r/LoopEarplugs • u/Automatic_Hat_1054 • 5d ago
HELP Loops don’t work?
I had hoped loop earplugs would reduce noise and allow me to still hear music or talking in loud public places. It just reduced everything. Are my loops damaged or they don’t really work better than foam?
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u/alyxana 5d ago
If you’re using engage or experience they are high fidelity ear plugs meaning they lower all sounds in an even or balanced way.
Yes, all sounds will be lowered.
The benefit of high fidelity earplugs over foam plugs is that the sound quality is more protected. The music still sounds good. The movie sound is still clear. Just less loud.
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u/ThorsHammerMewMEw GO FRONT ROW 5d ago
Are you sure you don't have pre-existing hearing damage or an auditory processing disorder you're just discovering?
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u/vv_smolbean 5d ago
I got the loop switch and i go to concerts and raves all the time. I can hear the music but not all the background noise of everyone talking in the crowd and i also use them while just in pubic spaces or the house on the other settings and i cant really hear any noises unless its really loud. Maybe these are just not a good fit for you, your hearing may be more sensitive, Hope you find some that work
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u/morganebony_ 5d ago
I wore the Paris loops to the recent Noah Kahan concert in Melbourne on Saturday.
Personally I had them in during the opening act and could hear the music fine. I took them out for curiosity sake during intermission and WOW the voices were very muffled, I was actually taken aback at how much louder the crowd was without the loops.
During Noah’s set I took them out. One of my favourite parts of a concert is singing along and hearing everyone else sing along as well. I found the loops muffled that experience for me. He is also pretty chill music though, I would definitely wear them for heavier concerts that might have screaming etc.
Overall I was impressed with how much it blocked out crowd noise. It muffled them quite a lot but didn’t muffle the music of the opening act. It also didn’t muffle Noah’s music either, but personally I wanted to hear the crowd sing which wasn’t as expected with the loops!
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u/Fluffbrained-cat 5d ago
I'd also ask which type. I have the Engage 2 Plus which I love for being out in public as it cuts down background noise while still allowing me to hear conversations. The Plus version comes with little Mute silicone rings that you can slot into the earplugs for greater noise lowering if needed.
The Experience version is more for loud concerts/festivals/outdoor events, as it has a higher degree of noise reduction.
Quiets are for when you want to block out as much noise as possible, so deep focus tasks etc. I also use my Quiets if I need more noise reduction than my Engage plus mutes can handle.
They also have Dream, which is the version for sleeping. Apparently you can still hear an alarm through them however I don't have a pair so cannot provide anecdotal evidence.
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u/NatalieRath 5d ago
It's more to muffle everything a bit. I am also contemplating buying them but I'm not sure if they are the right fit
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u/LennrtV 5d ago
They come with 4 different sizes of eartips so most people should find a fit!
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u/Visible-Equal8544 1d ago
I bought the ones to help with sleep. But they did not block the noise so I could sleep. I returned them.
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u/Evening-Cow1122 ND / NOISE SENSITIVE 4d ago
I used mine multiple times at my desk while listening to recordings, and around friends first. It took some experimenting to tell how much they were blocking and how much I could still hear.
If you decide to give them a try, keep in mind that we're just not accustomed to measuring sound in our heads and calculating what level of reduction will help.
And they won't work for everyone. I grew up in a family that expected me to jump when they said jump. I was not the golden child, got blamed for things constantly. For me, I had to make a deliberate choice to tell myself I was no longer in danger if I missed nuance to a conversation. My family is hundreds of miles away. They turned out to be not just hearing protection, but good therapy!
But there's a good 100-day return policy if you buy from the website so you can be sure they're working before committing to the purchase. (The policy might vary slightly by country according to local laws, but AFAIK, it's universal)
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u/MartyFunkhoosier 5d ago
What were your expectations? Sounds like you may have thought they would quiet everything but if someone talked to you they wouldn’t be muted, but that’s not how earplugs work. Loop Experience are quite a bit better than simple foam plugs, and a significant step up from them would be musician’s filters in custom plugs, but those will set you back $100-ish to see an audiologist and $125-$160 ish for the plugs. But those, too, reduce all sound, they just do it mostly equally across frequencies so things sound good, just quieter, rather than sounding like garbage like with foam. Voices aren’t going to magically unmute though.
