The Melomania A100 are the most accomplished True Wireless earbuds yet from Cambridge Audio. Engineered and tuned by the same London-based team behind the brand’s celebrated separates, the A100 aims to deliver a listening experience that bridges the gap between portable convenience and high-fidelity sound.

With support for LDAC and aptX Lossless, Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, plus Class A/B amplification, they’re built to appeal to those who take their music seriously.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Design

Available in matte black or white, with subtle silver detailing, the buds adopt a sculpted stalk style, with a smooth, pebble-like finish that sits comfortably in the ear. If the choice of a black or white finish doesn’t hit the spot, there’s also an olive green special edition, produced in collaboration with streetwear fashion house Maharishi.

The charging case is reassuringly compact (45 x 61 x 25mm), with rounded edges and neat LED battery life indicator (30%, 60%, or 100%). Removing the earbuds from their snug dock requires a modicum of perseverance though.

Connectivity is good. Bluetooth 5.4 and Multipoint pairing make for easy switching between two devices. A pairing button sits neatly beneath the case, if the auto routine doesn’t work straight out of the gate.

The earbuds are IPX5 rated, so they’ll withstand light rain or gym sweat, however these buds are clearly designed more for everyday listening than marathon training.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Features

The A100 arrives packed with features designed to enhance both usability and listening quality. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is handled by a six-mic system combining feed-forward and feed-back microphones, effectively reducing general environmental noise without compromising fidelity. There’s a Transparency mode for when you want to remain aware of your surroundings.

Tap and touch controls cover playback, volume adjustment, call handling, and ANC toggling. They can also be customised via the Melomania Connect app, which offers an impressive level of sonic control. You can choose between six EQ presets - Flat, Natural, Rock, Blues, Voice, and Electronic - or create your own using the 7-band equaliser.

Opt for Rock and bass gets a lift and treble gets a trim. Natural stays flat, bar for a last minute treble slope.

For those who like to experiment, personalised presets can be saved and named. My self-made Metal mode was a tweak to the Natural preset, with a one step bass boost for extra heft. The system is nice and easy to use.

Need more? Cambridge’s proprietary DynamEQ adjusts bass and treble balance as you change volume, maintaining tonal consistency, even at lower listening levels. Wear Detect automatically pauses playback when you remove an earbud, while a Low Latency Game Mode reduces delay for video and gaming.

There’s also a Sleep Mode that disables touch inputs for uninterrupted listening. If you misplace the buds, Find My Headphones will help locate them.

Battery life is solid: up to 11 hours per charge (or 6.5 with ANC on), with an additional 28 hours available from the case. Fast charging provides a three-hour top-up, from just ten minutes of power.

There’s even a hidden flourish revealing the brand’s more playful side: in the app’s Audio Feedback settings, you can replace the standard voice prompts with Matt (Toast Of London, What We Do In The Shadows) Berry’s unmistakable tones.

To find this Easter egg go to the ‘audible feedback’ section in the app where you’ll find various languages to choose from - the last is labelled ‘Southwark,’ which swaps the voice assistant to Berry. His booming declaration of “Noise Cancelling!” might not improve fidelity, but it certainly adds charm.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Sound

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Melomania A100 have been tuned with care. The secret sauce is the inclusion of Class A/B amplification, lifted directly from Cambridge’s full-size amplifiers. Combined with custom 10mm neodymium drivers and dual-core Qualcomm Kalimba DSP, it produces a rich, articulate soundstage.

Streaming LDAC or aptX Lossless files, the A100 is expansive and controlled. Play Parkway Drive’s Carrion, and the brutal breakdowns retain bite and clarity, without descending into chaos; transients are sharp, bass is muscular but not overblown.

Epica’s Cry For The Moon showcases composure under pressure - symphonic arrangements stay distinct. Simone Simons’ operatics rise above the mix, while sweet strings counterpoint Mark Jansen’s demonic growls. The buds depict all this, clear as a bell.

Not only are they energetic and agile. They’re gentle too. Yungblud’s version of I Was Made for Lovin’ You confirms excellent balance, keeping vocal sibilance in check while preserving intimacy and grit. There’s no smearing or stereo disconnection, just a faithful rendering of the recording.

