I hold a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, and I’ve reviewed over 1,700 pairs of headphones for Wirecutter alone. I also spent several years in terrestrial radio before becoming a professional voice actor in Los Angeles, so I’ve been in and out of recording studios for over a decade.

For this guide:

• To test earplugs, I enlisted the help of three Wirecutter staffers, including Brent Butterworth, who has decades of experience as an AV reviewer and is a regular jazz performer. Brent also provided measurement assistance (detailed below).
• I interviewed two audiologists in 2016: Julie Glick, AuD, of Musicians Hearing Solutions, an audiologist for musicians based in Los Angeles, and Brian Fligor, PhD, PASC, founder and former president of Boston Audiology Consultants (now Tobias & Battite) and the Musicians’ Hearing Program. Brian is also the former chair of the World Health Organization’s Make Listening Safe Initiative.
• Per Wirecutter’s standards, I don’t own stock or have any other financial interest in a company or industry that I cover or am likely to cover.

As our world gets louder, noise-induced hearing loss is a growing concern, so we recommend that everyone keep a good pair of earplugs on hand—especially when you’re headed to a concert, sporting event, club, or other location where you’ll be exposed to loud noise over a long period of time.

To illustrate the benefits of using earplugs, the graph below details actual examples of two hearing tests: One belongs to a 40-year-old woman who generally wears hearing protection to concerts and other loud events, and the other belongs to a 27-year-old female musician who has never used hearing protection. The closer each point is to the top in the graph, the quieter the tone was when they were each able to hear it, and, thus, the better their hearing.

As you can see, the musician has massive hearing damage in the vocal range (about 150 to 3,000 Hz) and above, which is especially devastating for someone in her profession. The moral of the story is: Young or old, protect your hearing. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

For this guide, we focused on concert (aka musician-style) earplugs that are designed to reduce the volume yet allow you to safely experience the sounds around you.

Unlike foam earplugs that block out all sounds, these earplugs utilize a specially designed attenuation filter that allows a reduced amount of sound to pass through to a resonance channel simulating the acoustic performance of a non-occluded ear canal.

Think of it like an electrical circuit that has resistance points but still allows electricity to pass through. When the earplugs work as promised, things should sound the same, just not as dangerously loud.

After doing extensive research and interviewing two audiologists, we set the following criteria:

• Comfortable to wear, with an inclusive fit: For earplugs to effectively reduce noise, they must seal your ear canal completely. So we considered only earplugs that come with two or more tip sizes to help you find the right fit. Also, hearing protection must be comfortable—if you hate how earplugs feel, you won’t wear them.
• Sound quality and clarity: The entire point is to enjoy the music, so concert earplugs should sound far better than drugstore foam ones. Vocals shouldn’t be muffled, low notes shouldn’t sound blurry, and you shouldn’t struggle to understand lyrics. Also, if you need to take earplugs out to converse, you’re more likely to reposition them improperly and reduce effectiveness.
• A sleek, flattering design: Our research determined that people don’t like earplugs that jut out awkwardly or look tacky. So we searched for unobtrusive, attractive designs.
• A carrying case: Forgetting or losing earplugs is a common reason they aren’t used, so we preferred sets that come with a pocket-size or keychain-friendly case.

We performed weeks-long subjective assessments involving multiple people. Testing included trips to loud bars and restaurants, music rehearsals, group exercise classes, and concerts.

While wearing the earplugs, we also listened to music we know very well at maximum volume through over-ear headphones. This process enabled us to remove live-concert variables, such as the EQ of the speakers. Since we knew these tracks intimately, we could better discern sonic differences.

To objectively measure the performance of the earplugs, we used the same equipment and techniques we employ in measuring noise-cancelling headphones to determine which frequencies were being reduced and by how much. We also included a set of custom-made Microsonic earplugs in our original tests for reference.

In a perfect world, the earplugs would reduce sounds evenly across all frequency ranges, but our tests showed that was never the case. Our custom Microsonic pair did produce the most even results, but they too had peaks and dips (you can see our original test results here). Our goal was to find earplug sets that had the least detrimental effect on music. And everyone on our panel agreed that the sound was exceptionally better through the universal-fit musician earplugs than through drugstore foam ones.

Most earplugs in the US have a listed noise reduction rating (NRR), a government-standardized number that indicates, in decibels (dB), how much reduction one might expect from a given pair of earplugs. Europe has its own measurement standard, SNR, which is often a few dB higher than NRR due to differences in testing methodology. Many earplug packages list both numbers.

