What Kind of Ear Plugs Work Best for Concerts?

You fought the online queue gods and won. Now the tickets are yours and you’ve got plans to see your favorite artist–playing live. It’s going to be an experience–with the energy of the crowd and the powerful feeling when you get to witness a moment captured in time.  As you’re putting together your outfit and dinner plans, make sure you don’t forget your hearing protection.  After all, you don’t want to waste an incredible experience on noise, ringing ears and potentially irreversible hearing loss. 

What happens if you go to a concert without earplugs?

Surely nothing bad, right? Well, here’s the thing. Our hearing is the result of a series of finely tuned, complex steps that turns sound waves into electrical signals that our brain translates to meaningful sound. But when the sensitive structures of the ear are damaged, they cannot heal. 

Live music like concerts can easily go over the threshold of safe hearing and cause damage to those hair cells. Decibels (dB) is how we rate the level of sound. Anything continuous over 85dB can cause damage. Concerts can sustain noise levels over 110db. 

Over time, that small amount of damage can accumulate and cause noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus–both of which are permanent. Because of its cumulative effects, we often consider hearing loss as another aspect of aging, but similar to the cumulative effects of sun damage we can prevent that hearing loss with the use of earplugs. 

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The Complete Guide to Choosing Earplugs

Best Earplugs for Concerts

So we know you need hearing protection for concerts like you need sunscreen for the beach. The problem now is figuring out what kind of ear plugs work best. There are several different types of earplugs for concerts. 

Unless it’s an emergency, we suggest selecting a high-quality earplug that are designed to reduce noise evenly across frequencies, preserving the balance and clarity of the music. These are ear plugs that allow you to hear conversation while you can still enjoy the music and protect your ears from harmful noise levels.

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The Benefits of Using High Fidelity Earplugs

You might be wondering, are foam or silicone ear plugs better for concerts? Actually, the best rated earplugs for concerts, regardless of brand, are earplugs that are fitted with high-fidelity filters. (Typically this is easiest to find with silicone not disposable concert earplugs). They will give you a much better music experience–not just from a comfortable fit but from the filters themselves that literally filter out the noise so all you hear is crisp, clear music. It sounds unbelievable until you try it! 

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Factors to Consider When Choosing Earplugs for Concerts

Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)

We touched on it a bit earlier, but noise is rated in Decibel levels and that measurement is the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of how effectively earplugs can reduce noise. The higher the NRR, the more effective the earplugs. When choosing earplugs for concerts, look for a high NRR to ensure maximum protection for your ears.

Remember, the way that 'volume' increases is not linear. Even small increases are very tough on the delicate parts of your inner ear that pick up high frequencies and enable you to have a rich sound experience. A -3dB reduction may not feel like a big difference but it doubles the amount of time you can safely listen to that level of sound. More information on Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) here.

Comfort

The best earplug is the earplug that is comfortable for you to wear during an extended period of time. Look for earplugs made from soft materials that form that complete seal in your ears without causing discomfort and brands (like EARPEACE) that offer different sizes. 

In addition to the material, the design of the earplugs can also affect their comfort. Some earplugs are designed to be inserted deep into the ear canal, while others sit shallowly in the ear. Choose a design that you find comfortable and secure.

Durability

Concerts can be a sweaty and crowded affair, so it's important to choose earplugs that are durable. Look for earplugs made from high-quality materials that are resistant to moisture and can be easily cleaned.

Additionally, earplugs with a cord or lanyard can be more convenient to use and harder to lose in a crowded concert venue.

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Why are EARPEACE earplugs different? 

In short? Our three patents. We are the only earplugs on the market with this many patents and this advanced of a product. 

Our patents are both for utility and design–meaning we’ve created something no one has and no one else can replicate that improves the utility (use) of wearing earplugs and the design of how earplugs work. This technology we’ve developed advances the experience of wearing earplugs, ensuring you have the most comfortable wearing experience possible, while the patented filter options can be tailored to your situational needs. 

Our mission is to meaningfully change the way people consider their hearing health and options to protect it. We want high quality hearing protection to be as common as sunscreen.

When we started in 2008, barely anyone talked about hearing protection. But we revolutionized the market with a discreet, comfortable, high-fidelity earplug built not only for musicians, but for all the fans at the event. We are proud to be trusted by NPR Music, Metallica, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Red Bull, and The House Institute.