam earplugs for concerts is a unique style you’ve probably never seen before.
This is the one for you if you want a unique, discrete earplug. The Loop earplug sits discretely in your ear, it doesn’t stick out, and even though it doesn’t seem like it, it stays put even if you move a ton.
These earplugs were designed for music events but grew out to be an earplug that can be used in any situation where you prefer to lower the volume without distorting the sound.
Loop combines a round acoustic channel with a filter that reduces decibels by 20 decibels while making sure music and speech keep sounding natural.
Loop is the first earplug that looks like ear jewelry and comes in five different colors, from discreet Black to metallic Silver. Each earplug set comes with six pairs of ear tips for the most personalized fit possible.
Pros
Compact, light, and comfortable.
Carefully designed, round acoustic channel
20-decibel filter for pure sound
Includes memory foam or soft silicon ear tips
Cons
It does not include options better than -20db, e.g., a, -30db, and -25db would be great for insanely loud techno clubs.
Verdict: Compact and lightweight, the loop earplugs are excellent for concerts and musicians. Due to the clever “ring” design, these earplugs fit securely in the ear — you don’t have to push them in, like other earplugs, constantly.
3. Most Reusable: DownBeats Reusable High Fidelity Hearing Protection Ear Plugs for Concerts
Next on our list is the DownBeats Reusable High-Fidelity Hearing Protection earplugs, another excellent option for buying a pair of high-fidelity earplugs.
These earplugs are similar to the Eargasm earplugs meaning they are filters.
What do we mean by filters?
We mean, instead of blocking outside sound like some other options on the market, these earplugs can help you hear high-quality sounds from the environment without exposing you to the harmful noises that are also out there.
Yep, unwanted noises are left out in the crowd!
These earplugs can reduce the intensity of the sound by approximately 18 decibels and deliver a sound between 87 decibels and 92 decibels, which gives you up to eight hours of harm-free listening.
Pros
Durable and convenient carry case
Available in two different options
Long-stem Downbeats are easy and convenient to insert
They have a Long Stem version for a larger fit
Cons
The original version is a bit hectic to insert
DownBeats products are not sold in all countries
- High-Fidelity Sound Filters for Optimal Hearing Protection – Unlike regular ear plugs, DownBeats music ear...
- Helps Protect Your Ears from Long-term Damage – With these noise reduction ear plugs, you can enjoy loud...
- Filters Distracting Noises – Designed to reduce unwanted sounds, these high fidelity ear plugs are a...
Verdict: With a durable carry case that’s quite convenient for carrying earplugs wherever you go, the DownBeats is a solid choice. The original version may be a bit tricky to use with small earholes, but the long-stem DownBeats will do the trick.
4. Most Affordable: HEAROS Ultimate Softness Tan Ear Plugs
Suppose you are looking for a more affordable solution to protecting your ears when attending a music concert. In that case, the Hearos Ultimate Softness Series earplugs may be the perfect option for you.
The Hearos Ultimate Softness Series are general-purpose soft foam earplugs for all noise reduction and hearing protection.
This means they aren’t the most effective (as we have already explained about foam earplugs), but they are good enough if you aren’t using them for long periods in an event where the noise isn’t very loud.
These are some of the best foam-based earplugs you can find on the market, and they offer a higher level of comfortability and protection than many other foam-based earplugs currently available.
The Hearos Ultimate Softness Series earplugs come in packs of 20 and only cost very little on Amazon. See, pretty inexpensive!
Pros
Its neutral color easily blends with our skin
Hearos utilizes a special polyurethane foam
Highly comfortable
Reduces noise by 32 decibels
Cons
Disposable, hence not very convenient
They block instead of filtering sound
- SILKY SMOOTH hypoallergenic, super soft proprietary formulation of polyurethane foam for an ultra premium user...
- ORIGINAL FORMULA - EASY TO INSERT and use. Comfortable roll down slow recovery foam gives user time to...
- NOISE REDUCTION RATING (NRR) 32 Decibels . With NRR32 being the highest grade for foam earplugs, HEAROS...
Verdict: These earplugs from Hearos use a special polyurethane foam that gives you a premium experience. It also has a higher level of comfort than other foam-based earplugs on the market. However, they are not reusable and may not be convenient for some people.
5. Most Convenient: Decibullz – Custom Molded Earplugs
Finally, this one is for those looking for a higher-quality option. The Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs have numerous benefits to offer over other options on the market.
One of the most significant features is that there is no need to visit an audiologist to use these earplugs. You can easily mold them to the shape of your ear at home! This is very convenient and allows for a more comfortable, customized fit.
Another major benefit would be the price – at only $25.99, you get a custom-molded pair of earplugs!
After purchase, you use warm water to heat the earplugs and shape them into your ears.
The earplugs will retain the shape of your ears, which means, in the future, you can easily pop them into your ears whenever you need protection. Good stuff!