We didn’t set a minimum NRR/SNR requirement because our experts told us that more is not always better for every situation. The level of protection you need will vary based on the intensity and duration of noise exposure.

If you attend moderately loud events only once in a blue moon and live an otherwise quiet life, you’ll probably be fine with a lower NRR (around 10 or so). However, if you attend a three-day music festival where noise levels reach 110 dB regularly, and you’re there for eight hours a day, you’ll need a higher NRR (generally above 15).

It’s important to note that these earplugs are not designed for industrial settings, construction work, or other occupations where severe noise exposure is common.

If you hate wearing earplugs, the Loop Experience 2 set might change your mind. This pair offers the ideal blend of comfort, convenience, security, and style. Most importantly, it’s one of the best-sounding universal pairs we’ve tried.

These earplugs are comfortable, secure, and discreet. Because these earplugs don’t extend deeply into the ear canal, they slip into place intuitively and feel less invasive. The circular outer piece (the loop) stabilizes the earplugs, making it easy to take them out of your ears once things quiet down. Many other earplugs we tested required constant readjustment to prevent pinching or falling out, but we almost never need to fuss with the Loop Experience 2 pair.

The tips are made of silicone and come in four sizes (XS, S, M, L), so all of our testers found a good fit.

Since the earplugs don’t extend out of your ear canal, they are visually less obtrusive visually, and they’re safer if someone bumps you in the head when you’re dancing or exercising.

These earplugs strike a good balance between noise reduction and clear sound. The Experience 2’s NRR of 12 dB allowed us to hear more of what was going on, just at a safer level. So this pair is ideal for sporting events, workout classes, and occasional trips to loud clubs or concerts. The Experience 2 pair offers better noise reduction than the original Loop Experience, which had an NRR of 8.

Still, this level of reduction won’t be sufficient if you’re in the front row of a rock festival for three days straight or if you’re a professional death-metal drummer. For that, we recommend a custom pair or our upgrade pick on the highest setting.

As you can see from our measurements, these earplugs have a serious volume dip in the range from 2 kHz to 8 kHz, which corresponds to the upper end of the female vocal range, cymbal hits, and plosive and fricative consonants (such as p,k,s, and t). The reduced volume in this range gives the Loop pair a more muffled characteristic than custom earplugs produce—but when music is being amplified, it’s not as noticeable.

The biggest downfall of this sound profile is with unamplified music (such as when you’re listening to a small jazz band) or when you’re talking to someone while competing with loud music. But because the overall reduction isn’t massive, this effect isn’t debilitating. I’ve worn this set to various loud workout classes, and I’ve been able to hear the instructor’s directions over the sound system and talk to classmates during partner drills without having to remove them.

They have a fun look that’s edgy but not too obvious. They sit flush with the concha part of your ear and are virtually unnoticeable when someone faces you. From the side, they look almost like jewelry, and multiple color options are available.

The small, round plastic case is easy to stash in even the smallest pocket of your jeans or bag, so there’s no excuse for not taking them with you.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They don’t pass all sound frequencies as evenly as custom earplugs will. This is true of all of the universal-fit earplugs we tested. Until someone comes up with a universal design that delivers better sound and comfort, you’ll need to pay significantly more money to get the best audio experience.

You need to replace the tips regularly. For all of the universal-fit earplugs we tested, the manufacturer’s advice suggests that you replace them about every three to six months, depending on how frequently you use the earplugs. However, unlike many other brands, Loop requires only the replacement of the tips, which you can purchase separately for $15.

The pricier Loop Switch is a more versatile set of earplugs, well suited for habitual wearers who need different levels of protection for different uses. The unique design includes a dial that toggles the reduction level from 11 to 16 dB NRR, so this pair is useful whether you just want to mildly reduce background sounds while studying at your desk or dancing in the pit at Coachella.

The Switch does the work of three earplugs in one. There are a variety of reasons someone might want to wear earplugs that have more or less reduction than you’d need at a concert. For example: reducing sensory overstimulation, focusing at work, blocking out nighttime noises, or coping at children’s parties (if you’ve attended one, you know). The Switch’s adjustability is also handy for musicians who play both acoustic and amplified sets.

The lowest setting has a recommended use akin to Loop’s Engage 2 earplugs, with an NRR of 11 dB; this is great for reducing noise in busy public spaces, like the subway or a coffee shop, where you still need awareness. However, the level of reduction is on a par with that of the Experience 2, so you can use this setting for the occasional concert as well. The middle setting is perfect for louder concerts or clubs, with a 13-dB NRR. The highest is like that of the Loop Quiet 2, with a 16 dB NRR, which is great for when you want to block out distractions.