The alternatives

Sony WF-C710N earbuds
Slightly cheaper than the Melomania A100, these Sony noise cancelling earbuds boast excellent active noise cancellation with customisable EQ via the Sony app. They’re available in a unique translucent Glass Blue finish, as well as standard black and white. Features include 360 Reality Audio support, but no LDAC or proprietary Sony DSEE audio upscaling.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds
For those prepared to invest more, Bowers & Wilkins flagship in-ears boast exceptional clarity and detail, with advanced codec support (aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless) and strong Active Noise cancellation. They also come with Wireless Audio Retransmission functionality in the charging case, should you want to couple them to an in-flight entertainment system.

Protecting your hearing at a rock show doesn’t need to be the fun-robbing experience often delivered by those free foam earplugs you begrudgingly collect from the venue bar. Better, safer gig experiences are possible, and it’s brands like Loop leading the charge.

Loop’s Experience 2 earplugs topped Louder’s list of the best earplugs for concerts – and for Black Friday you can save 25% on these excellent earplugs, along with almost everything from the official Loop website just by signing up. It's as simple as that and it means the Loop Experience 2 are down from $34.95 to $26.21 in the US, while in the UK, the've been discounted from £29.95, to £22.47.

Loop’s Experience 2 earplugs are purpose-designed for hearing protection and experiential clarity at live gigs – but they’re not the only option for prospective hearing-protectors. There are various different Loop products on offer here, each of which bring their own benefits to the party.

Another favourite of mine, for instance, would be the Loop Engage 2, which are designed with conversational focus in mind. Having all-but destroyed my own hearing through a series of poor gigging decisions, I struggle with tinnitus and hyperacusis – which, together, make discerning voices in a crowd difficult, as well as properly comprehending speech the first time round. Lightweight earplugs like the Engage 2 enable better focus by addressing the background noise that gets in the way.

If not every gig you’re attending is fully loud, then you might be better served by a set with switchable attenuation – more specifically, the Loop Switch 2. These ‘plugs have three switchable options for sound attenuation, ideal for a flexible approach to managing your hearing whether at a festival with changeable sound levels, or at a regular concert venue.

Another pair that jumped off the Loop website are the McLaren F1 Team x Loop Switch 2, presented in the team's official McLaren Papaya colour scheme. They've been designed for every day use and have three volume modes and you can switch between Quiet, Experience and Engage modes using the in-built dial. The eye-catching packaging is also worth noting, and these would make a cracking gift for the McLaren fan in your life.

Whatever your own ideal approach to mitigating the effects of harmful sound levels, there’s a Loop for that – and with 25% off almost everything in the range, there's no excuse for not looking after your hearing health.

If you're after more bargains, don't forget to take a look at Louder's guide to the best Black Friday music deals which is being updated regularly with fab discounts.

Legendary rock amp brand Marshall has launched Loud For Less - a rival Prime Day sale on some of its most sought-after Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds and headphones in both the US and UK.

In the US, prices start from $69.99, with the Major IV headphone down from their regular price of $139.99. We praised these on-ears for their brilliant battery and bass delivery, saying their performance was "well above their price point."

In the UK, prices on the Marshall website kick-off at £79, with the Willen II Speaker down to £79 (was £99). I think this is a great Prime Day music deal for anyone shopping for a simple Bluetooth speaker to soundtrack days at the beach or park this summer.

Below you'll find more excellent bargains from Marshall's Loud For Less sale that you can pick up right now.

There are plenty of other bargains in the Marshall Loud For Less sale on both sides of the Atlantic, and I’ve combed through all the latest deals to find the best alternative Prime Day picks.

Do you have annoying neighbours who always blast naff music in their garden? Me too. Drown them out with the Acton III, a ‘pair and play’ Bluetooth speaker built to pump out room (or garden)-filling sound. Right now the Acton III is down to $199.99 from £299.99 at Marshall, with free shipping within five days. Meanwhile, in the UK, the same speaker is down from £259.99 to £199.99.

Want a portable speaker that excels at bass? Opt for the Kilburn II, with 360-degree sound, manual buttons for tweaking the bass, treble and volume (you can tinker in the app too), and 20+ hours of playback per charge. The Kilburn II Speaker is down to £149 from £239.99 – that’s the cheapest I’ve seen it sell for in months.

While the Kilburn II isn't on sale in the US, the equally portable Willen II certainly is - down from $129.99 down to $99.99 in both its Black & Brass and Cream colour variations.

