Minuendo make it into our list as the best premium option. They offer great sound quality but also offer something really unique. ETY•Plugs use a tuned resonator and acoustic resistor to replicate the natural response of the ear canal. This unique construction, combined with Etymotic’s proprietary sound path, reduces sound levels evenly across the frequency range without changing the sound quality. Result: Music and speech remain clear, but quieter and safer. Foam earplugs are everywhere, and of course they are. They’re cheap — many would argue that they’re even too cheap. Unfortunately, they’re not really the ideal pair of plugs for the concert attendee, though. Remember that “flat frequency response” thing from earlier? These don’t do that, and the reason is simple. ER-20 plugs are durable, washable, and long lasting. With proper care they will last for months even with daily use. Sold with sturdy carrying cases in quantities of one For optimal comfort at all times, you are advised to change the ear plugs every 3–6 months, depending on how often you use them.

Don't spoil the very senses that provided you with the gift of sound, keep them protected so you can continue to enjoy music in its fullest detail. The Shaw ER20 earplugs are configured to reproduce the exact sound you hear, at a quieter level that doesn't cause damage to your ears. Ideal for any situation with constant high volume, the ER20s are re-usable and washable, providing a long-term solution to protecting your ears, with a handy carrying case for transport. About Shaw PercussionETY•Plugs provide almost equal sound reduction (20 dB) across the range of hearing. Foam earplugs reduce the high frequencies, resulting in muffled speech and music.

Available in several sizes, I went with the large by going off the guideline dimensions on the box. The store clerk told me a medium will fit most adult males quite comfortably but I chose the large as it is the same sized tips for my earphones at the gym — I equate dancing to rigorous exercise so it made sense to me to get some plugs that weren’t going to be disturbed by movement. Watch out for vent designs. They reduce occlusion by creating a greater opening for natural airflow in and out of the ear. This can affect the amount of insertion loss and protection the device offers! EarDial’s design has been mastered so that you have a blend of comfort and discreteness. The earplugs are made from soft medical-grade silicone which allows long periods of use without irritation (sound familiar…?) Their revolutionary filter system drops the volume evenly by around 20db at all frequencies, preserving sound quality. That’s why they’re labelled ‘High Fidelity Hearing Protection’. That said, I found no issue with them when I attended the Berlin Atonal night last year at Dark Mofo Festival in Tasmania, Australia. The sound was provided by an L-Acoustics K2 system with a 1:1 element to sub ratio, easily able to produce 130dB Across the venue if you are stupid enough to let it! I found sinking them a bit deeper to provide more of a seal within my ear canal was an ample means to provide protection.

How we test the best earplugs for live music

ER20's are different. They'll protect your hearing without spoiling your enjoyment of music and, reduce the risk of serious hearing damage later on. They use a patented, revolutionary filter system that drops the volume but retains all the fidelity and keeps you in the mix. They are ideal for use in most situations where noise is dangerous. It is important to protect our hearing from unsafe noise exposure for several reasons. Our hearing naturally depreciates as we live our lives making hearing difficulties in middle and old age commonplace. Reducing your exposure to unsafe levels of noise will preserve your natural hearing ability for longer staving off hearing difficulties later in life. A good sea is what you are looking for. Without it the sound will leak in around the plug, making it much less effective.

While that sounds like a lot of big and fancy wording, I could easily feel how high-quality these plugs were when using them. The comfort of these earplugs is one of the standout qualities. Unlike many other affordable earplugs which can push against the ear, I hardly noticed that I was wearing them. Included with this set of ear plugs are two types of filters that are interchangeable to suit your desired level of hearing protection. I loved this addition, as it made these plugs a bit more versatile than others. The aim of the design is simple: to reduce volume while preserving sound quality. So, the ear plugs turn down the volume without compromising on musical quality.

The Happy Ears are the most compact earplugs for music

EarPeace high-fidelity hearing protection is precision engineered to cut the noise without losing sound fidelity so that you can actually hear what you’re listening to. They are very discrete thanks to the two-flange low-profile design and the three different skin tones that make it easy to choose a pair that is right for you. These are a great set of musician’s earplugs that significantly reduce the risk of hearing damage from drumming and loud concerts.