The dial on the Switch is intuitive to use. Unlike other adjustable pairs we tested that require fiddling with a filter swap or using a confusing and uncomfortable switching mechanism, the dial on the Switch is easy to use without looking, even while the earplugs are in your ears. Our testers appreciated the way the Switch dial clicks into place at each level, so they felt certain that they’d positioned it properly.

This pair is also more accessible for people with large hands or reduced dexterity.

This set is less discreet than the Experience 2 but still comfortable. The Switch pair has the same basic form as the rest of the Loop lineup, and it comes with the same number of ear tips (XS, S, M, and L). The loop part is a little bulkier, due to the inclusion of the dial, but this set still fit our testers well and stayed in place comfortably.

These earplugs also store in a similar-size carrying case.

They sound really good. Our testers felt that the sound on the Switch’s middle setting was slightly clearer than what we heard through the Experience 2. As you can see from our measurements, this is explained by the smaller dip in the range from 200 to 1,000 kHz, which is where lead guitar, most vocals, and the center three octaves of a piano sit.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They have similar flaws as the Experience 2. Much like our top pick, the Switch pair doesn’t pass sound as evenly as custom earplugs. And you’ll need to replace the tips regularly—about every three to six months, depending on how much you use your pair.

The printed graphics indicating the reduction levels are quite small. People with reduced vision may initially need assistance to learn to use the dial by feel.

The design is larger and less fashionable than that of our top pick. As mentioned above, the Switch’s outer design is larger—if the Experience 2 is a Cheerio, the Switch is a Cheerio that’s been sitting in milk for a few hours.

Plus, the matte plastic material used for the external chassis looks less sleek, and this set’s color choices lack the bold and metallic shades of our top pick.

For musicians on a budget or those who consistently have trouble getting universal earbuds to fit properly, the Decibullz Professional High Fidelity Earplugs represent a good compromise between universal-fit and custom earplugs, since part of the design is molded to fit your ear shape.

The Decibullz earplugs are semi-moldable. The design consists of three parts: the outer plug housing the filter, the middle moldable stabilizing wing, and the inner tip (with six sets of tips included). To mold the wing, you need to place it into a cup of hot water until it softens; then remove it with a spoon and gently push it into your ear, smooshing it until it completely conforms to your outer ear shape. The process is a little like making a mouthguard for sports.

Once the earplug cools completely, it hardens, and unless you’ve messed up, you shouldn’t need to repeat the process. Our panel was split about 50-50 on how annoying this was to do, but we all agreed that it wasn’t something we’d want to spend time doing unless we used earplugs regularly.

The benefit of the Decibullz system is that it helps to reduce user error in fitting, since the wing essentially helps to seal off the ear canal in the event that the inner tip isn’t precisely the right size. This is great for folks who generally find that their ears fall in between tip sizes. It also means that the Decibullz earplugs don’t shift at all in use, so you can rock as hard as you like and they aren’t going anywhere.

Musicians will appreciate the clearer sound. This pair has an NRR of 7 dB; this is lower than that of our other picks, but it’s still considered safe for a few hours at loudness levels up to 102 dB.

As you can see in our measurements, these earplugs still have the same dip in the highs that the other universal-fit earplugs do, but our testers thought this set provided a slightly clearer, crisper sound than many of the competitors.

Musicians who need to listen to their bandmates may appreciate the extra clarity, especially during rehearsals—whereas they may be more reluctant to wear earplugs with a higher NRR/SNR. Plus, the semi-custom design means you get a more-consistent, more-secure fit every time—which prevents sound leaks from movement or incorrect tip sizing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The carrying case is larger than we’d like. It could fit in a larger jeans pocket, but it definitely isn’t as diminutive as the other earplug cases we saw.

The earplug design is more noticeable. Although we like that the ear pieces don’t protrude from the ear in a way that feels dangerous, they do fill up the concha of the ear fully. And since the pieces come only in black, people kinda can’t miss them when they view you from the side of your head. Whether this look fits your personal aesthetic or not is your call, but we personally think it’s overkill for casual users.

If you prefer a less-noticeable earplug than the Loop(s): EarPeace’s Music Pro performed very well in our tests. The Music Pro is available in noise reduction ratings of 9 dB, 12 dB, or 16 dB. The body is made of a super-soft, malleable silicone, in a double-flange style that our panelists found more comfortable than most pine-tree-shaped earplugs.