Looking for new headphones instead? The Marshall Monitor III ANC have dropped in price from $379.99 down to $349.99, while they're also discounted in the UK, down from £299.99 down to £249.99.

In our five-star Marshall Monitor III ANC review, we concluded that they were "the most impressive Marshall headphones yet."

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With Bowers & Wilkins’ legendary 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers playing a pivotal role in recording studios such as Abbey Road, it makes sense to listen to music on headphones from the same brand. 

Enter the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, the audio firm's new flagship True Wireless earbuds. The company has gone back to the drawing board for these new noise cancelling in-ear headphones, making significant changes to both their design when compared to the previous Pi7 and componentry. The end result is a jaw-dropping audio experience.

However, they do come at a price. So are they worth it? Let’s find out…

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Design

With neat rounded edges and gloss finish, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 look suitably premium. There’s also a choice of four colour finishes: Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green and Midnight Blue.  

The design is snug yet comfortable, and easy to wear for prolonged periods. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7, the seal is a hard but pliable rubber that nestles perfectly in the ear. The brand suggests this improvement in fit is worth around five decibels of noise attenuation. It also acts as something of a heat barrier, so that the earbuds don’t get overly warm when you’re 80 minutes into Iron Maiden's The Book Of Souls.

Bowers & Wilkins has also sought to upgrade usability by improving the responsiveness of the capacitive touch surface at the top of the earbud by adding more sensors. This interface can be used to toggle Noise Cancellation, for Bluetooth pairing, and playback and track navigation, as well as answering incoming calls.

There are also three additional ear tip sizes provided: XS, S and L, which should cater for all manner of lugholes. Finally, you won't have to fret if you're out and about in the rain, because the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are IP54-rated for protection against dust and water spray.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Features

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are built around Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5.4 wireless transmission platform, which has support for aptX Adaptive up to 24-bit/96kHz, as well as aptX Lossless. It’s definitely leading edge. To help get you quickly up and running there’s Made for iPhone (MFi) support. Google Fast Pair (GFP) is due soon for Android users.

Interestingly, there's no dedicated pairing button, but you can force the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 into Bluetooth mode by pressing and holding both earbuds for three seconds. There’s also Multipoint support.

The accompanying app features a five-band Advanced EQ function, noise cancelling toggle and touch control customisation - and you can also link and play from subscribed music streaming services.

The Active Noise Cancellation algorithm used here is basically the same as that employed by the brand’s Px8 over-ear headphones. It does the job, but it’s not as effective as that on rival earbuds and I wasn’t shielded quite as effectively when doing a noisy commute. That said, ANC does provide some cover and doesn’t interfere with the listening experience, which I assume was Bowers & Wilkins' principal concern.

The Transparency mode has also been improved to better take in ambient sound around. Sensors and microphones have been relocated to a notch that sits clear of the ear itself, thereby gaining 360 degrees of coverage.

The charging case is nice and slim and easily pops into a pocket. A colour coded LED beneath the brand logo is used to communicate.

The case is also able to retransmit audio up to 24-bit 96kHz audio from USB and 3.5mm connected music sources and the requisite cables are provided in the box. The case can convert analogue signals to digital and then transmit them in aptX Adaptive Low Latency to the buds. This means you can use the Smartcase and Pi8 buds with in-flight entertainment systems, as well as laptops, iPads and USB-C-enabled iPhones.

Battery life is around 6.5 hours with ANC in use, which can be considered pretty average. The case itself has a power reserve of 13.5 hours. You’ll likely not easily run out of juice, but if you do, a 15 minute quick charge will earn you a couple of hours of play time.

What’s missing though is support for Spatial Audio, which recently landed on the LG T90S, and any dedicated voice interaction.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Sound

Sublime. Exciting. Authentic. All these adjectives can be applied to the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. They're mighty when it comes to delivering thunderous riffs, riotous rhythms and full-throated roars and for sheer musicality, these earbuds are up there with the very best I’ve heard. The treble is as clear as crystal and the midrange as rowdy as the front row of a Bowling For Soup gig. 

Significantly the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 feature all new 12mm drive units that use the same Carbon Cone technology first heard on the brand’s PX8 over-ear headphones. A key attribute of these dynamic drivers is exceptional transparency at high frequencies. 

