Every day, we can experience different sounds, such as the sounds from traffic, television and radio, music from our home speakers, household appliances, and also other people talking within our surroundings, especially in public places. The effect of sounds on our hearing mainly depends on how loud those sounds are and how long they last. While most sounds typically occur at safe levels that don’t damage our hearing, some sounds can be unexpectedly loud, which can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and ultimately cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), even if they’re experienced for just a brief moment. This condition can have devastating effects on people’s lives. Once you lose your hearing from exposure to loud sounds, it will not recover (although it can usually be treated). Noise-induced hearing loss is typically gradual, meaning by the time you notice it, it’s often too late to prevent the damage done. Since noise-induced hearing loss is the only preventable cause of hearing loss, the best way to avoid loud noises is to wear an hearing protection solution like earplugs, which are a special hearing-protection accessory that can be used to protect your ears and hearing throughout the day. In addition, these handy accessories can also help you focus, sleep better, and can even provide sensory comfort for those on the autism or ADHD spectrum. For those looking for effective and easy-to-use earplugs for hearing protection, we highly recommend the Loop Switch.
The Loop Switch are high-fidelity noise-reducing earplugs which are specifically designed to filter and reduce noises on demand, allowing you to significantly lower loud noises in your surroundings down to a volume level between 17 dB to 25 dB. They’re made of soft silicone, come with interchangeable silicone ear tips of different sizes to help you achieve a comfortable and secure fit, and are also certified for hearing protection. They feature a special noise-reducing design which utilizes a sound membrane, a sound-blocking mesh filter and an acoustic channel that together effectively filter and reduce loud noises in your vicinity. They also boast a Multi-Level noise reduction functionality which can be adjusted through a built-in mechanical sound control dial to change between 3 precisely engineered noise-reduction modes depending on your environment, including an Engage Mode at 17 dB for lowering loud noises during conversations, an Experience Mode at 21 dB for reducing noises within your surroundings, and a Quiet Mode at 25 dB for reducing maximum noise and getting in your bubble when you need to focus.
Designed for those on the go, these high-fidelity noise-reducing earplugs offer you the most convenient way to effortlessly adjust the volume level within your surroundings, whether that’s at work, social gatherings, crowded commutes, or even concerts and big night’s out.
Check out our review of the Loop Switch, where we explain exactly how these high-fidelity noise-reducing earplugs are designed to work and how they can help reduce unwanted noises in different environments.
DESIGN & INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
Starting with their size, these noise-reducing earplugs come at a fairly compact size, making them portable and easy to carry. They’re also incredibly lightweight, so you can rest assured that they won’t cause you any discomfort or weight you down, even during long commutes.
They also feature a special ergonomic design, which not only gives them a modern and incredibly discreet look, but also ensures a comfortable and secure fit at all times, while also preventing the earplugs from falling out of your ears.
Moreover, these noise-reducing earplugs also pack a premium construction. Their body is built of high-quality ABS plastic, which makes them durable, while their ear-tips are made from high-quality soft silicone, making the Switch earplugs easy to insert in your ear, and most importantly, very comfortable to wear.
Both earplugs also integrate (L) and (R) markings that identify the respective ear-side they’re meant to be worn in.
Speaking of wearing the Loop Switch, know that these noise-reducing earplugs also come together with four (x4) sets of interchangeable silicone ear tips of different sizes (XS, S, M, and L), so you can choose the ear tip size that better fits your ears to ensure you can get the most comfortable and most secure fit possible.
Lastly, these noise-reducing earplugs also come together with a hard-plastic carrying case which you can use to safely store them away when you’re not using them and carry them with you at all times.
AUDIO SPECS & AUDIO QUALITY
Moving on to the earplugs’ audio specifications and audio quality. For filtering and reducing loud noises on demand, the Loop Switch earplugs feature a special noise-reducing design which works based on the combination of a sound membrane, a sound-blocking mesh filter and an acoustic channel, which together effectively filter and reduce loud noises within your vicinity.
Their innovative noise-reducing design ultimately allows these noise-reducing earplugs to offer you a passive hearing protection which significantly lower loud noises in your surroundings down to a volume level between 17 dB to 25 dB, all without requiring any sort of electrical components or batteries.
It’s also worth noting that the Loop Switch are also tested and certified to effectively work and be used as an hearing protection device, for which they received a ANSI standard Certification and also a EU Declaration of Conformity (DOC) Certification regarding their hearing protection usage.
INTERFACE / CONTROLS
When it comes to controlling their noise-reduction functionality, the Switch earplugs also boast a Multi-Level noise reduction functionality which can be adjusted through a built-in mechanical sound control dial that allows users to change between three (x3) precisely engineered noise-reduction modes depending on your environment.
To select your preferred noise-reduction mode, simply turn the earplugs’ mechanical sound control dial to adjust their volume-reduction level.
As for the Loop Switch’s 3 noise-reduction modes include:
- Engage Mode (at 17 dB) – This mode is appropriate for lowering loud noises while still keeping speech clear during conversations, and can be used both during 1-on-1 conversation, as well as for social gatherings. In this mode, the earplugs’ inner sound-blocking mesh filter passively blocks high and mid sound frequencies to reduce their noise-level by 17 dB (SNR).
- Experience Mode (at 21 dB) – This mode is mostly suitable for reducing noises within your surroundings while still preserving sound quality, making it ideal for concerts and festivals, sporting events, and other live entertainment events. In this mode, the earplugs’ sound membrane works together with their sound-blocking filter to reduce the noise-level from loud sounds within your surroundings by 21 dB (SNR).
- Quiet Mode (at 25 dB) – best used for reducing maximum noise and getting in your bubble with peace and quiet whenever you require to stay focused on important tasks like studying or work, but can also be used while you’re traveling / commuting or for times when you’re looking to relax by blocking unwanted noises from the outside world. In this mode, the earplugs’ acoustic channel is completely blocked (i.e. locked) and works together with its sound-blocking filter and sound membrane to reduce the noise-level of any noises by 25 dB (SNR).
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside their package, users will find: their pair of Loop Switch Earplugs, 4 sets of interchangeable silicone ear tips, and a carrying case.
The earplugs’ box also comes printed with a QR code (on the inside of its lid) that when scanned will take you to the company’s official How-To videos page, which will teach you how you use these noise-reducing earplugs in the most effective way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, these high-fidelity noise-reducing earplugs allow you to safely protect your hearing at all times and easily control how loud noises around you are through a single switch. They’re great for protecting your hearing in any type of situation, whether that’s while you’re commuting within urban environments, whenever you find yourself in crowded areas, when you’re at social gatherings, or even when you’re at home and you’re looking to stay focused.
The Loop Switch Earplugs are currently available in four (x4) stylish color options: Black, White, Pink and Blue.
If you’re interested in purchasing them, know that each pair is priced at just $60.95. You can order them online directly from Loop Earplugs’ official shopping page.