EarPeace also sells limited-edition earplugs in themed styles or in partnership with entities like NPR and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They’re exactly the same as the Pro but in different colors and occasionally with small shifts to the NRR. The Earpeace Sport Pro offers the highest reduction (NRR 18) and sounds a little more muffled, but it’s a good option if you frequently attend loud events.

The sound of the Pro was a favorite, with results similar to the Loop Experience 2: High frequencies were diminished but not so muffled that one couldn’t discern consonants on vocals. People who wear earplugs in impact-risky situations (like a mosh pit) will appreciate the way the EarPeace plugs sit flush to the ear canal, in addition to the flexible pull tab that’s less likely to snag or jam into your ear if you’re bumped by someone.

But the EarPeace package contains only two sizes of tips (standard and small), so folks with very large ear canals may not like how deep the earplugs need to go into the ear to get a seal. We also found that the small pull tab could be difficult to find and hold for folks with larger fingers or dexterity issues, or after having a cocktail. It’s this ease-of-use factor that kept the EarPeace plugs from being an official pick, but these are still excellent.

If you frequently enjoy concerts or you regularly perform and rehearse in loud settings, you really should invest in custom earplugs. Although we understand the appeal of inexpensive universal-fit earplugs, their uneven attenuation and lower NRR are not ideal for serious performers or for music lovers who go to loud concerts all the time.

Custom earplugs are made to your precise ear shape by professionals, with the level of NRR that you need for your lifestyle. They reduce the volume far more evenly across all frequency ranges, and, at $200 to $300, they cost less than a single music-festival ticket. Plus, they can last many years, as long as you keep them clean, don’t lose them, and don’t gain or drop a significant amount of weight.

The first step in getting custom earplugs is to find an audiologist, ideally one who specializes in working with musicians. Look for one who is listed by custom-earplug manufacturers (such as Sensaphonics or Microsonic) as being certified. Ask ahead of time if their price includes impressions, earplugs and filters, and fitting and alterations. On rare occasions, mistakes in the impression or manufacturing process may mean you’ll need to have the shape of the earplug tweaked a bit, and you’ll need to know how much time you have to come back to fix issues.

The impression process can involve a few different methods (including lasers), but the traditional one involves brightly colored goo. An audiologist puts a cotton block in your ear to protect your eardrum; then they use a syringe to slowly fill the ear canal with the impression material (see the photo above). Once the goo hardens, they remove the impressions and either 3D-scan them or ship them off to the place where your earplugs will be made.

You also need to choose which filters you want. Our experts recommend that you speak with your audiologist about where and when you’ll be using your earplugs so that they can help you select the filter with the correct amount of decibel reduction. Most filters come in 9 dB, 15 dB, and 25 dB levels. Generally, you choose one filter level to start, but many custom earplugs have interchangeable filters, so you can purchase additional sets down the line if you find yourself needing more or less protection.

Custom earplugs offer a massive difference in sound quality compared with solid-foam or universal-fit musician earplugs. In our measurements, we found that the reduction was far more even across all frequency ranges with the custom Microsonic earplugs, which means you’d still hear every sound, just reduced in volume. The effect is a little like putting on color-tinted sunglasses: At first, everything looks shaded in pink or yellow, but after a few minutes, as your brain adjusts to the shift, you don’t even notice that tint anymore.

Unlike universal plugs, which degrade and need to be replaced every three to six months, custom earplugs are designed to last significantly longer, as long as you treat them well. Talk to your doctor about the lifespan of your custom earplugs, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning; to help with longevity, be sure to store your earplugs away from extreme heat or cold.

The sole caveat is if you lose or gain a significant amount of weight and the change alters the shape of your ear canal—in this case you may need to get new impressions made. Otherwise, the only other reason you might need a new pair is due to abuse or misplacement.

If you do lose your custom pair, many manufacturers keep digital scans of your impressions on file, so if your impression was relatively recent, you likely won’t need to pay to get a new mold made; you will need to pay only for the earplugs themselves.

We’ve tested more models of earplugs than can be listed here. To see other earplugs we’ve tested in past rounds, along with some key measurements, check out this table.

The Audree Style set provides four sets of tips, and we found the fit very comfortable. However, the sound was more muffled than with any of our picks, and we heard a slight ringing sound with high pitches—likely caused by some sort of resonance in the dampening filter.