This translates to zero vocal disintegration at volume: Slipknot’s Wait And Bleed tries hard but fails to confound those fancy Carbon Cones - and their spatial integrity is remarkable for a pair of True Wireless earbuds. Instruments can be placed exactly where you would expect them to be.

The live version of Dragonforce's Through The Fire And Flames on their 2015 album In the Line of Fire... Larger Than Live gave me chills - the audience singalong and ambiance of the venue are all perfectly presented, even as Herman Li shreds the roof off the Saitama Super Arena.

Their bass response is also surprisingly good. The Steve Aoki dance remix of My Chemical Romance's Welcome To The Black Parade (16-bit 44.1kHz) didn't lose any of its club scene intensity, and they really plunge the depths with Billie Ellish’s Bad Guy (24-bit 44.1kHz on Tidal).

I also particularly liked the way they sounded with guitars, both acoustic and mad metal riffing on WASP's Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue).

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: The alternatives

Produced in collaboration with high-end UK Hi-Fi specialist Meridian Audio, the LG Tone Free T90S are excellent performers for the cash. They combine a class leading (ANC) battery life of 9 hours, with Spatial audio support. Meridian developed Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) can also be used to enlarge the soundstage of regular two channel stereo.

If you can forgo noise cancelling, and have a more limited budget, the beefy Marshall Minor IV are well worth shortlisting. Oozing street cred, the Minors combine the amp brand’s signature-sounding 12mm dynamic drivers with a 7 hour battery life, and popular stick-style form factor.

Related buyer's guides

• Best earbuds and in-ear headphones: Get the perfect fit
• Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
• Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
• Best budget wireless headphones: Cut the cables
• Best earplugs for concerts: Get your ears gig-ready

The LG T90S wireless earbuds offer a tremendous amount of tech for the cash. Not only do you get Adaptive Noise Cancelling and a Bluetooth transmitting charging case, they also support Dolby Atmos music complete with Head Tracking. Even if you don’t subscribe to a streaming service with Atmos audio (we’re looking at you, Spotify), there are unique benefits to be had.

Design

An update on the brand’s T90Q in-ears, the LG Tone Free T90S are compact and comfortable to wear. Available in black or white, they adopt an ergonomic teardrop profile, distinguished mainly by their integrated microphones - and there’s no LG branding on the buds at all.

While I like the non-gloss silk finish, they’re quite slippy to handle and I was always worried I’d accidentally drop them when out and about.

Touch control is available for all the usual playback controls and track skipping but I didn't find the sensor particularly responsive. I found this to be very frustrating when I was trying to coax more volume out of the earbuds, so it's worth bearing in mind.

The T90S come with a diminutive charging case and two sets of interconnects: a USB-C to 3.5mm lead, and USB-C to USB-C. The former allows the case to be plugged into any playback device with a compliant jack, be it an older smartphone, digital music player, or an inflight entertainment system. Flip of a switch on the side of the case, and your connected audio source is wirelessly transmitted to the buds. Voilà!

The LG Tone Free T90S also support multipoint connection and up to five unique device connections.

Features

The LG Tone Free T90S earbuds's adaptive noise cancellation is potent and copes well with the usual commuting hubbub and can counter at-home distractions. ANC is selectable via the earbud’s sensor which cycles between ANC, ambient mode and off. 

The earbuds' battery life is rated at five hours with noise cancelling on, but this can be extended to nine hours if you have noise cancelling turned off.

Bluetooth codec support is comprehensive, with AAC, SBC and aptX Adaptive all covered, while the earbuds are also IPX4 rated so you'll have no worries if you're caught in a downpour.  

Cleverly, the charging case uses ultraviolet light to eliminate bacteria on the ear gels which is a nice touch, and 10 minutes into a powered charging cycle will see the buds zapped clean. The case also supports wireless charging if you have one of those handy little charging mats hanging around.

What’s conspicuous by its absence though is any spoken audible feedback. I’m so used to having my headphones proclaim "connected", "fully charged" or talk me through various noise cancelling modes, that the confirmation bleeps offered by these LG earbuds just sound like someone’s at the door.

In addition to a variety of sound effect presets (Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, 3D sound stage), there’s also an eight band EQ mode in the accompanying app with two custom sound slots.

