Best Ear Plugs for Concert Goers

I've been going to rock concerts since I was 12 years old (I'm 31 now), and for half of those years, I didn't wear ear plugs. Hell, who wants to wear ear plugs to a rock show?  Ear plugs muddy the sound — plus, they look dorky. But it's really important to protect your ears, so here are my recommendations for the best ear plugs for concert goers.

According to a new report by the World Health Organization, attending a rock concert without hearing protection could damage your ears after only 28 seconds.

Suddenly, those ear plugs don't sound so bad after all.

Now, I bring this to your attention, because I know there are a ton of people out there who go to rock shows and don't wear ear plugs. I don't have tinnitus; however, I have done some damage to my hearing. I cannot wear headphones when I'm on the air anymore, because my ears are that sensitive. Instead, I have to put the headphones next to me and just listen for my cues that way.

When I decided I was going to protect my hearing, I started wearing store-bought foam ear plugs. The problem with those is even though they're protecting your hearing, they muddy the sound. What's the point in spending $150 for 18th row KISS tickets if a cheap pair of ear plugs is going to muddy the sound?

After experimenting with different ear plugs, I came across two nice sets that I wear to concerts, and I would recommend these to any concert goer.

Don't be a schmuck! Protect your hearing!

RAMONE'S EAR PLUG RECOMMENDATIONS:

EARASERS:

• Cost: About $50
• Comfort: Super comfortable and incredibly discreet
• Best For: Smaller hard-rock shows, blues concerts, or loud clubs
• Sound Quality: Excellent

The first, and most expensive earplugs that I've tried, are the EARasers. You can pick these up at Guitar Center; however, the problem with the Guitar Center version is that they're not rated for metal shows. I contacted EARasers about this, and they swapped my set out for a pair with a special filter designed for metal shows.

Now, the plugs will run you about $50, but they're super comfortable and incredibly discreet. I've worn these to shows, and my friends had no idea I was wearing them. They're so comfortable and discreet that I also wear them if I'm out at a really loud bar or seeing a local band play.

Now, here's the problem: even though you can get them with a special filter for metal shows, I feel that my ears still have a slight ringing after super-loud shows. I wore these to King Diamond and had no issues. However, I wore them to a Pentagram show a few days later and felt that my ears weren't fully protected.

The EARasers are great for small clubs and hard-rock shows, but if you're going to the Intersection in Grand Rapids to see Cannibal Corpse, they may not offer the best protection.

For those who want to protect their hearing at more intimate hard-rock shows, blues concerts, or loud clubs, then get the EARasers.

EAR PEACE:

• Cost: $13-$18
• Comfort: Very comfortable
• Best For: clubs, rock shows
• Sound Quality: Very good, slight muddiness

The next set I use are my Ear Peace ear plugs. These are significantly less expensive than the EARasers, and you can buy a set that comes with a special red filter for super-loud shows. I've only used the regular filter while attending metal shows, and I have had no problems. However, I plan on using the red filter for extra protection when I see Electric Wizard next month, who apparently plays ridiculously loud.

The Ear Peace ear plugs are very comfortable, and the shows sound great; however, there is a tad bit of muddiness to the sound with these. They're far superior to your regular foam plugs, but not as clear as the EARasers. When I wear the EARasers, it's like the volume in my head is turned down with very, very minimal sacrifice to sound and quality.

Note: The red filter (for super-loud shows) wasn't enough protection for an Electric Wizard show. The red filter only provides 14 db reduction — not enough protection for the heaviest band in the world!

ETYMOTIC ETYPLUGS:

• Cost: About $13
• Comfort: Very comfortable, although they do take some getting used to.
• Best For: loud rock shows
• Sound Quality: Very good +

Developed as a low-cost alternative to custom-made ear plugs, the ETYPlugs provide great protection, while maintaining that high-fidelity sound that we don't get from traditional drug-store-bought ear plugs.

The ETYPlug really is the "bread and butter" of concert ear plugs; they're inexpensive and do a fantastic job of cutting down those harmful decibels. I've worn them to a few shows and didn't feel like any of the sound was compromised. The ETYPlugs take a bit of getting used to, though. They're not uncomfortable by any means, however, it wasn't until the third or fourth use when I forgot they were in my ears. Once my ears became accustomed to the ETYPlugs, it was like the sound in my head was turned down to a comfortable volume.

For an average price of $13 a set, you can't go wrong with the ETYPlug. The ETYPlug is available in two sizes; regular and large, and a more discreet set is also available; in case you're afraid the band will see your ear plugs.

CUSTOM-MADE EAR PLUGS:

I've been contemplating spending the money on custom-made ear plugs, and ETYPlugs sound so great, that I may consider getting custom plugs direct from Etymotic.

Has anybody tried them? Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

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