Ear Protection - What's really decent & off the shelf?

[Supernaut]

Have been using Alpine the last year or so. Will have to check out the Alpine Tune model. 

[Greg Edwards69]

On 23/09/2025 at 12:14, Dood said:

If only there were a website where all of the major ear plug manufacturer's ear plugs were tested for their actual audio response with sound examples normalised and compared to the source tracks. It would give us a fighting chance of choosing an ear plug that suits our needs. 

 

For example, in certain settings a set of ear plugs I have lack clarity and they are quite boomy, but they can be useful in other settings where the low end appears missing. I wanted a set of reasonably cheap "flat" ear plugs for general use for more speech intelligibility too and I went on a search to find answers...

 

oh wait... here's one:-  https://www.hearadvisor.com/earplug-rankings thank me later  Also be surprised at how bad a response some are too (taking in to consideration A-weighting and the like)

 

 

Thanks for that. I'm pleased to see my Loop Switch are highly rated, especially at that price.

[Bolo]

Is see some problematic claims on that site, one of which is assuming a 100dB volume level at concerts, and another is not accounting for different shapes war canals.  But at least they give an indication although one Of wouldn't take too literally.

Whichever plugs you get, make sure they're seated properly and avoid leakage, if that happens they're useless while you think you're protected.

[Dood]

27 minutes ago, Bolo said:

Is see some problematic claims on that site, one of which is assuming a 100dB volume level at concerts, and another is not accounting for different shapes war canals.  But at least they give an indication although one Of wouldn't take too literally.

Whichever plugs you get, make sure they're seated properly and avoid leakage, if that happens they're useless while you think you're protected.

 

I’m not really sure they’re making any ‘claims’, rather finding a way to help buyers make an informed choice. 100dB doesn’t seem too far off the on stage volumes I’ve been playing recently (some louder, some quieter) and, it’s a nice round number lol. Accounting for ear canal size would be nearly impossible to evaluate in this situation, that’d be the same as studio monitor manufacturers trying to capture end-user room acoustics as part of their figures. Yes, it would be amazing but completely not practical. 

 

That said, it’s not an impossible ask - Hearing aid manufacturers (or rather audiologists) profile how the ear canal receives sound and it’s applied along with the hearing test curves to the the hearing aid DSP to program the devices for best operation. 

 

The next best thing would be the 3DME Ambient Monitoring System IEM by ASI Audio / Sensaphonics that I have reviewed recently - An active system that includes EQ, limiter and a whole bunch of other options designed to protect hearing on stage whilst providing the most natural experience. 

[Greg Edwards69]

41 minutes ago, Dood said:

The next best thing would be the 3DME Ambient Monitoring System IEM by ASI Audio / Sensaphonics that I have reviewed recently - An active system that includes EQ, limiter and a whole bunch of other options designed to protect hearing on stage whilst providing the most natural experience. 

Whilst useless as IEMs, my Apple AirPod Pro 2 are surprisingly effective as earplugs when set to transparency mode, as they have a volume limiter. The only problem is you look a bit of a tit wearing Apple AirPods whilst watching a concert.

[Stub Mandrel]

Interesting how views differ on the Alpine Musicsafe. I suspect it's got a lot to do with individuals ear shapes. 

 

I got a set recently and they are the first ones I really get on with and they clearly fit me well. I prefer the 12dB white inserts as I like to be engaged with the music and am not in silly loud bands.

 

I do find that blocking the filter makes them harder to insert, they didn't come with an applicator but it's easy enough to get them in by holding between finger and thumb.

 

For a minute or so they sound a little muffled but I seem to adapt quickly. They are the first I have found that I am comfortable wearing all night, and even the 12dB takes the edge off cymbals and snare. One oddity is that as they don't make my voice quieter, I have to remember to speak up when talking! They do make singing backing vocals much easier though.

 

These ones, much better than others I've had near this price and higher:

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/alpine_musicsafe_pro_black_edition.htm

[Stub Mandrel]

On 23/09/2025 at 12:14, Dood said:

oh wait... here's one:-  https://www.hearadvisor.com/earplug-rankings thank me later  Also be surprised at how bad a response some are too (taking in to consideration A-weighting and the like)

 

 

That's interesting... especially as their highly rated ones seem to be poor at blocking higher frequencies and the lower rated are poor at blocking low frequencies.

 

This may give a more 'hifi' sound but it's the upper register that does the most damage so for on stage protection might some top end attenuation may be preferable at the expense of fidelity? 

[Stub Mandrel]

On 03/03/2024 at 14:17, BlueMoon said:

As regards the applicator………it is a small, physical piece of hollow plastic (in the foreground of the photo).

 

I don't see an applicator ... only the cleaning fluid?