Going to concerts, being a musician, or just being around loud music requires earplugs, but how do you choose between Earasers vs Etymotic musician earplugs? If you’re a novice who has never bought earplugs before, the decision can be a tough one.
It used to be, go to the dollar store and pick up the foam orange, yellow or green disposable earplugs, and you were good to go. They were not expensive, and you just tossed them out or lost them, whichever came first.
The sound quality with those was terrible, though. It was muffled, not enjoyable, and the plugs didn’t really fit in your ears properly. They usually popped out several times while you were wearing them.
Things have gotten much better with the quality since then. Folks now know what they want when they get a pair of plugs, and they won’t waiver with their standards.
If you plan to attend a concert soon, check out this page with information on the best concert earplugs.
Tips for choosing the right earplugs?
With the right earplugs that fit snugly but comfortably, you’re able to focus and concentrate better on working on the music, tuning the instruments, playing a piece – you’re in your own world. They drown out everything around you and leave you with the sound.
Here are a few questions you should consider when choosing the right pair of earplugs:
- How much they cost? How easy they are to get?
- How comfortable are they? How easy is to put them on?
- How easy are they to maintain? How long do they last?
- How effective they are at attenuating the sound levels around you? How accurate they are at attenuating the sound levels – maybe they attenuate everything too much and it’s not good for a professional environment, or maybe they do it just right and you can hear all the details.
Some people aren’t really fond of the “isolation” that the real earplugs bring because you really are “in your own head” when you put them in. However, most appreciate that their hearing is protected more than ever before, which is a hazard of being a musician.
So, which of these earplugs protects them better? Earasers vs Etymotic? Let’s look at them more closely.
- 19 dB noise reduction
- Smart design ensures perfect fit
- Made from soft medical grade silicone
A hearing aid company designed the Earasers. Specifically, their lead designer is a musician. The plugs are made of soft medical-grade silicone, shaped like an ear canal. They fit snugly into the ear, almost like a custom plug, only at a much lower cost.
These plugs are gentle on the ears due to the material they’re made from and the comfort they provide. They’re effortless to insert and remove, with no pinching or twisting. Just push them in.
There is a red indication for the right ear and a blue indication for the left ear. With the fit of your ear, the Earasers come in four sizes, extra small, small, medium and large.
Washing them is easy, and then you can wear them again and again. Discretion is not a problem. They are virtually invisible after you put them in your ears.
Once the Earasers are in, whatever you are listening to is the only noise you hear. Everything else around you disappears. The sound is not loud and obnoxious. It’s crystal clear and soft.
The plugs reduce the decibel level by 19dB without cutting out lower frequencies or higher frequencies. As a result, the earplugs don’t give you muffled, garbled or underwater sound. Instead, they allow you to feel the effect of the natural sound.
Pros
- Reduce sound at 19dB, music quality is not lost
- Made from soft medical grade silicone
- Virtually invisible when you wear them
Cons
- Are more expensive than Etymotic ER20
Etymotic Research ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs
- 19 dB noise reduction
- Easy on the wallet
- Available in two sizes: standard and large
The Etymotic Research ER20 model is one of the most popular Etymotic earplugs. The package includes a pair of standard fit plugs with blue tips, a neck cord and a carrying case, which you can also attach to your keychain.
They produce approximately 20dB sound reduction; they reduce sound levels evenly so you can enjoy the richness of music and still hear human speech and communication clearly.
They are great for outdoor music festivals, concerts, clubs, motorsport events, even yard work. You can wear them to different places where you would normally be exposed to unsafe noise levels. However, just like Earaser, they are not suitable for shooting or hunting.
The Etymotic earplugs are reusable, so you can wear them whenever you want. However, if you use them frequently, it’s recommended that you replace them every 3-6 months; otherwise, they’ll lose their elasticity and effectiveness.
The manual that comes with the plugs indicates that moistening the tips makes insertion easier. Once inserted, twist one time to get them to the correct spot deep into the ear canal.
Many customers who have used the Etymotic ER-20 are happy with the sound clarity and have said that they can enjoy music while still protecting their ears.
The company also sells a wide range of earphones, which let you listen to music or make calls while still providing some level of noise isolation.
Pros
- Reduce sound at 20dB, while maintaining good sound quality
- Have a lower price than the Earaser earplugs
- Suitable for concerts, musicians, airplanes, motorcycles
Cons
- You need to replace them every 3-6 months if you use them frequently
Comparing the Earasers Vs the Etymotic
With the Earasers vs Etymotic Size, the Earaser is compact and has more ease and comfort to be worn. They consist of just the silicone earpieces, whereas the Etymotic has three flanges (tips).
The Earasers have a tiny carrier comparable to a keychain case. The earplugs don’t require any real maintenance or any extra things to go with them. They are washable and reusable. The Etymotic ER-20 also has a carrying case, which you can attach to a keychain.
Inserting Earasers vs Etymotic Earplugs:
It’s not a huge difference, but putting the Earasers in requires just pushing them into the ear canal, plop.
The Etymotic requires moistening the tips, inserting and then turning until the largest flange is sealed into the ear canal.
The tips for the Etymotic wear out around 3 to 6 months if you wear them frequently. However, with the Earasers, there is no information on how often you should replace them. They are made of medical-grade silicone, which is quite durable.
The problem with both earplugs is that they are tiny. Therefore, losing them would be quite easy, and replacing the Earasers would cost you more than replacing the Etymotic ones.
The Earasers come in a variety of sizes, while the Etymotic has standard and large.
The sound is fantastic with both sets of earplugs. The excellent thing is, the Etymotic doesn’t allow for any sounds to get through at all. Instead, you go inside yourself with the plugs in. They are the best on the market for blocking out passive noise, leaving you with what it is you want to hear. It is like a whole other experience with the Etymotic.
Another comparison is Etymotic and Earpeace HD plugs and the Etymotic vs Eargasm earplugs, which you may also want to check out.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it’s about the fact that our hearing is finally protected from the loud, overbearing sound around us. We can actually focus on what we need to and do our work listening to the small nuances involved with those loud sounds to fine-tune and refine the music.
As with anything, choosing the right pair of earplugs for you is completely a personal preference. The Earasers and the Etymotic are both fantastic options, as shown. Their noise reduction rating is quite similar, 19-20dB. Generally, the Earasers are easier to insert and take out; however, they have a higher price tag. If price is important to you, then the Etymotic pair is a better option.
Why weren’t the Earasers compared with the Etymotic Ety Plugs? Please do so.