'Loop Switch earplugs have changed the way I experience live music – and everything else'

Of course, earplugs live and die by how much noise they let in when and where they’re used. What good are earplugs that don’t actually… block out the racket you’re trying to avoid?

Here I’ll break down Loop Switch’s different modes and how well they work.

Quiet Mode – 25 dB (SNR)

Loop Switch’s Quiet Mode is fantastic. I regularly use it as a way of blocking out everything, burying myself in my own little world, and having some well-deserved “Me Time” (or building a “Focus Space” to work undistracted). While the sound-blocking technology in the Loop Switch is fantastic, they are still a little bulkier than the regular Loop Quiet products. Loop themselves advise not sleeping with the mechanical device in your ear – and I do agree. If you’re looking for earplugs specifically to block out all noise at night, the Loop Quiet’s rubbery texture would better suit your needs. But, on the go, or in your own space, Switch’s Quiet mode is flawless.

Experience Mode – 21 dB (SNR)

I’ve used the Experience Mode of my Loop Switches more than any other. While attending gigs, my first reaction now is to pop them in, Switch to Experience mode, and safely soak up the music. The Experience mode does a perfect job of both allowing enough of the sonic fidelity of the music into your eardrums while also blocking out some of the harsher splash that will ultimately damage your ears.

Engage Mode – 17 dB (SNR)

On those more sensitive days, Loop Switch’s Engage Mode is how you’ll be using these earplugs. They soften the blow of the day-to-day explosions of sound you might bump into on the street, at the coffee shop, travelling on public transport, and everywhere in between. The Engage Mode also, for me, did wonders for my social interactions. It became easier for me to focus on who was speaking at any given, time, and a bit of breathing room in my own head to respond in kind.