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Nothing is more valuable to a musician than their hearing. If you are a professional musician, it’s important to be proactive about protecting your hearing. Without it, you risk losing the ability to do what you love most. There’s no simpler way to protect your ears than by wearing earplugs specifically designed for musicians.
Without the proper ear protection, musicians are at risk of suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus. Hearing loss results in the partial or total inability to hear. This occurs naturally with aging, but exposure to loud noise accounts for nearly half of all hearing loss cases. On the other hand, tinnitus leaves you hearing a sound when no external sounds are actually occurring. This sound can take many forms, but often it’s described as a ringing sound that varies in pitch. Both hearing loss and tinnitus are significant obstacles for musicians and can be avoided if proper proactive steps are taken – like wearing earplugs.
Many musicians resist wearing earplugs out of fear that wearing them will distort how they hear the music. This fear isn’t unfounded, especially because the wrong earplugs can create that effect. That’s why it’s essential that musicians stay away from generic earplugs and invest in earplugs that are made to fit the needs of musicians. This means that the earplugs won’t distort the music from its true sound. Instead, the best earplugs work in a way that lowers the damaging sound levels.
When shopping for the best earplugs for musicians, comfort is key and so is sound quality. When you wear earplugs, the music should sound just as it would if you weren’t wearing them – only quieter. In order to achieve this, the best earplugs for musicians will have an equal attenuation across all frequencies as to not distort the sound. You’ll know you’ve found the best earplugs for protecting your hearing when they can reduce the noise by about 15 to 30 decibels.
1. EAROS ONE High-Fidelity Acoustic Filters
Once you place these earplugs in your ear, you’ll hardly notice that they are there. Their sleek, ergonomic design keeps a low profile and offers a comfortable fit. They form a seal deep within the ear, which enables better sound protection. Plus, their soundboard replicates how the inner ear resonates which helps the music keep its original sound.
These earplugs reduce noise by 17 decibels without compromising the natural listening experience. With these in your ear, there’s no muffling or distorting of sounds.
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2. Eargasm Slide Earplugs for Concert Musicians
We get it, your average earplugs aren’t always that comfortable. However, there’s nothing average about these “Eargasm” earplugs. This gift set comes with three sizes – and two different colors – of ear tips, helping you find the best fit for you.
Fit isn’t the only thing you can make your own, either. These earplugs have adjustable volume control. A moving slider lets you toggle between two different settings, choosing a noise reduction of either 15 or 22 decibels. No matter which setting you choose, you will still hear the crisp, high-fidelity sound you love about your music. The only difference is that the sound will be quieter, and your ears will be protected.
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3. Alpine MusicSafe Ear Plugs
The Alpine brand is a leading innovator in hearing protection and is known for its award-winning designs. Comfortable and protective, these earplugs are made with professional musicians in mind.
These earplugs have been thoroughly-tested to reduce noise between 19 and 22 decibels. The variance between decibels will all depend on your instrument, your place on stage, and your personal preferences. These earplugs come with two interchangeable filters which are specially designed to absorb harmful noise while retaining the utmost sound quality.
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4. EarPeace Concert Ear Plugs
Even if you have sensitive skin and ears, that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your heaing, too. These EarPeace earplugs are made with premium silicone and are built with a dual cone design that gently seals the ear.
These earplugs feel soft in the ear and are hypoallergenic, too. But just because they offer gentle comfort doesn’t mean they aren’t effective. This pack come with three different filter sets that offer 17, 20, and 26 decibels of noise reduction. We especially love that the EarPeace brand is trusted across the music industry: Berklee School of Music, Red Bull Music and Lollapalooza all carry these musician earplugs as their ear protection of choice.
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From Rolling Stone US