Of course, the biggest addition to the T90S feature roster comes in the form of Dolby Atmos binaural rendering. If you subscribe to a premium music streaming service with Atmos, you’ll have a spatially enhanced listening experience with optional head tracking. 

So should this turn your head? The answer is both yes and no.

Sound

Operational niggles are soon forgotten when these earbuds are connected and that's because audio performance is excellent for the price. 

LG’s all-new pure Graphene drivers are crisper than a cheese and onion 12-pack, and positively relish hi-res audio sources. Pearl Jam’s Present Tense in 24bit / 96kHz is delivered with exquisite transparency: Eddie Vedder’s soulful vocal is raw and gritty, and as the track builds to its crescendo every instrument is given respectful space.

This brilliant articulation lends itself to complex prog and bare bones punk - Amyl And The Sniffers I Got You is authentically raucous. The good news is that while Amyl is natively stereo, you can still listen to her with 3D audio enhancement.

Currently, only Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music and Tidal offer Dolby Atmos music streams to premium subscribers, but everyone can benefit from the enhanced spatial presentation that the T90S earbuds offer.

That’s because they also feature Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) developed by long term partner Meridian Audio. This is an audio upscaler of sorts that can be used with any stereo source. When engaged, the perceived soundstage gains height and width.

Is this Immersive setting gimmicky? Well, yes, kinda. But I often found myself opting for it simply because I liked the larger stage.

You can listen to Dolby Atmos with or without Dolby Head Tracking. Head tracking locks the sound source at a central point in space, regardless whether you turn your head one way or the other. It can heighten the sense of realism, as it’s more akin to listening to a fixed music source (be it a live band or loudspeakers) but when out and about, I found it mildly disorientating.

If the T90S do have an Achilles' heel, it’s their limited bass performance. Andrew WK doesn’t party quite as hard as I would have liked.

The alternatives

The Denon PerL True Wireless earbuds feature a distinctive circular design, and proprietary Adaptive Acoustic Technology that uses AI to create a personalised hearing profile - and these high performance in-ears impress. They may lack Dolby Atmos support but they do boast Active Noise cancelling and a six hour battery life.

Another great option are the bass-heavy Audio-Technica ATH-CKS30TW+ wireless earbuds. Despite the budget price tag, they boast noise cancelling and have dynamic 9mm drivers. With 6.5 hours playtime, stamina is good. They also have out of range Aaert and product locator features - very useful if you’re prone to losing things.

Related buyer's guides

• Best earbuds and in-ear headphones: Get the perfect fit
• Loudest headphones: You want volume? You got it
• Best headphones for music: Get the most from your favourite sounds
• Best budget wireless headphones: Cut the cables
• Best earplugs for concerts: Get your ears gig-ready

It's crucial to look after our hearing when attending live events. This is a topic that has gained significant attention in recent years, and the use of the best earplugs for concerts is now more common than it was even five years ago. By taking steps to protect your hearing, you're not only enjoying the event but also being responsible for your health. 

If you’re in the market for your first set of earplugs or looking to upgrade, now is the perfect time. Amazon has just slashed the price of one of our top-rated sets, the brilliant Loop Earplugs. But hurry, this epic deal won't last long!

Right now, you can score a mega up to 30% off a diverse range of Loop products, including the Loop Experience Plus, Loop Switch, and Loop Engage Plus. With such a variety, you're sure to find the perfect set for your needs.

In Louder's guide to the best earplugs for concerts, the Loop Experience High Fidelity earplugs stand out in our top three picks for their exceptional performance at gigs. Their comfort, ease of storage, and reusability make them a convenient choice, unlike the disposable foam earplugs often distributed at shows.

While they're not custom-moulded, the Loop Experience High Fidelity earplugs come with four different silicone ear tips, ensuring a perfect fit and with a significant 18dB of noise reduction, they do an excellent job of taming the volume at rowdy gigs.

In Louder's review, we found they "tamed the low end fantastically well, the low bass string is suddenly punchy and articulate, the guitars are cutting through the midrange nicely, and we can actually hear the vocalists' best pig squeals." This level of noise reduction is crucial for preserving the quality of the music while protecting your hearing.

We’re keeping our eyes on all the discounts over Amazon Prime Day and bringing them to you in our Prime Day music deals, Prime Day turntable deals and Prime Day vinyl deals pages so you won’t miss a thing - but be quick, as the sales will come to an end just before midnight tonight (July 17).

