xro:earplugs

xro's notes on earplugs
- recommendations by usage
- notes of and experiences with products

xro's notes on earplugs

note: SNR does sadly not stand for signal-noise-ration but for “Single Number Rating” and is an ear-plug rating giving the average dampening over audible frequencies)
note: music earplugs “try” to dampen as linear over audible frequencies as cost-effectively possible, so their SNR will never be higher than what they can dampen the lower frequencies at.
full-sealing plugs (foam, wax) vs those with changeable filter: the filters are supposed to allow air-circulation and pressure-equalisation in your ear, thus creating less problems during longer wear

recommendations by usage

barely too loud concerts/events (up to 70dB sound pressure)
- –> Alpine Musicsafe Pro with silver inserts (19dB SNR protection)
normal concerts and events with loud music (80-90dB sound pressure)
- –> Schallwerk Music+ (23dB SNR protection)
festivals and concerts that assume everybody wears earplugs any ways and turn up way beyond safe or comfortable levels and where you still want to enjoy the music as close to original as possible (Metaldays, Brutal Assault, Midgarsbloit, Summer Breeze, W:O:A, etc)
- –> Ohropax Soft (SNR 32dB)
power tools, working, possibly music
- –> Ohropax Neo
- –> Ohropax Soft (SNR 32dB)
Sleeping in noisy environments, train, camping, etc
- –> Ohropax Color (SNR 35dB)
- Ohropax Wax (SNR 22dB, use only in case you don't find the soothing pressure of foam-earplugs comforting)
Sleeping in airplanes
- –> Active noise cancelling earphones work best
- for airplanes consider music earplugs (Alpine, Schallwerk), as they don't completely seal your air against pressure equalisation.
- Ohropax Color if you only use them at cruising height

note on foam earplugs

most people don't know how to use them, so they find them unjustly annoying or ineffective

roll into thin rod
pull your outer ear upward (using other hand or a free finger)
put thin rod inside until it's all the way in
wait until foam expands and seals your ear

notes of and experiences with products

Alpine Music Pro Safe
- SNR 16dB (white), 19dB (silver), 22dB (gold)
  - nobody needs white
  - changing inserts while between a heap of people? good luck, better have a second set ready
- just barely enough for concerts up to 90dB sound pressure
- good music quality
- don't seal your ears against water or pressure differences
Schallwerk Music+
- SNR 23dB
- enough for concerts up to 90dB sound pressure
- good music quality
- don't seal your ears against water or pressure differences
Ohropax Soft
- Avg SNR 32dB
  - HML 28dB, 29dB, 31DB
- datasheet
- very good protection
- still quite acceptable sound quality
- you are able to talk with people while standing in front of a stage
- good for loud events up to maybe even 110dB sound pressure
- seal your ears (good against water, not so good in airplane takeoff/landing)
Ohropax Color
- SNR 35dB
  - HML: 31,32,34 dB
- datasheet
- best damping I've ever found, excellent for sleeping
- abysmal music experience, don't use at events
- seal your ears (good against water, not so good in airplane takeoff/landing)
Ohropax original/wax
- SNR: 22 dB
  - HML: 27,18,14 dB
- not very good dampening
- very comfortable as wax moulds to your hear due to body heat
- sticky
- tricky to remove
- remove cotton before use
- not great for music
- datasheet
Ohropax Neo
- SNR 26dB
  - HML: 27,23,22 dB
- to be tested
Ohropax Music
- no tested, not planning to test
Loops
- not tested, see no need to
Custom-fit ear-plugs from your local specialist
- better fit for more comfortable longer wear
- uses changeable inset filters
  - allow air exchange between your ear and outside, e.g. don't fully seal your ears per design
  - difference between “cheaper” filters like with Schallwerk and professional filters probably not very significant (friend tested)

Table of Contents

xro's notes on earplugs

recommendations by usage

note on foam earplugs

notes of and experiences with products