1. Noise-isolating earplugs
Noise-isolating earplugs are mainly used to reduce environmental noise and are suitable for study, office or industrial scenes. Common materials include:
1. Foam earplugs: low cost (about 0.5-2 yuan/pair), sound insulation effect of 20-30 decibels, but short life (usually 1-2 weeks).
2. Silicone earplugs: reusable, sound insulation effect of about 15-25 decibels, suitable for people with high comfort requirements.
3. Wax earplugs: fit the ear canal, sound insulation effect of about 25 decibels, but easy to stick to dust, low frequency of use.
2. Sleeping earplugs
Designed for sleep, emphasizing comfort and breathability:
1. Super soft foam earplugs: such as 3M 1100 series, noise reduction of about 30 decibels, no pressure on the ears when sleeping on the side.
2. Slow rebound memory foam earplugs: such as Honeywell MAX series, adapt to the shape of the ear canal, suitable for long-term use.
3. Music earplugs
Taking into account both sound quality and noise reduction, they are divided into two categories:
1. Passive noise reduction earplugs: reduce noise through physical sound insulation, such as Etymotic ER20XS (noise reduction of about 20 decibels).
2. Active noise reduction headphones: such as Bose QuietComfort 20, which offset noise through chips, and the noise reduction effect is more than 30 decibels.
4. Swimming earplugs
Waterproof and antibacterial, mostly made of silicone or medical-grade PVC:
1. Ordinary waterproof earplugs: such as Speedo Biofuse, the price is about 50-100 yuan/pair.
2. Custom earplugs: made according to 3D scanning of the ear canal, with better sealing and higher prices (500-2000 yuan).
5. Custom earplugs
Made by professional institutions, suitable for special needs:
1. Musician earplugs: such as the ACS Pro series, which reduce stage noise while retaining sound clarity.
2. Industrial protective earplugs: such as SensGard, which can reduce noise by more than 35 decibels and meet OSHA standards.
Purchase suggestions:
- Foam or silicone earplugs are preferred for sound insulation;
- Softness is important for sleeping;
- Waterproof certification (such as IPX8) is required for swimming;
- Customized models are recommended for long-term use to avoid ear discomfort.