There is many options for concert earplugs these days, so you don’t have to settle for cheap pieces of foam that completely seal your ears. PPE grade products vary in design and performance, with some offering different levels of noise reduction. This hearing protection always comes with the promise that the earplugs won’t completely muffle the headband, which is a real problem when you have to make do with the bartender’s generic foam versions.

Loop has been in the concert earplug business since its inception in 2016. During that time, its product line has expanded to encompass nine different models, including dedicated options for sleep, travel , commuting and social events, in addition to concerts, festivals and sporting events. . The Switch 2 ($59.95) is the latest version of Loop, an improved version of the original Switch that introduced the ability to change sound filter levels while the earplugs were still in your ears. To test the audio quality, I took them to a 100dB rock show in a small venue last month.

Loop/Engadget

The Switch 2 delivers on Loop’s promise to safely filter out loud noises without muffling the sound too much during social gatherings, concerts, commuting and more.

Benefits

• Easy to adjust while wearing
• Very comfortable

Disadvantages

• Loop’s most expensive model
• Noise levels vary by 3 dB

$60 at Loop

Loop has kept essentially the same design as its first model. There is a silicone tip, similar to that of wireless earbuds, which is attached to a circular loop where all the protective elements reside. In the case of the Switch 2, the outer half of this loop rotates to let you choose between three levels of sound filtration: Engage, Experience, and Quiet.

These settings reduce noise by 20 dB, 23 dB, and 26 dB respectively, and you don’t need to remove them to make the adjustment. The company recommends Engage for social meetings and conversations, while Experience works best for concerts and sporting events. Quiet’s maximum noise reduction is aimed at commuting and downtime, making it a solid option for travel as well.

For the Switch 2, Loop claims to have redesigned this dial for “smoother” changes while you wear them. I never tried the previous model, but I can tell you that this new version allows you to easily switch between modes. I never felt like I had to push the earplugs deeper into my ear to make the change, and the dial stopped at each adjustment with a satisfying click that I could feel even when the room was too loud so that I can hear it.

True to Loop’s advice, I found the Experience setting to be best for the live show. My Apple Watch detected that the location reached 100 dB, a level at which the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says you should only be exposed for 15 minutes to avoid hearing damage. Obviously, with five bands on the bill for the evening, I was going to be spending a lot more time in a dangerously noisy environment. So the 23dB reduction at this setting brought the noise level down to a much safer level for the roughly two hours I was there.

Since one set of earplugs is so small, I was able to easily carry both the Switch 2 and the Sennheiser SoundProtex Plus to the show for a direct comparison. During the brutal hardcore of Ends of Sanity and the chaotic metal of Dying Wish, I could consistently hear more detail with the Switch 2. This was especially evident in the guitars, where the Loop option let in more of the high-frequency sound, allowing me to enjoy all the riffs that both bands had to offer. I like the fit of the SoundProtex Plus, but the filtered sound is bassier and tends to favor drums, so it loses a bit of fidelity compared to the Switch 2.

The Switch 2 comes with four sizes of ear tips to help you find the best fit, and there’s a hard plastic case that’s easy to find when you drop it in a bag. Again, it’s very compact (about the size of a coin), so I carry them with me all the time so I don’t have to worry about forgetting them before heading to another gig. The SoundProtex Plus, however, comes with three separate earplugs in three different sizes. This pack also includes four sound filters, with noise reduction options of 10dB, 17dB, 20dB, and “full.”

The big problem with the Sennheiser version is that you can’t swap the filters without removing them from your ears. It’s a quick process, but the filters are tiny, so it’s not something you want to fiddle with mid-set in a crowded club. Plus, you’ll need to remember to pack them in the little pouch the company gives you before you leave the house. The SoundProtex Plus is now a much more attractive option at $50, which is $30 less than when I reviewed them. But as I mentioned, I think the Switch 2 offers better sound filtration and ease of use for just $10 more.

I have close friends and former bandmates who have used Loop earplugs for years, and they noted that the secure fit of the ear tips in the company’s products was a key selling point. Some competitors tend to slack off after a few minutes, they said, requiring constant adjustment. For the Switch 2, the company revised these parts for better noise reduction in max or quiet mode, and they stay in place for as long as you need them. The only time I used the earplugs during the show was to adjust the filter setting for testing purposes.

I’ve been carrying the SoundProtex Plus with me since I started testing them last year, and they’ve served me well. However, the Switch 2 lets in more detail, meaning you can hear more of what the band has to offer during the show. Additionally, Loop’s latest model offers more noise protection at every level, with even the lowest setting bringing a room down from 100 dB to something safer to stay in. And like the Sennheiser package, the Switch 2 is certified as hearing protection after extensive testing, meeting European and American safety standards.