Pros
Convenient custom-molded earplugs
Shaped for unique comfort
Universal fit
Reasonable price
Cons
Not available at local convenient stores
Must be heated before molding
- SILKY SMOOTH hypoallergenic, super soft proprietary formulation of polyurethane foam for an ultra premium user...
- ORIGINAL FORMULA - EASY TO INSERT and use. Comfortable roll down slow recovery foam gives user time to...
- NOISE REDUCTION RATING (NRR) 32 Decibels . With NRR32 being the highest grade for foam earplugs, HEAROS...
Verdict: These earplugs offer the convenience of using custom-molded earplugs without a large price tag. They can be shaped to fit your unique ear, so they’re more comfortable than other earplugs that offer a universal fit.
Why Do You Need Earplugs For Concerts?
Many people do not realize that damage to the ears does not always cause immediate signs and symptoms.
Sometimes, the damage occurs over a long period, leading to complete hearing loss later in life.
We love our music here at Boom Speaker, but we are also serious about safety, so we have taken the time to prepare our top picks of the best concert earplugs.
Whether for a nightclub, festival, concert, or whatever else, these devices protect your hearing and provide a better overall experience. So let’s look at the best earplugs on the market right now.
Why Wear Earplugs To Concerts? How Loud Is Too Loud?
You may be asking: how loud is too loud anyway? While the purpose of this guide is to present our readers with the best earplugs they can buy, we should start by taking a look at why you should consider wearing earplugs when going to a music concert in the first place.
Knowing the consequences of not wearing adequate ear protection at a music concert is vital – this will help you realize just how important wearing earplugs is and help you decide to wear a higher-quality type of earplug that will offer improved protection against high-volume sounds.
Data published by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explain that as much as 17% of teenagers in the United States, and as much as 24% of all adults within the country, suffer from some level of hearing loss in either one ear or both ears. What caused this?
The data shows that one common cause was attending music festivals and concerts, where millions of people are exposed to music at volumes much higher than what is considered safe.
The American Hearing Research Foundation explains that, on average, a rock concert usually exposes the human ear to a sound of 115 decibels, which is EXTREMELY LOUD! Prolonged exposure to music over 85 decibels will cause slight hearing loss.
They continued to explain that it is advised to avoid exposing the ears to more than 15 minutes of sound at 115 decibels daily, or damage may occur to the ears.
An NPR Music blog post explains that 90 minutes is a good average length for most music concerts. This means your ears are exposed to excessively loud sounds at approximately 115 decibels for around 75 minutes, more than what is considered your daily safe limit when you choose to attend a rock music concert. Hey, this is some serious stuff!
Types Of Earplugs For Concerts and Live Music
Many types of earplugs are on the market, but many people do not realize this. Walk into your local convenience store, and you’ll find a limited selection of foam-based earplugs.
These are the most common and also the cheapest option. They are, however, not the most comfortable and effective option when providing an adequate level of protection for your ears.
Don’t get us wrong – foam-based earplugs are better than nothing. If you are on your way to a concert and the only open place is a convenience store, stop by and grab a pair of foam earplugs.
Even though these earplugs cannot provide maximum protection and comfort, they are still helpful.
Let’s take a look at the most common types of earplugs that you can find on the market.
1. Foam-Based Earplugs
Today, foam-based earplugs are the best types of earplugs. As mentioned, foam-based earplugs are extremely common. Millions of people use foam earplugs for concerts for a variety of reasons.
Does your partner snore in bed? Drive to your local convenience store, and you can buy a pair of these earplugs for only a few dollars.
These earplugs offer a universal fit instead of a custom fit, which means anyone can buy them as they should fit in all ears, large or small.
Foam-based earplugs are inserted easily into the ear and are usually comfortable to wear. This is usually the most important benefit of these earplugs for most people.
However, it can be challenging to find the perfect fit that will completely block out the majority of noises. These foam earplugs for concerts don’t normally reduce noises to a completely safe level, they lower noises to a ‘tolerable’ level.
2. Flanged Earplugs
When it comes to affordability, flanged earplugs fall just after foam-based earplugs. These earplugs are often silicone ones designed with rims forming cone-like shapes.
When placed into the ear, the cones seal the ear canal, blocking outside noise. This is why flanged earphones tend to be popular among musicians.
Flanged earplugs also offer a universal fit, which means there is no need to have your ears measured, you don’t have to spend a significant amount of money, and you don’t have to wait for a pair of earplugs to be made.
These earplugs are readily available at numerous locations, but they will most likely not be as readily available in your local area as foam-based earplugs.
It should be noted that, when it comes to comfort, foam-based earplugs offer a more comfortable fit than flanged earplugs. However, flanged earplugs come in three different types depending on the number of flanges – one flange, two flanges, and three flanged earplugs.
3. High-Fidelity Earplugs
Now let’s talk about hi-fi! Musicians often use them to help them protect their ears against extremely loud noises experienced while performing. They are also used by “behind-the-scene” crews such as photographers, videographers, and other professionals.
High-fidelity earplugs offer numerous benefits over the cheaper options available on the market, including flanged and foam-based earplugs. While these are somewhat more expensive than the previous two options, the benefits outweigh the price difference.