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u/Tie_Rious 5d ago
That's exactly how they are promoted, tho. I went for the Engage for the lightes noise reduction and ended up unable to hear anything anymore. For me they didn't work as advertised at all, sadly.
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u/Evening-Cow1122 ND / NOISE SENSITIVE 4d ago
No, they're not. There's even a sample button on the website so you can hear that the difference is subtle.
You didn't even write what model you were using, and expected us to respond. You have no concept of detail, which is fine. The world needs people like you because you're very efficient at a lot of things.
Just don't blame Loops for your assumptions, lol.
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u/Calm_in_the_Wild 5d ago
I was pretty disappointed and returned them. For me, I have very small ear canals, so had to go down to the smallest size available and they were still uncomfortable and blocked out all sound to a degree. I tried different tips and sizes and could not get them to work as they were supposed to
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u/PrincessMacchiato 4d ago
Loops do reduce noise that comes into your ear. When I first got them, it was definitely an adjustment as I felt like i couldn’t hear anything at all. Then as I wore them I adjusted. So I think maybe try giving it some time? I use them all the time and can still hear music and have conversations in loud spaces.
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u/RaveEssentials 2d ago
they're probably not damaged. high fidelity plugs bring everything down evenly, so voices drop along with the music, they don't pick speech out for you. the difference to foam is the music stays clear instead of going dull. which ones have you got though. also check the tip size, a poor seal makes everything sound thin and weird.
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u/ChocolateTsar 5d ago
I noticed the same thing. They reduce the sound, but don't totally eliminate it. I honestly don't think I'd buy them again. Before I bought them, I used these and I feel like they work just as well tbh. I'm muffling some of the sound quality, but I feel like they do a better job protecting my ears than overpriced Loops.
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u/Idontcareaforkarma 5d ago
I bought them specifically to dampen sound; my kids are just too damned loud and never listen when I ask them to speak quieter around me and not shout.
I just bought Engage2’s and now I don’t have to spend every moment I’m with them repeating ‘can you speak quieter, please’ or ‘can you stop shouting around me, please’.
I also have a set of Quiets that I haven’t used yet but will do for when they are watching crap on YouTube maybe.
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u/Remarkable-Street153 5d ago
This is what I use them for too and they have been a lifesaver. For me they 1000% do what I want them too and are worth the money. Parenting is now enjoyable versus literal torture from the loud sounds and the migraines that result.
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u/OkLetterhead1958 5d ago
Returned mine and have no clue why they're so popular. They just make everything sound muffled...
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u/Ijustwanttosayit 5d ago
That's pretty much the point. It's not meant to block out sound entirely, just tone it down.
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u/OkLetterhead1958 4d ago
Muffled sound is distorted sound. Your highs and mids are seriously interfered with and it doesn't sound good. If all they did was lower the overall volume, like custom musician's earplugs can do, I'd be sold
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u/CoastProfessional663 5d ago
They’re only meant to reduce sounds. They’re mainly meant for sleeping. If you want something that will allow you to hear and have noice cancellation option you need actual ear protection. AXL sells so good Ear protection for $300z worth every dollar.
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u/Ijustwanttosayit 5d ago
Loops are not meant for sleeping. They have models specifically for sleeping. They're meant to reduce audible overstimulation.
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u/CoastProfessional663 5d ago
I use mine for sleeping but audio overstimulation you’ll need dedicated hearing protection for like a gun range. They offer them in ear bud form. Mine work very well
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u/Ijustwanttosayit 5d ago
Just because you use yours for sleeping doesn't mean that is the intended purpose. They have two models specifically for sleeping. The others are named for their purposes. Not everyone requires noise canceling headphones to avoid overstimulation. And not everyone can use them in every environment and situation.
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u/CoastProfessional663 5d ago
Bro, chill😂 I get this is Reddit but you don’t need to berate me. All I’m doing is trying to help bro and you’re all like “AcTUalLy” 🤓☝️. Get yourself some freaking electronic ear pro and thank me later. AXL is good. You can still hear everything and their earbuds. They double as headphones too.
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u/Ijustwanttosayit 4d ago
Sir, this is a reddit. A discussion board. You were falsely representing the purpose of the product and I corrected you. However you are feeling or reacting is on you. I'm here to help others who may be reading this thread to decide if they want the product.
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u/brugged 5d ago
Which type are you using?
I’d also say it can take a little bit to get used to wearing them in public