Pros:
These are without a doubt the highest quality earplugs on the market. They take only a second or two to insert properly. Once inserted, they are completely forgettable, meaning they cause absolutely no discomfort, for as long as you care to wear them.
Cons:
Although they are billed as "high fidelity," there is really no such thing as a high fidelity earplug. High fidelity earplugs sound more like foam earplugs with more treble than they do like non attenuated sound.
Don't bother wearing these plugs with a hoodie or woolcap. They are going to rub against the ends of the plugs jutting out from your ear and generate a lot of noise.
Can't sleep with them either, since they jut out.
Overall: best in class, and appropriate for any situation requiring noise attenuation, except perhaps, stupid loud environments.
Rating: - Ditch that yellow foam crap.
These are certainly not top notch professionally fitted earplugs. But, they truly are worlds better than those disposable foam plugs that make you feel like you've got a head cold and can't hear anything anyone is saying to you.
While not perfect, these filter sound much more naturally. At a rock concert, I can wear these without feeling like I'm missing alot of the sound. Many frequencies are still fairly loud and I can still hear vocals, guitars, etc.. not just bass and a thumping kick drum. With foam pads, I typically took them out between sets at a show so I could talk to my friends comfortably. But with these, I often just leave them in. I can typically hear my regular conversations just fine.
Another recollection is plane travel. I'll often wear these when I fly to avoid the ear ringing that often occurs after all that engine noise. If I'm wearing these when a stewardess comes by to offer me a drink, I hear her when she gets my attention and once again am able to make the transaction without feeling like I'm talking to the other side of quiet bubble.
Oh...I've also found the fit to be quite good and secure.
This is getting wordy.
Anyway, I highly recommend these to anyone who wants something better than yellow foam, but isn't quite ready to invest in professionaly fitted earplugs.
Rating: - Excellent earplugs and a cheap cost, too!
I bought these earplugs after a doctor recommended that I use some while listening to music. A site I found via google recommended these earplugs, and I thought I'd give them a whirl.
These earplugs are a godsend! They don't block out music to the point where I can't hear anything (I can still hear all the instruments crystal clear, only at a lower volume), I can still hear people talking to me, and sounds are clear, only softer. It's like someone turned the volume down, but not to an unpleasant point, either.
They're also really easy to insert (not painful or uncomfortable at all), easy to clean, and generally can be carried everywhere for possible use. For this price, I'm very satisfied with what I've recieved, and I can't recommend them enough.
Rating: - Awesome.
I like these a lot. probably not the best for shotgun ranges, that isn't their purpose. I go to shows and play shows with this bad boys and they are awesome! You can still hear things clearly, they are just lower. Love them!
ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear ) Reviews