Best Earplugs For Concerts And Live Music Performance

It may sound a little absurd while watching someone using earplugs in concerts. If you are not using an earplug in a concert, it might cause hearing problems in the long run. Attending loud concerts or listening to loud music without earplugs will definitely cause hearing problems sooner or later.

It is always suggested to wear the best earplugs for concerts. As it doesn’t hamper the musical experience, but rather enhances it. Earplugs are specifically designed in such a way that they allow the music. It filters the unwanted background noises. The earplugs are also used by musicians while performing, to protect their ears from loud noise, while concentrating on the music. 

It is not astonishing that the hearing loss is connected to the amount of noise a person’s ears are exposed to over the course of his/her life. 90% of the hearing loss is sensor-neural which is a kind of hearing loss that is closely associated with exposure to sound.

As you may know, the level sound created is measured in terms of decibels(dB). A normal conversation is in and around the level of 65 dB. Ears can be minutely damaged from sound levels as low as 85 dB.

Most of the concerts are constantly performed between the 100 to 120 dB range, this fact might ring alarm bells in your head. So it has been made very clear to use earplugs, not only while attending concerts but also while in airplanes, nightclubs etc.

Generally people are spoilt of choice, when it comes to the best earplugs they must be using for concerts. There is a wide array of choices available for the users. So I have handpicked some best earplugs for concerts in this article.

Let’s have a look at the best earplugs for concerts.

BEST EARPLUGS FOR CONCERTS

1. VIBES HIGH FIDELITY - BEST NOISE CANCELLING EAR PLUGS

First one in my list comes the Vibes High Fidelity earplugs which have completely taken the market by storm. These earplugs look very similar to a pair of ear buds, but without a cable attached to them. The silicone ear tips given by Vibes are linked to a short stem which contains an acoustic filter and have a clear chamber.

The Vibes box is home to a set of three sets of earplugs depending on the size of the earplugs i.e, small, medium and large. The earplugs come in a hard case which is very portable in nature.

With crystal clear outer shells and low profile silicone earplugs, each of the noise isolating earplug is almost undetectable, compared to the big and bulky noticeable plugs.

They are very effectively lowering the volume by up to 22 decibels without sacrificing the overall sound, as they only reduce the noise, rather than blocking the complete sound form the source. They are exceptionally comfortable to wear because of the fact that they are formed from hypoallergenic materials.

The tips rest perfectly in place within the canal, the outer tubular handles are transparent and low profile.

While Vibes claims these earplugs are “high fidelity”, but at the end of the day they colour the sound a little bit. The most distinguishable change in the tonal balance is that the high notes end up being rolled off.  And this causes loss of the original resolution and the bass is a bit overwhelming at times, which is pretty frustrating. 

Yes, the Vibes fall a bit short on their high-fidelity claims but are very popular due to their provided comfort and discrete design.

At the end of the day, protecting your ears is way more important than churning out every last drop of detail from a live performance. Not only for concerts, the earplugs can be used for airplanes, nightclubs and other loud noise environments.

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2. ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER-20 - BEST HIGH FIDELITY EAR PLUGS

The Etymotic Research ER-20 high fidelity earplugs are a favorite because it gives you an amazing low-cost and custom-fit solution. It also deals with noisy environments without losing the much required sound fidelity. It includes a pair of standard fit Etymotic plugs with blue tips, neck cord and a carrying case. 

A tuned resonator and an acoustic resistor are used in the earplugs to copy the natural response of the ear canal. Sound is reproduced unaltered, as the ear would hear it and the only difference being the sound is quieter. The only major issue with these earplugs are, these need to be replaced every three months. 

Etymotic earplugs are popular because they reduce sound levels evenly, preserving the clarity of the speech and communication medium, and richness of music. These Best Earplugs for Concerts are available in two sizes, standard and large. Each provide with approximately 20dB of sound reduction when they are worn properly.

These earplugs have a three-flange design which makes it compact delivering sounds that are not muffed.

They attenuate very well and the diminishing tunnel chambers make the sound travel. It safely reduce volume whilst keeping audio high fidelity. Overall, Etymotic Research ER-20 high fidelity is a low cost earplug giving optimum output results. It is one of the main reasons of its popularity in the market.

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3. LIVEMUS!C HEARSAFE - BEST MUSICIAN EARPLUGS

If you’re looking forward to going and enjoying a hard rock concert or maybe even a loud nightclub, without damaging your ears then this earplug is exactly what you’re looking for. These earplugs are made of soft silicone having a 3-flange design which is exactly why you will fall for these.

