Whether it’s having noisy neighbours, living on a busy road or commuting via the Tube, it seems you can’t escape noise wherever you go.
So if you’re easily distracted but need to find focus, it might be a good idea to invest in a good set of noise-busting earplugs.
There are hundreds of earplugs on the market, but the newly launched CE certified Isolate 2 ear protectors from Flare Audio claim to not only offer sound protection but also promise not to sacrifice comfort. And all at the very affordable price of £29.99.
The newly launched CE certified Isolate 2 ear protectors from Flare Audio claim to not only offer sound protection but also promise not to sacrifice comfort
To see if the earplugs lived up to these claims, we tested them out – and were impressed by the results.
I tried the earplugs while working from home as I often struggle with the distractions of a busy household and they worked a treat. I also appreciate the mesh bag that came with as I often misplace things.
My only gripe is you receive four pairs of tips, in four different sizes. It would be great to be able to select the tip size to suit you when ordering.
Commerce writer Corinna Burton said that she found the earplugs easy to insert and comfortable to wear while working in the office. She continued: ‘Most sound was blocked out, but I did experience a slight high pitched ringing while wearing (this stopped after taking them out).’
‘They are great for noise cancelling,’ added partnerships manager Marie Antonas. ‘About the same as my Bose noise cancelling but less comfortable. Although after a bit you get use to them but it’s the same sensation of sticking your fingers in your ear.
‘So in a sense you can hear yourself speak, breathe etc. I have the smallest ones in and they are quite tight but you just need to adjust them a little.
‘These are great to use when going to festivals/events so I’ll definitely use them for that. They also come in handy when the baby is screaming in your ear.’
Dr Rishi Mandavia, ear nose and throat doctor and researcher at University College London, explained that a good set of earplugs are not only helpful for blocking out distractions, but they could also protect your hearing.
‘Protecting your hearing is crucial,’ he explained. ‘Hearing loss now affects one in six of the UK population and over 40 per cent of over 50 year olds.
Flare Audio use solid aluminium, as metal is dense enough to block a wide range of noise frequencies from entering your ear, including booming basslines and subsonic soundwaves
‘Hearing loss has also been found to be the biggest modifiable risk factor for dementia and is a major cause of depression and social isolation.’
Dr Mandavia added: ‘The good news is that by taking measures to protect your hearing, you can really help reduce the onset of hearing loss and the above risks.
‘Earplugs can be a really effective way to help protect you from noise induced hearing loss – one of the most preventable and common types of hearing loss.’
Designed simply to reduce the volume around you without muffling, Isolate 2 offer a high level of sound protection, diminishing sound by 32dB (SNR 32). Think of this as like reducing the sound of an engine to that of a purring cat – much more pleasant.
Earplugs are classed according to their single number rating (SNR), which indicates how many decibels of sound they block out when used. In essence, the higher the SNR, the more protection the earplugs provide.
And unlike traditional earplugs, Flare Audio use solid aluminium, as metal is dense enough to block a wide range of noise frequencies from entering your ear, including booming basslines and subsonic soundwaves, but still allow wearers to hear details in sound through bone conduction – making them ideal for musicians too.
Designed simply to reduce the volume around you without muffling, Isolate 2 offer a high level of sound protection, diminishing sound by 32dB (SNR 32)
They’re sleek, lightweight and feature comfortable memory-foam Earfoams in four sizes ranging from extra small to large to allow the best fit possible.
If the hearing protection is ill-fitted, the noise reduction won’t be so effective and they may be uncomfortable. So it’s important to compress the earplugs before fitting by pinching and rolling the tip, as recommended by brand.
Unlike disposable earplugs, they’re reusable so you don’t just wear them and toss them out. This does mean they come at a higher price point, but as long as they’re kept clean, Isolate 2 High-Tech Certified Aluminium Earplugs can be used for an average of two to three months before the tips need replacing.
Dr Rishi explained how wearing ear plugs can increase your risk of developing ear canal inflammation and infection.
‘To help reduce the risk of this I would recommend cleaning your earplugs regularly and only use them when needed,’ he said. ‘If you feel you are developing an infection, stop using ear plugs and get your ear checked by a doctor.’
The simplest way to clean the build-up of earwax or natural oils on the earplugs is by wiping them clean with a damp cloth and leaving them to dry.
If you’re looking for earplugs specifically designed to help you sleep, Flare Audio has various types on offer starting from £4.99.
Shop now on Amazon and flareaudio.com
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