It sounds obvious to say it, but being able to hear things is great. Music, conversations, the roar of the festival crowd... without the ability to hear things, life would be much less rich. But when the American Tinnitus Association reports that around 15% of all Americans have some form of hearing deficiency, you know it’s an issue that demands the attention of musicians.

Here at Louder, we've covered some of the best earplugs for concerts, and while it's important for fans to take action to protect their hearing, musicians are in the firing line day after day and equal care has to be given to their hearing health.

From live performance through to practice rooms and even the over-use of headphones, our hearing is under constant strain. However, unlike construction workers, for example, musicians have special requirements when it comes to earplugs. So much of what we do is reliant on us being able to hear the nuances of timing, timbre and tone, so the earplugs we need differ in some fundamental ways to those used for more industrial hearing protection. 

Musicians' earplugs, unlike standard foam earplugs, are specifically designed to attenuate sound without distorting the integrity of the music. This article explores the mechanics behind these specialised earplugs, the materials used in their manufacture, and the various benefits they provide.

How Musicians' Earplugs Work

Essentially, musicians’ earplugs are crafted to reduce the volume of sound that reaches the eardrums while maintaining a clear, natural sound quality. At a basic level, this is achieved through the use of high-fidelity filters and a design that targets specific frequencies for attenuation.

Unlike standard earplugs that muffle all frequencies, leading to a loss of clarity, musicians' earplugs employ advanced acoustic engineering. These contain a diaphragm which acts like a low-pass filter, allowing low frequencies to pass through more freely while attenuating the harsher, higher frequencies. This selective frequency reduction helps maintain the musical quality, ensuring that every note and tone is still discernible but at a safer volume level.

Materials used in musicians' earplugs

The effectiveness of musicians' earplugs largely depends on the materials used in their construction. The most common materials are silicone, foam and hybrids of the two. Silicone earplugs are popular due to their softness and flexibility, which provide comfort and a custom fit. They are non-porous, making them easy to clean and hygienic, and can be moulded to fit the unique contours of the wearer’s ear, providing a seal that reduces sound more evenly.

Foam earplugs, on the other hand, are cheaper, disposable and not recommended for concert-goers unless in a pinch. They compress while being fitted into the ear canal and then expand to fill it, and can significantly reduce noise levels. However, they tend to reduce high frequencies more than low frequencies, which can alter the sound's fidelity. Not ideal when you still require some degree of clarity and precision from what you’re hearing. 

Flanged, or hybrid, earplugs, are often made of a combination of materials such as silicone and plastic, are designed with multiple ridges that seal the ear canal. They are reusable and can be easily inserted and removed, making them a convenient option for musicians who need to frequently take earplugs in and out.

Examples

Several products exemplify the best in modern earplug technology:

Minuendo Lossless: These earplugs use a proprietary filter technology to reduce noise while preserving music clarity and speech intelligibility. They are a favorite among professional musicians for their comfort and reliability.

Vibes High-Fidelity Earplugs: Designed for live music and environmental listening, Vibes uses an acoustic filter that reduces decibel levels evenly across the frequency spectrum. This allows musicians to hear music and conversation clearly without damaging their hearing.

Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs: These are thermoplastic custom-molded earplugs that can be remolded to fit the user's ears perfectly. They combine the benefits of a custom fit with the convenience and protection of a removable filter.

Additional Considerations

When choosing earplugs, musicians should consider the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) which indicates the level of sound the earplugs can block out. For musicians playing in particularly loud environments, a higher NRR may be necessary.

It's also important to consider the comfort and fit as musicians often wear these earplugs for extended periods. The ease of cleaning and longevity of the earplugs are practical considerations that can influence a musician's choice.

Conclusion

Musicians' earplugs are a critical tool in preserving hearing, a musician's most valuable asset. By using advanced materials and technologies, these earplugs ensure that music can be enjoyed and performed without risking hearing damage. With a range of products available, there is a solution that fits every ear and every budget, safeguarding musicians' auditory health for a lifetime of music enjoyment.

Whether in a studio, concert hall, or open-air festival, the right earplugs can make all the difference in a musician's performance and our ability to enjoy their creations.

