EARasers Noise Cancelling Earplugs - Reusable Noise Reduction Musicians Earplugs for Concerts, Djs – 19dB Peak Reduction

I hate that these things have ruined me for any other earplugs. But other than that, they're great. Though I do want to try to get the higher DB filters from the company.Some people in other reviews have said they have trouble telling which is right and left in poor/stage lighting; I use the inward curve (the front curves in towards you) and the little stem points down. I don't really rely on the colors any more - just touch and feel of the angles. If your stems don't point down, you can use the filter removal tool (from the refresh kit - or something similar - possibly the ink from a pen if it's not too big - just don't use something pointy) to turn them so the stem does point down. If the stem is pointing down and the front is pointing towards your head, it's on the correct side ;)I'm on my second pair - I have no idea what happened to the first set - I got a refresher kit with the carrying case that's been on my keychain for a long time now - and one day I opened it, and they weren't inside. (I think I fell asleep with them one night - not what I normally do with them, but I needed to get to sleep and there were noisy neighbors. I don't think they made it back into the case after that - but I have no idea where they actually went.)So... I replaced them about a month ago - mostly because I like to always have them with me, even though I haven't really needed them lately (I haven't been going out). So... I started a new job, and there's a really loud fan noise - but I need to be able to communicate with co-workers. These seemed like the perfect solution, and in some ways, they are. They're nearly invisible - and everyone is talking over the fan noise anyway - so hearing them with earplugs is (actually for me, easier than without them) easy. The problem is, they don't do much for the fan noise. It's kind of weird. I guess it's just at a frequency that isn't really filtered by these ear plugs. Anyway, I purchased a couple other pairs - eargasms and etymotic ER-20xs...es. So, here's my comparison review (written for the eargasms that I really didn't like).I got a pair of Eargasms - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GQMZ1DG/and the Etymotic ER20XS-SMF-P....es..... - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RM6Q9XW/as a higher Db upgrade from my earasers - https://www.amazon.com/Earasers-HEM001-Musicians-Plugs-Medium/dp/B00E2D9HAA/ (shown with a "refresh kit" that included the blue carrying case that I've had for a little over a year - so yeah, it looks a little banged up. I ordered mediums, and got the small refresh kit to try the other size The smalls worked better for me.)Sound wise, the Etymotics smoothly reduce volume across the board at a noticeable increase in reduction from the Earasures, but not as much more as I'd hoped. The eargasms muddy the high end and don't dampen the bass as much - so they don't deliver on the flat response promised, and make it harder to understand people (not something I can deal with for my usage case).Comfort wise, I'm kind of mixed on the new two. The eargasms have the softer tips, but prying them out of my ears (there's nothing visible, but also nothing to hold on to in order to pull them out) left my ears sore. The softer silicone tips here also create a suction strong enough to hurts my ear drums when being worn.Neither compare at all to the earasers. The single oval shaped tip is just... comfortable. More comfortable than any earbud I've ever put in. Somehow the oval shape on them makes them work wonders. There's no real "pressure" on the sides of your ears. I won't say you'll forget you have them in, but you absolutely can once you've gotten used to them. Sizing is a small problem - the mediums are too big for me (and are hard to put in), but the smalls are perfect - but do have to be inserted deeply. There's no suction though, so no ear drum pain (that I got with both the eargasms and the etymotics - but it was far more pronounced with the eargasms).Visually, the Eargams are cleaner - the pull tab from the Etymotics sticks out and is slightly visible (but it also lets you pull them out.The earasers though.... they're totally invisible (with the small tips for me. The little plastic pull stick rests nicely behind/along the inside of my tragus (thanks Google images). With the medium tips, the little plastic pull stick... sticks out just enough to be seen, but is still far more inconspicuous than the Etymotics pull tab).This is all based on looking in a mirror and turning my head. I couldn't see the eargasms at all (from behind, the blue filter probably shows) - which was a huge downside when I needed to get them out and couldn't find anything to grab by touch. The Etymotics pull tab was clearly visible.Per the packaging, the Eargasms are rated at 12db, and the Etymotics are 13db. So the eargasms are basically an inferior product all the way around.The Earasers are 19db peak (printed on the box), but there's a label on the back of the package says "5db" because of the way they reduce sound (and the db rating not accurately describing how much sound is being reduced). Still, what I'm trying to block out is a constant very loud fan noise - and they're not doing it for me - hence the search for an upgrade.So... with all that in mind, I don't really like the Etymotics. I've never really been fond of triple flanges - they make my ears kind of itch where the 2nd 2 flanges "pull back" after insertion. The Eargasms are more comfortable in that department, but the softer silicone "gives" a little more creating that painful suction on the ear drums.So, yeah, possibly I'm just putting them in too far, but if I don't, the filter hits the front of my ear and isn't as comfortable either, and I don't get a proper seal.So I think I've been ruined by the Earasers and can't really wear any other earplugs any more (except the foam ones in emergencies).The only downside to the Earasers is their poor performance with the fan noise. Both the Etymotics and the Eargasms are slightly better in this area, but due to the comfort issues from the triple flanges, I don't think I'll be able to use either of them most of the day.Earasers does offer higher DB filters on their website (but not Amazon), and I think I'll harass their support to see if I can get a set. That's probably the best solution for me right now.So... if you can save up for the Earasers, do that. If not, spend the extra couple dollars on the Etymotics.

Me and my husband go to a lot of concerts and I decided that I really should protect my ears better since, so far, I still have excellent hearing and I'm in my 50s. I asked my son for recommendations since he is in a band. He told me to check these out so I bought the them. You only get one size (I got the small) so when they arrived, I spent some time playing around with them to see how to make them seal and fit correctly. We had a Lorna Shore concert coming up and I was planning on wearing them for the first time. If you don't know who Lorna Shore is, they are a deathcore band. Music like that can get pretty loud. They were playing at a concert hall so...even louder.The day finally arrived and before the bands started, I put these in. At first I wasn't sure if they were in right as I could still hear everything clearly. They felt sealed though. During the first performance, I decided to take one out just to make sure. Wow. Ok. They were in correctly. I was able to hear everything, including conversations, without any muffling. They stayed secure, were comfortable and didn't slide or start to fall out. My Apple Watch alerted me several times about the dangerous decibal levels. After the concert, I was able to remove them easily and I was amazed at the lack of ringing or plugging of my ears. No "concert headache" as I call it either. These only have a 19dB peak reduction, which isn't bad, but I'm thinking of getting the 26 instead. Regardless, I will be wearing EARasers to concerts from now on.

these are tremendous, i've had musicians' molded plugs before and these are a more enjoyable experience. as a singer, also, i am having an easier time on stage with these than i do with my in-ear monitors.i have to dock it a star because the decibel reduction is very low. it claims something like 19db on the box but then has a sticker saying the rated DB reduction is only 9.have you ever gone to see one of your favorite bands and insisted on having a no-earplugs experience with it? this will replace that. it allows you to more safely listen to music but have it still be loud and clear.they are better than nothing, and better sounding than anything, but i do wish they had an option with more reduction. i've still had my ears ring after a show - just not with the awful feeling that i've lost my highs entirely!

My drum teacher recommended these and we both wear them during lessons. They're much more comfortable than foam ear plugs. They reduce the more painful noises but it's much easier to hear what you're playing and have a conversation. High quality and will last a while (if you don't lose them first - keychain holder helps). They stay in place very well and are easy to remove. My ear canals are on the smaller side but I can comfortably wear a size medium.