EtymoticER20XS ETY Earplugs - Standard Size, Frost - High-Fidelity Hearing Protection - Up to 20 dB Sound Reduction - Reusable - Includes Neck Cord & Carrying Case

I am a professional violinist. I began having tinnitus many years ago: hearing the TV static “sound of silence,” plus occasional 10-second bouts of extreme ringing typically in the left ear. I put one of these earplugs in my left ear, which is just above the instrument as I hold it under my jaw. Hearing damage/loss in the left ear is a universal symptom of long-term violin playing, and additionally, the loud direct sound from being close to the instrument sometimes causes students (me many years ago) to limit themselves and avoid drawing the most sound from the instrument. This earplug solves both those issues: I still hear clearly at all volumes but am not overwhelmed when I play out, and my bouts of ringing have disappeared, and only come back when I forget to put the earplug in.I use this earplug whenever I play, indoors, outdoors, practicing or performing. I could go on about how useful this has been for me. After a couple minutes of being worn it fills the ear extremely comfortably, and I often (at least twice a week) forget to take it out after practicing, because I simply don’t realize it was in until someone notices the thing in my ear. This size is perfect for my ear, snug but not tight. I personally don’t use the case, I just slip it under the strap for my violin in its case. I believe these can last indefinitely until lost, which is a fine value for $10 each when I only use one at a time. I would recommend this to anyone who needs slight sound reduction of upper levels.

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Not audio earphones. Use to drown airplane cabin noise

Takes the edge off louder noises but I can still listen carefully for unusual noises which is very important when you're a machinist. I wonder why more machinists don't use concert/high fidelity style earplugs? Anyways, I stamped a paper at the lockers to recommend these styles of earplugs to other people in the machine shop.

Good earplugs but the new case sucks. Lost them after a few days because the case came open

These are my go-to for concerts. They reduce the volume and maintain the original sound as much as possible unlike the other earplugs I have tried. Only downside is it's definitely not the most comfortable earplugs.

So I have two problems with this. My husband prefers this brand or at least he did. He couldn't find his old pair so he asked for a new one.I was trying out a bunch of ear plugs for the k-pop concerts we're going to with my teen. I used to sing and have some hearing damage and tinnitus from not wearing protection and an ear infection many years ago that ruptured one of my ear drums. At this point, I'm looking to live with at least less EEEEeeeeeeeeee than I already have. I do have a older hearing aid for that side that ruptured but I rarely use it every day unless I'm in a loud busy place (I'd never use it for a concert because there are things I need to hear (my kiddo) but a busy city restaurant or Disney World? Then I do but only if I need to because I hate it.). It’s uncomfortable to wear for a long time and I should probably get a new one fitted. I've become pretty good though at discerning how effective a hearing blocker for my “good” ear is (and yeah, I should probably just get this all custom made for my ears, but this is quite expensive and time consuming so I just haven’t).First there was a sharp piece on one side and it cut my ear canal. The item was clear-ish so I didn’t see this little sharp edge until I was cut and the inside of my ear was bleeding. Yikes. Second there is no way this at its highest levels cut 20 dcb let alone 16. It’s more around ten. Putting your hands over your ears would be more effective than this. I could clearly hear our heater kicking on, the tv next door and my kid’s music through her headphones. It’s also quite long for a woman’s ear canal which makes it uncomfortable. This is not safe enough for a concert between the crowd cheering and the music.Maybe these were more effective and better made years ago? But the ones we received were terrible.

I‘m 72 years of age and somehow developed hyperacusis (extreme and painful sensitivity to certain sounds) over this past year and it‘s literally driving me nuts. An ENT specialist told me bluntly that there’s nothing that can be done for me. So I went online and found a support group for those of us suffering from hyperacusis. A product recommended on the site was the Etymotic High Fidelity Ear Plugs. So I ordered a pair in desperation. I‘ve been using them a couple weeks now and they are very effective at protecting me from the sounds I’m most sensitive to. With a little moisture placed on the plugs, they insert easily into my ear canal. They are comfortable once inserted. I am able to adequately hear my wife‘s voice and carry on a conversation, listen to music, and hear traffic sounds around me, though with a muffled quality.. I do feel sometimes like I’m hearing sounds while submerged underwater, but it‘s far better than being exposed to sounds that cause me to feel like I’ve been shocked with an electric cattle prod.