For those of you that love being front row at the concert, but also want to protect your hearing for later on in life, you should invest in a some concert earplugs.
Today we're looking at 5 companies that each claim to offer the best concert earplugs, but which brand should you ultimately buy?
We bought all five of these in January 2020, shortly before Coronavirus, shut all our favourite events down. So get ready for 2021 with these awesome concert plugs that allow you to still enjoy the music, while keeping your ears safe.
1. Vibes High Fidelity Concert Earplugs
Vibes High Fidelity Concert Earplugs are designed to reduce the noise levels around you by up to 22dB for comfortable and safe listening in noisy environments such as live music events, motor racing, sports arenas, etc.
These are also suitable for those suffering sensory processing disorders such as tinnitus, and others who require noise protection such as autism, ABI, ADHD etc.
Significantly, these earplugs do not reduce the quality of the sound you’re listening to and this is especially important at musical events and when in conversations with others.
The noise-reducing earplugs are fitted with attenuating filters which lower volume without cancelling out the frequencies at either end of the sound register.
This means that you still hear the full true and clear sound of the music you’re listening to. The earplugs are reusable.
They are designed to be almost invisible to others, with a glass-clear outer shell and low-profile clear silicone inner earbuds.
The earplugs are available in three sizes, Small, Medium and Large, to fit any ear size or shape. They are intended to be a snug fit for comfortable wear over prolonged periods.
They come with a handy hard case for easy carrying around in a pocket or purse.
2. EarPeace HD Concert Ear Plugs
Using a choice of two embedded attenuation filters to suit the environment you’re in the EarPeace high fidelity concert earplugs provide professional protection for your ears in loud situations such as live music concerts and other crowded venues.
The design incorporates three filters into the earplugs: Medium, High and Max, to discretely block noise at all levels.
They reduce the decibels reaching your sensitive inner ears without distorting the quality of the sound you’ve come to listen to. Indeed, because they reduce the volume you’ll hear the register of the musical notes better.
They allow an exact amount of unobstructed sound into the ear for a crisp music experience without ringing ears.
Their design is robust and intended for prolonged use time after time.
The earbuds are made from soft comfortable hypoallergenic silicone which fits snugly into your ear and won’t slip out.
There is a ‘tab’ which allows you to easily and quickly fit the plugs into your ears. There are no hard edges. And they’re not visible to others.
These earplugs are favoured by popular professional musicians. They come in a handy two-chamber aluminium case which will slip easily into a pocket or clip onto a belt or keychain.
Consider: Wireless Earphones
3. High Fidelity Ear Plugs
The Insignian’ High Fidelity Ear Plugs are a smart design which has been lab-tested to meet European standards and also CE EN 352-2 certified.
They have an SNR of 23 dB and an NRR of 18dB. What does that mean? SNR is the EU and NRR the US standards measuring the attenuation (sound spreading/reduction properties) of a hearing protection aid.
The readings cited here means that these earplugs reduce the noise entering the inner ear by between 18 and 23 decibels.
These earplugs are able to reduce the ambient noise yet maintain the sound quality of the music you’re listening to, including its tonal richness, by using a flat noise attenuation technique.
You’re easily able to continue normal conversations with your friends. Each package contains two sets of earplug shells of different sizes to ensure a perfect fit for normal to larger ears. Or you can choose the Smaller Ears model.
The transparent shells are made from hypoallergenic and non-toxic soft silicone which will be comfortable for prolonged wear and are re-usable.
A long tab allows easy removal of the plugs from the ears. They come in an aluminium carry case with a useful key-ring attachment.
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4. DownBeats Reusable Ear Plugs
Get rid of that painful and dangerous ringing in the ears when you’re at a live music event by using the reusable earplugs from Downbeats.
They’re also great for professional musicians or people who suffer from auditory processing issues, autism, tinnitus, ADHD, ABI, etc.
Or simply if you’re wanting to block out some noise at work or at home so you can concentrate a little better but still be aware of what’s going on around you.
These are sound filters designed to reduce the noise levels while maintaining the ability to hold conversations and hear the full richness and clarity of the music at a safe level for your sensitive ears.
Note that they are not noise cancellers but noise reducers, designed to reduce the volume a little for ear protection in super loud environments.
Their noise reduction is even and moderate, allowing you to enjoy a better music experience and go home without those painful after-effects.
They are transparent and feature a low in-ear profile so nobody else will notice that you’re wearing them. There is a larger Long Stem version for larger ears.
They are designed for long term use and re-use. An aluminium carry case with clip for attaching to a belt, handbag or your keyring is supplied with purchase.
Related: Wireless Headphones
5. LiveMus!c HearSafe
If you’re a lover of live modern music you’ll understand just how badly your ears can suffer after a gig. Professional musicians suffer even more from issues such as tinnitus and hearing loss from playing their music at live performances.
This is where the HearSafe LiveMus!c noise-reducing earplugs come in. These have the highest noise reduction ratio around and contain a filter/damper which features a varied level of strength depending on the loudness of the ambient noise.
The filter is structured to reduce the background and high-frequency noise. At the same time, it retains the important sounds so that the wearer of the plugs can still fully enjoy and appreciate the quality of the music being played and converse with those around him.
In each pack, there are two sets of earplugs: the White Filter set has an NRR (Noise Reduction ratio) of 29dB while the Green Filter set has an NRR of 23 dB.
These are officially EN certified.
The earplugs are made from soft comfortable silicone and are designed with a triple flange and cone-shaped ear tips to fit most ear shapes and sizes.
They are an unobtrusive translucent white. You can expect to get between six and thirty months of wear from these earplugs with minimal maintenance.
Verdict
While we can't currently attend concerts and festivals, this is due hopefully going to be different in the latter part of the year and into next year. Get yourself some of the best concert earplugs and protect your ears from future damage.
All these models are good, some have exceptional reviews online while others may require further research. Do check the feedback before buying to ensure they are right for you. And be sure to checkout this Government advice on hearing issues at concerts.
Related: Best AM/FM Ear Muffs
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Last Updated: December 3, 2021 by Rhys