You just get a pair of ears, so you should take care of them—and a good set of earplugs can be useful in any situation. A matching set is a much better solution to noise blocking at night than a pillow on the head and more comfortable than headphones. What you are looking for in earplugs really depends on what you want them to do. For example, when you are sleeping, comfort is paramount. Also, you need an indiscriminate approach to stop snoring, traffic noise, or car sirens on the street.
However, if you’re watching a band play live, you want to maintain the highest possible fidelity and simply remove frequencies that could harm your hearing. The average concert puts out about 100 decibels, but if you’ve ever seen My Bloody Valentine, you know some bands that seem to have a personal grudge against your ears—and the constant exposure to sound. bars above 85 dB can cause Permanent damage to your hearing. That means it’s impossible to choose one pair of earplugs that will fit every situation. Instead, we have selected several that meet different needs.
Be sure to check out our other shopping guidelike The best sleep gadget, best wireless headphones, The best wireless headphonesAnd Gifts For Those Who Need A Good Night’s Sleep.
Update April 2023: We’ve added Vibes High Fidelity ear tips and Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds for travelers.
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