Tested at real shows.
In an independent field trial, 56 people tested 22 different earplugs at concerts, clubs, festivals, and cinemas, then rated how each one felt and sounded.
Earplug Testing Field Trial, September 2017 · HEARsmart, National Acoustic Laboratories, and the HEARing CRC
Where Earasers stood out.
Both groups wearing Earasers rated music quality and ease of conversation above the average of all 22 earplugs.
How the music sounded while wearing them.
How easy it was to talk to people.
Responses saying the earplugs didn’t get in the way of dancing.
All the ratings
Every average reported for Earasers, next to the average of all 22 earplugs in the trial. Higher is better on every row.
| Rating | Group Alabeled −17dB Avg | Group Blabeled −19dB Peak | All 22 earplugs | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 4.1 | 3.3 | 3.6 | out of 5 |
| Fit | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | out of 5 |
| Ease of handling | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.8 | out of 5 |
| Overall appearance | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | out of 5 |
| Discreetness | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | out of 5 |
| Overall rating | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | out of 5 |
| Quality of music | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.0 | out of 7 |
| Ease of conversation | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.6 | out of 7 |
| Dancing (no interference) | 0.93 | 1.0 | 0.93 | out of 1 |
Group A wore Earasers labeled −17dB Avg and Group B wore Earasers labeled −19dB Peak. Both groups wore the Standard filter. Earasers were changing packaging at the time, and the two labels were tested as separate products. Group A had 5 testers (20 venues, 24 hours of use) and Group B had 7 testers (31 venues, 25.75 hours). Small groups like these give a useful real-world picture, not a precise measurement.
How the study worked
56 adults aged 19–48 took part. Most had worn earplugs or earmuffs before, and 15 wore earplugs at music events often or almost always.
Briefing
Each person met with the research team, received two types of earplugs with instructions and size options, and was shown how to fit them.
Real venues
Over several weeks, they wore the earplugs at music venues, clubs, festivals, cinemas, and other loud places of their choice.
Weekly surveys
Each week they rated comfort, fit, handling, appearance, discreetness, music quality, conversation, and dancing.
The full report and raw data
The original report, plus every participant’s recorded responses. Blank cells mean no rating was recorded for that item.