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• 5 things to consider when investing in a pair of earplugs
• How often should you replace your earplugs?
• Can wearing earplugs damage my ears?
• Living with tinnitus: "We all love music – why would we want to lose that?"
• 5 reasons why it's time to start wearing earplugs at gigs
• Loudness explained: Volume and decibel levels defined for live music fans

Musicians and rock enthusiasts love nothing more than throwing money at the latest instruments, audio gear or gig tickets, yet often overlook the importance of investing in the most significant musical assets; our ears. We all know that familiar feeling of coming home after an amazing show and being greeted by a constant ringing in the ears. For some, it’s perhaps a sign of a good night, but in reality it’s the body’s warning sign that you’ve been exposed to dangerously high sound levels. Anywhere north of eighty-five decibels is recognised as harmful to human hearing yet any decent rock concert is guaranteed to be considerably higher.

The problem with wearing earplugs for concerts is that for many the sound can be muffled or they give a feeling of detachment from the music or even fellow crowd members. This is where D’Addario comes in with its newly acquired dBud earplugs – designed for filtering sound frequencies rather than blocking them completely. Now this concept is nothing new in the world of hearing protection but the American instrument manufacturer boasts award-winning acoustic filtering for a clear and balanced sound. In addition, the dBuds are also adjustable, offering -12db or -24db attenuation.

The sleek and compact plastic earplugs are supplied with a small rubber carry case, a detachable leash and five sets of interchangeable silicon tips in graduating sizes (the middle size comes pre-installed). All components are finished in black and presented in an elegant package. The buds are also magnetic which allows them to stick together when not in use.

Design and performance

Aesthetically simple but clever in design, the main body of the earplug is at a near right angle to the silicon tip that fits into the actual ear canal. This means that once inserted, the dBuds position unobtrusively within the ears; barely noticeable from a side profile and completely unseen from face-on. There is a slight curvature to the back of this section which helps it fit the natural shape of the ear, making these a comfortable pair of earplugs which you’ll quickly forget you’re wearing.

The included retaining strap or ‘leash’, which allows the earplugs to hang around the wearer’s neck, comes pre-installed in the box, although removal is a doddle. The middle section is a D’Addario branded fabric strip which is attached at each end to thin elasticated rubber straps. The dBuds can be secured to the leash by easily pulling the silicon tips from the nozzle, sliding on the rubber straps and replacing the tips.

Despite the convenience and added security of the optional neckwear, the obvious drawback is that it’s pretty hard to look cool with black rubber strands sticking out at right angles from your ears at a gig – somewhat reminiscent of the type worn with spectacles.

Manufacturers of in-ear headphones get around this problem by building a rigid wire section into the cable which can be shaped over and behind the ear. Something like this could be a welcome addition here. It is possible to achieve this slightly by pulling the leash taught around the back of the ear and tucking the slack into your shirt but it’s objectively too much effort for very little reward (which doesn’t last particularly long anyway).

The reality is that the way the dBuds are designed, they aren’t the type of earplugs that you’ll need to keep taking out anyway. Once inserted, they can comfortably stay in until the end of the night. This is due in part to their compact size and light weight, but also their ability to filter frequencies – making it feel more like the volume has been turned down rather than someone has filled your ears with treacle.

The ability to quickly adjust the attenuation level via a small, round ‘volume slider’ also reduces the need to take them out. This is not only handy for slightly less raucous gigs but also for chatting to your mates or ordering a drink at the bar. At first it can be tricky to move the slider without removing the earplugs or accidentally pushing them uncomfortably far into the ear, but with practice it becomes fairly straightforward and can be done rapidly.

Alternatives

If you’re after a cheaper alternative to the D'Addario dBuds, then look no further than the Fender Musician Ear Plugs. They may not be the most attractive earplugs on the market, but they offer up to -27dB noise reduction, a decent level of comfort, and of course that Fender stamp of quality – all for a great price.

Slightly more expensive than the EarLabs dBud are the Flare Audio Earshade Pro. Probably the most stylish plugs I've ever clapped my eyes on, these also mute noise to -27dB, while premium memory foam ensures you’ll happily keep them in for hours at a time.

