With Some Musicians Losing Their Hearing, These Are the Best Earplugs for Noise Reduction
Musicians face growing risks of hearing damage from prolonged exposure to loud performances, a concern highlighted by recent disclosures from artists including BTS's V, DJ Alesso, Chris Martin, Dave Grohl and Neil Young. While custom in-ear monitors are one solution, they aren't practical for every musician or setting, making affordable, off-the-shelf earplugs a useful alternative for marching bands, orchestras, garage jam sessions and DJ sets alike.
Billboard rounds up several editor-picked earplugs, each rated by decibel (dB) reduction and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), factors that determine how much loudness they filter while preserving sound clarity:
– Loop Switch 2 — adjustable dial with 20–26 dB SNR range and three modes; case isn't fully secure
– Eargasm high-fidelity earplugs — up to 21 dB reduction, 16 dB NRR, with a key ring-attachable case
– Alpine MusicSafe Pro — three interchangeable filters (16, 19, 22 dB SNR) for different instruments/venues
– Earasers — up to 19 dB reduction at peak frequency, 14 SNR, praised for near-invisible comfort but easy to misplace
- Musicians increasingly report hearing loss and tinnitus from loud performances
- Billboard recommends earplugs as an affordable alternative to custom IEMs
- Top picks include Loop Switch 2, Eargasm, Alpine MusicSafe Pro and Earasers
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Musicians rely on their hearing for their careers, but performing regularly at loud volumes, whether on stage, in an orchestra pit or through headphones, can cause lasting damage over time. Several well-known artists have recently spoken publicly about hearing loss or related conditions, drawing attention to a risk that isn't always visible to audiences but is common in the industry.
One established way to protect hearing is through custom-made in-ear monitors, which are fitted individually and used by many professional performers. These aren't always practical, though, given their cost and the need for professional fitting, so many musicians and hobbyists instead turn to ready-made earplugs designed to reduce volume while still letting them hear clearly enough to play or perform.
These earplugs are typically compared using two measures: decibel reduction, which shows how much sound they block, and signal-to-noise ratio, which indicates how well they preserve clarity rather than just muffling everything. Various brands and models exist, each striking a different balance between protection, comfort and price for different settings, from marching bands to DJ booths.