These earplugs are non-toxic and hypoallergenic so that they won’t cause you any itching, allergic reaction or discomfort to the ears. 

The HearSafe earplugs will fit your ears perfectly due to their conically-shaped tip that fits a wide range of ear sizes but also giving a great seal. You will not have to go through muffled sound. Thanks to this product which gives attenuation filters with varying strength levels.

It not only protects your ears but also does noise safeguarding, canceling of noise and unwanted sound with its filter and provides you with the best attenuation.

Dissimilar to the traditional foam earplugs, the HearSafe earplugs contain a precision filter with diverse levels of strength. The green filter has a lower noise reduction ratio of about 23 which makes this set one of the safest earplug and ideal for musicians who are selling out to larger venues. 

They are made up of very high-quality silicone, which allow longer periods of use and superlative comfort. The specially structured filter reduces and weakens the background noise and high frequency noise attenuation, which results in keeping the useful music and speech signals suitable for professionals. 

The only problem with the set of earplugs are the mid range frequencies are muted. The set comes with a couple of pairs of earplugs with the highest noise reduction ratio and comes in a very portable aluminum case with cord inside.

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4. EARPEACE HD - BEST EAR PLUGS FOR CONCERTS

These Best Earplugs for Concerts are made up of medical grade soft silicone making them comfortable for use during prolonged periods. They have an unusual two flanged design and will fit your ears perfectly with no visibility since they are transparent. The hypoallergenic and soft earplugs are reusable and a perfect fit for concerts keeping you comfortable.

The three plugs that are included in the pack give 11, 14 and 19 dB of noise reduction. These earplugs turn the volume down and do not distort the sound. The high-fidelity earplugs will provide you clear sound with a much safer volume.

The high quality earplugs are supplied in an aluminum case with two chambers to keep your music ear plugs safe and clean. These low-profile music earplugs are comfortable enough to be worn all day and have been used by professional singers and musicians for many years.

The earplugs are very precisely engineered and are tough and durable accessories. Many people find it to be way superior than others because it offers superior comfort because of the two flanges, rather than the more common three.

Having the two level soft protection is great, and the well-engineered metal key ring holder is a fantastic idea. The EarPeace HD Concert earplugs are one of the most used earplugs by professional musicians, which is a testimony to the fact that they are one of the best in the business.

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5. DOWNBEATS - BEST REUSABLE EAR PLUGS

If you really want to and are keen to protect yourself from hearing loss, then earplugs by DownBeats can be the best choice. It offers noise reduction up to 18 dB. It is highly transparent and has a clear design. It reduces the sound moderately and evenly for better experience. Speech and music come through crisp, clear and uninterrupted.

The earplugs ensure that you hear clear conversation and music at a safe and protected level for ears. The music will reach your ears flawlessly whereas all the unwanted sounds won’t reach you. Original DownBeats high-fidelity earplugs offer balanced sonic experience without the distracting background noise. 

The set of earplugs come in a durable aluminum case with clip. The clip attaches easily to keys or belts. It is note worthy to always keep your earplugs away from children to avoid the risk of choking. A child can easily swallow the silicone ones accidentally.

Always keep the earplugs sealed in an aluminum case when the kids are around. These earplugs are too short, but yes these earplugs do give an unmatched musical experience.

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6. ALPINE MUSICSAFE PRO EARPLUGS

Alpine's Music Safe Pro earplugs have been specifically developed for professional musician. It is the most luxurious edition and has three sets of exchangeable filters.These earplugs are very comfortable to wear, because they are universally fitting.

This Best Earplugs for Concerts offer three different levels of protection (up to 27dB), depending on the choice of attenuation. These earplugs are made of a soft material that collapses inward, so it expands in your ear to be soft without causing any irritation. The special filters in the earplugs prevent hearing loss while preserving sound quality.

The MusicSafe Pro acoustic earplugs are produced from  soft, flexible and durable Alpine Thermo Shape material. This material uses the warmth of the ear to adapt to the shape of the auditory duct, making them super comfortable to wear

If you think that this earplug is too big, then you can easily adjust it to the right size. The Alpine Thermo shape material adapts to the shape of the auditory duct and is comfortable to wear and is barely visible in the ear.

The only downside is that the “new” carry box is quite bulky. But other than that, it is a fan favorite.

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7. EARGASM SMALLER EARS EARPLUGS

As the name suggests, the design has been specifically streamlined to be suitable for smaller ears. They are designed to slip inside without causing any discomfort to the user with smaller ears. These Best Earplugs for Concerts also offer up the same great level of protection as other premium earplugs do.

They are made with skin-friendly silicone. The silicone is comfortable and is offered with 2 different sized smaller tips, the smallest of which is suitable for some younger users.