The Bollsen Music SoundPro pair is sold on the Bollsen website with the option of “AR KI TECH,” which sounded as though we were receiving custom earplugs—but what arrived looked like the universal fit. The process involves sending a picture of your ear, and we assume the company then chooses the right size for you. Whether that was helpful was debatable, but we did appreciate the earbuds’ discreet looks. We didn’t care for the required methodology to put in the earbuds: sticking a finger in your ear and wiggling it back and forth. This created a suction that made taking the plugs out feel like pulling a cork from a wine bottle, and people with dexterity challenges or long fingernails won’t be able to install these properly.

The Curvd Everyday Earplugs have a soft, flexible arching-wing design, and our panelists found them extremely comfortable—even to sleep in. We liked the sturdiness of the case, as well. Unfortunately, the sound was more muffled than that of our picks, so we wouldn’t recommend these for concerts. However, if you want a pair of earplugs to reduce annoying sounds while still having some awareness, the Curvd pair is fantastic.

D’Addario dBud earplugs fit well and offer two levels of noise reduction. You can adjust the level using a simple slide, but the resistance on the slide makes this pair tougher to adjust in your ear than the Loop Switch. Additionally, our panelists and our measurements agreed that the dBud let in more bass and less vocal range than our picks, causing them to sound muffled.

The Decibullz High Fidelity Earplugs are the less-expensive version of our also-great pick, and these earplugs use the same molding process to nearly guarantee a good fit and seal. However, the attenuation on this pair is too high, which in our testing produced a very muffled listening experience.

The Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs were among the better-sounding universal earplugs that we tested, with slightly more-even attenuation than we got from our top Loop pick. However, our panel found the pine-tree-shaped plugs to be uncomfortable to wear because they extended deeper into the ear canal, often chafing or pinching. Additionally, the small removal tab was tricky to grab if it slipped behind the tragus part of the ear.

The Earos One earplugs offered sound reduction that’s similar in characteristic to the Loop’s, providing volume reduction without too much of a muffled quality. The stabilizing wings make these earplugs feel as though they’ll stay in place regardless of your movement. However, Earos provides only two tips sizes, so folks with very large or small ear canals run a higher risk of not getting a proper fit. The largest tip was not broad enough in diameter for one of our panelists to get a seal. For the panelists who got a good fit, the Earos One set’s pine-tree shape felt rather invasive, and it was uncomfortable enough that they said they wouldn’t wear these earplugs regularly.

The Earpeace Music pair has a similar fit to the Music Pro, but it includes three different filters that can be changed out to adjust the sound reduction. We found this process to be more cumbersome than we’d want to do frequently, since the tiny filters are challenging to handle and easy to lose. We also thought these didn’t sound as good as the Music Pro, with less detail in the vocal range.

The inexpensive Hearprotek High Fidelity Music and Hearprotek High Fidelity Concert earplugs share the same flaws. First, the earplugs are made from a silicone with a gripping quality that makes them difficult to push into place. Additionally, the silicone flaps occasionally fold over on insertion and then suddenly snap open in your ear, making an uncomfortably loud thwap. Neither set sounds as clear as our picks, and we found the website confusing. It’s tough to know what you’re actually buying, and one pair we purchased didn’t come with the case pictured.

The Hears set has a chic aesthetic. However, the included tips are very difficult to remove and replace, and the largest tip was too small for people who usually use large tips in other brands. We also found these difficult to remove from our ears, and the wings can pull off, leaving the rest of the earbud still in our ears. Physical design aside, we liked how they sounded, so we hope Hears can work out the design for a future iteration.

The JLab JBuds Protect earplugs have a stem that twists to adjust your reduction level, but there is no physical feedback, so you have to take these out to change settings. We loved the magnetic case that holds the earplugs in place for added security. However, the foam tips run on the smaller side, so people with L or XL ears will need to push the JBud Protect unsettlingly deep into the ear to get a seal. And once they’re sealed, the overall sound is duller than that of our picks.

The Loop Experience 2 Plus package deal includes everything from the Loop Experience 2 Earplugs box, plus three sizes of foam eartips and a pair of Loop mutes, which Loop says will increase the sound reduction by 5 dB. While we like the foam tips as an option, the mutes weren’t our panel’s favorite tool because the tiny plastic circles are very easy to lose when you pop them in and out of the earplugs. That said, if you know you’ll always need that extra 5 dB of reduction, or you prefer foam tips, the Experience 2 Plus set is a good buy.

The Minuendo Live set comes with a lot of thoughtful accessories, but our panelists had difficulty getting a secure seal. Once we did, the sound was tinny compared with that of our picks, and high frequencies ended up sounding harsh.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.