The purpose of high-fidelity earplugs is to reduce the intensity of the sound exposed to the wearer’s ears – the sound quality remains the same.
When buying high-fidelity earplugs, you can either buy a universal one, which fits any ear, or visit an audiologist who can take measurements of your ear and have a set of custom high-fidelity earplugs designed for you.
4. Custom-Molded Earplugs
Custom-molded earplugs offer the highest level of protection among the different options available on the market, but they also fetch the highest price. To obtain a set of custom-molded earplugs, you will first have to make an appointment and pay a visit to an audiologist.
The audiologist will take measurements of both your ears and then create a special mold from the measurements. The mold will create a special set of earplugs to offer your ears the perfect fit.
A limited number of companies, including Sensaphonics and JH Audio, produce custom-molded earplugs.
These options usually cost a minimum of $100 per pair of earplugs. It should be noted that the $100+ does not include your appointment with the audiologist, which will incur further costs.
While custom-molded earphones tend to cost much more than any other option on the market, the level of protection combined with the level of comfort is usually well worth the money.
As noted previously, custom-molded earplugs can also be obtained in a high-fidelity option to help reduce the volume of outside noise, but without affecting the clearness or quality of the sound.
Are You Suffering From Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
If you suspect you are suffering from hearing loss, then you have our sympathies, as we will try our best to assist you below.
Firstly, we are not doctors, but some tell-tale signs may be used to identify hearing loss. When these signs are detected after you have attended a music concert, you should ideally make an appointment with your doctor to check your ears and have your hearing tested.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains that particular signs that individuals should be wary of include:
- Not being able to hear what someone is saying, especially if they are standing within three feet of you.
- After leaving the concert, experiencing a sensation of “fullness” in either one or both of your ears may be a sign of damage.
- If you can hear what someone is saying but find it difficult to understand and process the information they are sharing, it may also be a sign of damage to your ears.
- Signs of tinnitus also signal hearing impairment, and this usually includes a buzzing or ringing sound in the ears. If damage has occurred while you attended the music concert, signs of tinnitus may develop soon after you leave the noisy area.
Now, if you are experiencing these symptoms after a live event, you are likely suffering from noise-induced hearing loss.
In addition to noting the symptoms, it’s important to realize that damage to the ears due to exposure to high-decibel sounds can be either temporary or irreversible.
In case of temporary hearing loss or impaired hearing, the reduction in hearing ability may restore to an optimal level by allowing the ears some rest from exposure to loud noises.
In a case where irreversible damage has been suffered, the affected individual would be affected by the hearing loss they have suffered for the rest of their life.
While hearing aids are available to improve hearing abilities, the natural hearing ability would not be restored, even with extensive rest and preventing future events where the ears are exposed to loud noises.
Of course, with rapid technological advances, there is always new hope. In any case, simple and effective protection if you must attend live events starts with high-quality earplugs for concerts.
FAQs
1. How to maintain my earplugs?
It is necessary to disinfect your earplugs so that your ear wax doe not stay stuck to them, and you can use it in the future, too, without any worries. Here is how you can do that:
- Use a clean towel to remove dust and other dirt from the earplugs.
- Check to see whether the foam tip is broken, separated from the stem, or not malleable and soft.
- When necessary, wash earplugs with warm water and mild soap.
- If the earplug is slightly broken, overly dirty, or contaminated, replace it.
2. How do I choose earplugs?
Check the efficiency of the hearing protection earplug. There is something called the NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) that can tell you how safe it is for use. The average range of sound attenuation for protection is 15 to 35 dB. Greater the NRR, the more noise attenuation it gives.
3. Which is better: wax or silicone earplugs?
Silicone is somewhat less solid than wax, so it doesn’t block as much sound, but it’s soft enough to wear.
4. How deep should the earplug go?
When correctly placed, the earplug should be entirely inside the ear canal. If not, use a gently rotating motion to insert the earplug farther into the ear canal. If any discomfort happens, remove gently and try again.
Conclusion
If you plan on attending a concert or festival in the near future, then I’m sure you will see the need for a good pair of earplugs by now. Your ability to hear is a gift; your ears are sensitive structures that allow you to listen to the world around you and can be damaged easily.
If you do not take care of your ears by exposing them to significant levels of strain from loud noise during concerts or other live events, you may end up with severe problems.
This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, which may often include temporary hearing problems but, in some cases, may also lead to more permanent impairments in your ability to hear.
Like us here at Boom Speaker, we know you enjoy your music, and we know you enjoy live events, but we are also sure you like hearing as well, so ensure you grab one of the best earplugs for concerts from this list and take care of your ears!
Norvan Martin is the founder of BoomSpeaker.com. He is a professional Electronics Engineer and is passionate about home theater systems and AV electronics. BoomSpeaker was created as an online hub to share his knowledge and experiences as it relates to home theaters and home audio electronics.
My email: admin@boomspeaker.com
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