The earplugs preserve the quality of the sound with their specially made attenuation filters. These earplugs reduce the noise evenly to maintain the complete spectrum of sound while protecting the human hearing.

The earplugs come in an aluminum case, which is over 35% shorter than competing brands for easy storage on the keychain. An anti-stick interior means that the earplugs will always be easily removable. A waterproof rubber seal ensures their protection from moisture, dust and debris, which means that the earplugs can be cleaned with ease.

Eargasm earplugs reduce noise levels proportionally. At the core of each ear plug is an attenuation filter. These filters reduce the noise to lower and safer levels while preserving the clarity of speech and music. Sounds are reproduced exactly as your ear would hear them, but at a reasonable volume which is way below the harmful levels.

The most attractive part about the earplugs are they are a thoughtfully made product mainly for young users as many live music lovers go to their first concerts at a very younger age, and these earplugs are made for smaller ears.

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8. RAVE HIGH FIDELITY EARPLUGS 

Next up in my list of best earplugs for concert comes the Rave high fidelity earplugs, which are another versatile set to consider in the list. Because they provide two alternate sets of earplugs each with a different decibel reduction level.

This preserves the sound quality while protecting the ears from tinnitus. The filter acoustics lowers decibel volume equally.

It boasts interchangeable high fidelity filters, i.e, 19db (Clear filter), 25db (White filter) which allow you to customize your needs the best. Filters can be used in both the short stem, and long stem earplugs. The construction is silicone based, which attenuates the noise very well.

This Best Earplugs for Concerts offer a low profile design linked with a soft, comfortable feel. This is the feature that truly makes its users bamboozled.

The filters are interchangeable and thus can be chopped and changed with your preferred style and taste. The clear filter reduces by 19 dB, and the white filter by 25 dB. The lovely pair of earplugs come with a cute and small storage pouch.

The earplugs are a top notch option if you are looking for some versatility. What makes these a very popular amongst the users is the fact that it is very easy to clean. Because of the hypo-allergenic silicone material that is used in the earplugs.

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9. EARASERS HI-FI HIGH FIDELITY EARPLUGS

The Earasers HiFi high fidelity earplugs are one of the best in the business because they are manufactured by a 50+ years experienced hearing aid company. It is developed by their lead engineer who is a musician himself. Earasers filter out loud noise while still allowing you to hear at a safe and comfortable level.

Earasers utilize a unique attenuation “V filter” to provide up to 19dB of protection in the frequencies you need it most. These earplugs are the world’s first flat frequency response earplugs. The best part about the Earasers Hi-Fi high fidelity earplugs is that, it is available in different sizes, like extra small, small, medium and large.

People who wants more attenuation, Earasers offer two more options — the NNR-13 (European Standard) and NNR-16 (Max Filter) which both have peaks of 26dB and 31dB respectively. The Best Earplugs for Concerts are made up of silicone and are structured on one of the most popular hearing aid tips in the market.

They also boast an open canal shape that provides a gateway to sound waves further into your ear. 

The Earasers are perfectly designed to fit tightly into the ears and essentially remain invisible once in. This is because of the smart seal technology they are equipped with, and also come in with a handy case.

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10. V-MODA FADERS TUNED METAL EAPRLUGS

I can't end my list without mentioning the V-MODA’s new line of Fader earplugs. It is very rare for any company to discuss a health problem associated with their industry. This Best Earplugs for Concerts claims to be designed and tuned by professional DJs, Producers and Doctors.

The set contains earplugs with 4 different sizes, a detachable cord and a pendant case. These earplugs reduce the noise levels evenly by 12 dB and preserve crystal-clear music and speech. It features Bliss 3.0 hybrid silicone fittings for ears of all sizes, i.e, extra small, small, medium and large.

The V-Moda faders tuned metal earplugs come with a lovely carrying case for protection, with much needed touch of style. But, in some cases the earplugs stick out of the ears because of its slightly large size.

The most enigmatic feature of the earplug is the detachable lanyard, which allows both, wired and wireless attached safe sound. This comes in gunmetal grey, red or pink colors. It gives the users a wide range of colors to choose from.

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CONCLUSION

The ringing music which is heard in your ears even after coming out of the concert is a great sign that you have been listening to music at an extremely high sound. And this can literally damage your ears to a great extent. So it is not a wise thing to avoid earplugs before going to your favourite concert. 

To make your work simple I have researched and tested some 100's of earplugs that are available in the market and listed them in my list of 10 best earplugs for concerts above. Now it's your turn to choose the best one which satisfies your needs and fits your budget.