silicone earplugs pirep

GeorgeC

GeorgeC

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I have found that using Loop earplugs improves my sleep. I tried them under my headset, but at 24dB, they blocked too much, even with the intercom cranked up. I got another set that was advertised at 17dB of attenuation and they seemed to work pretty well.
 
GeorgeC said:
I have found that using Loop earplugs improves my sleep. I tried them under my headset, but at 24dB, they blocked too much, even with the intercom cranked up. I got another set that was advertised at 17dB of attenuation and they seemed to work pretty well.
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Westone and other companies do make custom ear protection which allows for direct passthrough of communications (ICS, radios, etc.). Provides additional protection while not impacting the ability to hear the necessary stuff. Quite a few military squadrons get these for the pilots to wear instead of the foamies, so they don't have to have everything cranked to hear over the noise of the aircraft. I haven't looked into how it would work for standard GA plugs, but presumably it's available.
 
What does the loop do different than a foam earplug does?
 
I find them to be more comfortable. They are also reusable, unless your dog eats them, in which case I would strongly recommend against reuse.
 
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I'm confused as to what they do. The Signal-to-Noise ratios indicate to me they are active noise cancellation plus amplification.
Is that correct?
 
Domenick said:
I'm confused as to what they do. The Signal-to-Noise ratios indicate to me they are active noise cancellation plus amplification.
Is that correct?
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They are passive. I suppose adding the earplugs and turning up the headset results in a net increase in SNR.
 
If they are passive how do they increase the SNR? Don't passives simply reduce signal and noise?
And if they are simply passive, what's the loop for?
 
Domenick said:
If they are passive how do they increase the SNR? Don't passives simply reduce signal and noise?
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Passives reduce signal and noise, turning up the headset volume adds more signal.
Domenick said:
And if they are simply passive, what's the loop for?
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Removal; it looks more stylish than a cotton string.
 
Domenick said:
If they are passive how do they increase the SNR? Don't passives simply reduce signal and noise?
And if they are simply passive, what's the loop for?
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well, um, maybe if they reduce primarily the frequencies with the most noise... just thinking out loud....I'm not sure how passive foam plugs could do that....
 
Another tip: musician's earplugs. Go to the audiologist, who fills your ear canals with goo. A few minutes later they remove the goo and have a mold of your ear canal. They use these molds to make deep insertion earplugs out of silicone that fit perfectly in your ears just up to but shy of the eardrum. That silicone earplug has a canal drilled through the center so sound travels through it unobstructed. When inserted, the outer part sits flush against the ear, and you attach filters that attenuate the sound. Filters for -9, -15 and -25 dB are available so you pick how much attenuation you want.

Benefits:
1. They attenuate sound with flat frequency response, so they don't muffle anything. Sounds remain crystal clear, just quieter. Hence their name.
2. You choose how much attenuation you want, and you can snap filters on and off to suit circumstances.
3. They are comfortable so you can wear them for hours.
4. They are low profile, so you can wear headsets, earmuffs, etc. over them.
 
MRC01 said:
Another tip: musician's earplugs. Go to the audiologist, who fills your ear canals with goo. A few minutes later they remove the goo and have a mold of your ear canal. They use these molds to make deep insertion earplugs out of silicone that fit perfectly in your ears just up to but shy of the eardrum. That silicone earplug has a canal drilled through the center so sound travels through it unobstructed. When inserted, the outer part sits flush against the ear, and you attach filters that attenuate the sound. Filters for -9, -15 and -25 dB are available so you pick how much attenuation you want.

Benefits:
1. They attenuate sound with flat frequency response, so they don't muffle anything. Sounds remain crystal clear, just quieter. Hence their name.
2. You choose how much attenuation you want, and you can snap filters on and off to suit circumstances.
3. They are comfortable so you can wear them for hours.
4. They are low profile, so you can wear headsets, earmuffs, etc. over them.
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Literally what I suggested in post #3. Haha! They're not musician's earplugs, although they're heavily used by professional musicians. They're custom ear protection (CEPs) which can be adapted for a lot of use-cases (flying, motorcycle, music, etc.)
 
I’m on a motorcycle everyday, for several hours a day for the last 12 years. I use Etymotic ear plugs when I ride. They have a filter that allows certain frequencies through. It makes conversation possible, but suppresses the engine and wind noise. They’re only $20 a pair and I replace them every couple of months. I can’t recommend them enough, they work great.
 
<RP>< said:
I’m on a motorcycle everyday, for several hours a day for the last 12 years. I use Etymotic ear plugs when I ride. They have a filter that allows certain frequencies through. It makes conversation possible, but suppresses the engine and wind noise. They’re only $20 a pair and I replace them every couple of months. I can’t recommend them enough, they work great.
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I tried a few different earplugs a long time ago for concerts, ten years at least. I also landed on the etymoics. Great fit. Good balance of sound damping. I've rebought them at least twice when I lost them.
 
GeorgeC said:
Passives reduce signal and noise, turning up the headset volume adds more signal.

Removal; it looks more stylish than a cotton string.
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On the Loop Switch 2 webpage, they tout 3 levels of SNR, 20, 23, and 26 dB SNR. But they do not alter the signal-to-noise ratio in any way. They are NOT Active-Noise-Reducing . They simply lower the volume of both signal and noise. Seems to me to be false advertising. I'm not saying they are not useful. However, they only seem to be a perhaps better alternative than foam earplugs.
 
Domenick said:
On the Loop Switch 2 webpage, they tout 3 levels of SNR, 20, 23, and 26 dB SNR. But they do not alter the signal-to-noise ratio in any way. They are NOT Active-Noise-Reducing . They simply lower the volume of both signal and noise. Seems to me to be false advertising. I'm not saying they are not useful. However, they only seem to be a perhaps better alternative than foam earplugs.
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I'm this context, "SNR" stands for "single number rating."

Hearing Protector Performance - Single Number Rating SNR Method

The Single Number Rating or SNR method for checking the performance of hearing protection for a given noise level.
www.noisemeters.com www.noisemeters.com
 
Domenick said:
On the Loop Switch 2 webpage, they tout 3 levels of SNR, 20, 23, and 26 dB SNR. But they do not alter the signal-to-noise ratio in any way. They are NOT Active-Noise-Reducing . They simply lower the volume of both signal and noise. Seems to me to be false advertising. I'm not saying they are not useful. However, they only seem to be a perhaps better alternative than foam earplugs.
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You know, as I went through the different model descriptions, I too got the idea it was actively controlled somehow. But I couldn't find it specified or explained that way in detail.

I think these might be fine passive ear plugs that are promoted with a high degree of marketing / web page attention getting material. Some customers that are satisfied have posted here.
 
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