ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear )

by Etymotic Research

Product Details

• Item Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000CC1RPS
• Item model number: ER20BP
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

ETY-Plugs earplugs use patented technology that replicates the natural response of the ear canal so that sound heard with these earplugs is as clear as the original, just quieter. ETY-Plugs earplugs have nearly the same fidelity as Etymotic's Musicians Earplugs (custom earplugs worn by professional musicians) Hearing loss is a function of exposure time, the average sound level, and the peak level of very loud sounds. Exposure to excessive noise can cause permanent hearing loss depending on the intensity and duration of the sound. Some persons are more susceptible to hearing loss from high-level sound than others. Protect your ears. In high-noise environments, wear Ety-Plugs. Includes one pair of Ety-Plugs, carrying case, black neck cord and instructions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Quality Sound, but a lower NR than expected, January 24, 2007

By 

Lost My Mind (California, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear ) (Electronics)

These earplugs are designed to provide good quality sound at reduced volume. It does not provide as much noise reduction as lower quality foam or disposal ear plugs. In many situations, this is worth the sacrifice.

These earplugs are nearly identical to the Noise Isolation Earphones made by Etymotic (ER-6i).

When using the earplugs, your perception of sound will be "normal", but quieter. That means voices sound natural, music sounds clear, and noises are identifiable. Unlike lower earplugs, there's no distortion or "muffling" of sound. As another reviewer said, you can think of it as "turning the volume down on the outside world".

These are great to use in situations where you need to hear, but want to reduce sound to safe levels. Some areas I've used them (and found noticable improvement over cheap-o plugs):

* Concerts and music

* Comedy Clubs (when near the loud speaker)

* Airplanes (talking to people, flight attendant)

* Indoor or outdoor work (like when they're doing construction)

Some places where the extra cost may not be worth it:

* Yard work (sound quality is irrelevant, need more noise reduction)

* Extremely loud environments (tarmacs, operating heavy machinery, etc)

* Sleeping (they stick out)

One major issue with these earplugs is size: they are *not* for everyone. These are designed to fit snuggly in the ears. They can be painful or not fit for people with very large or very small ear canals.

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding for musicians, October 23, 2006

By 

Sidereal (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear ) (Electronics)

I'm a drummer who has been playing for a long time and I've always been searching for the perfect earplugs for playing gigs. Most off-the-shelf plugs kill the high end and cut out far too much sound. Most of the specialty plugs are way too expensive. My search has ended with these Etymotics, which I've now been using regularly for about 2 years.

Two things make them perfect for me: First, they offer a gradual reduction in external sound rather than an extreme muffling. Second, the reduction is very well balanced across the frequency spectrum. You still get pretty clear high end and low end, just that the volume is reduced. In fact, that's the best way to describe them... they simply turn the volume down on the outside world, while maintaining excellent clarity. This is a must for me as a singing drummer. They're also very comfortable.

One drawback: they stick out a little bit, so they can look a little dorky. I'd suggest buying the clears rather than the colored ones.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for musicians and concert-goers, September 11, 2007

By 

Victor H. Agresti "remodeling-guy" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear ) (Electronics)

High Fidelity Ear Plugs/filters

I play the trumpet in several bands and when I get stuck in front of the percussion section (particularly snare drums), earplugs are a necessity. I own a half dozen types of plugs, and they all block the sound, but they also muffle and distort it. These plugs simply lower the volume with a minimum of the muffling effect, so they are perfect for musicians in loud groups. Very comfortable, quick & easy to insert or remove.

They also seem perfect for concerts. For example, when Arturo Sandavol, the trumpet virtuoso, appeared locally, he used what must have been a 10,000 watt sound system. These ear plugs allow you to enjoy the music when a clueless sound engineer turns the volume three clicks past painful.

Note: Etymotic Research ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs and Hearos High Fidelity Ear Filters are virtually identical, other than color variations.