Specification

• Volume slider with two levels of attenuation: -12 dB and -24 dB
• Protection from noise exposure, even at levels >110 dB
• Clear, balanced sound using award-winning acoustic filtering
• 2018 Reddot Design Award winner
• Includes 5 different sized pairs of silicone tips, a detachable leash, and a carrying case
• Contact D'Addario

If you love music you should already be aware that your ears are your greatest asset. As a guitarist in various metal bands, I’ve been wearing earplugs at shows for a long time now, whether I’m playing on stage or not. As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed musicians and music lovers around me who didn’t protect their ears begin to get the first signs of hearing damage, some to the point that it affects their daily lives.

It’s a given that listening to loud music – whether that’s blasting your headphones or standing in front of the speaker at your local venue – will eventually damage your hearing. More and more these days I see the audience wearing hearing protection just as much as the bands that are playing which is great. But, can earplugs themselves damage your hearing? It’s a great question, so let’s find out if there's any truth in it, and how we can prevent long-term damage from earplug use.

Can earplugs damage your ears?

Earplugs are worn for a lot of different reasons. I use a pair of Loop earplugs when I’m sleeping at home sometimes, mainly to drown out the noise of my cat’s wrestling matches in the middle of the night. Not really relevant to music listening directly, but it’s through research into wearing earplugs while we sleep that you can uncover how misuse of earplugs can cause long-term problems.

When you wear earplugs for a long time it results in the buildup of earwax in your ear canal. Naturally small amounts of wax should be coming out of your ears while you’re sleeping – I bet that gets you washing those pillowcases – and while it’s pretty gross, it’s just a natural part of the cycle of your ears cleaning and maintaining themselves.

When you wear earplugs for a long time the wax, with no place to naturally go, can build up. This causes itching and pain, and if not dealt with dizziness, nausea, hearing difficulties, and even tinnitus in extreme cases. Over time earwax will get pushed back into the ear canal and if you use the same set of earplugs again and again, this can result in bacteria buildup, infection and, left untreated, serious damage or even permanent hearing loss.

Ill-fitting plugs, particularly the foam type, can also cause discomfort, so it's important to get the right fit before you start wearing your plugs over long periods.

How to prevent hearing damage

So how do we prevent this from happening? Well first and foremost, you should be cleaning your earplugs after every use, or discarding the single-use foam type after each use. Cleaning also applies to things like in-ear headphones and earbuds. It only takes a bit of warm water and your fingers to clean them or, if you'd rather not have direct contact with your wax, a fresh toothbrush will do the job just as well. 

Doing this regularly ensures that your earplugs are clean every time you use them, drastically reducing the chances of bacterial infection. Make sure the earplugs are dry before you reinsert them into your ears too, as water trapped in the ear canal can also lead to infections.

You can take further precautions by washing your hands before you insert your earplugs, too. This prevents any bacteria on your hands from entering the ear canal, keeping your hearing in top shape. Make sure your hands are nice and dry before you pop them in, and this will help reduce the chance of any nasties finding their way into your ears.

Use them right

If you’re using the foam type of earplugs then it’s imperative that you insert them properly as not doing so can result in less than adequate hearing protection at your next gig. With these earplugs, you should roll them between your thumb and index finger into a cylinder, pull the top of your ear up and away from your face to straighten the ear canal, and then insert and hold the plug in until the foam expands to fill. 

This applies to moulded and silicone earplugs too. Don’t just ram them home, you’ve gotta ease them in gently! Silicone earplugs don’t compact as easily as foam ones, so it's essential to try out a few different sizes – most should come with a few options – to find the perfect match for your ears. You may even find that you need a different size in each ear as a lot of humans have asymmetrical ears.

Don't ignore the signs

If you notice any changes in your hearing, issues with earwax, or anything else, go get them checked out. Your hearing is one of your most important assets and its not worth risking them. If you have pain or discomfort then see a hearing specialist and find out what’s going on. They’ll be able to recommend a course of action to remedy the problem, give you a hearing test so you can see if there are any problems with your hearing, and recommend a great set of earplugs to protect your hearing at gigs from there on out.

The RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) offers this great online hearing checker – which takes only 3 minutes to complete – and is a great place to start if you feel you may have some issues.

Conclusion

Ultimately wearing earplugs is far more beneficial than not wearing them, you just need to take a little care when doing so. Make sure you clean them after every use to prevent the build-up of bacteria and try not to wear them for long periods of time. Ensure you have a great fitting set of earplugs and you’ll be well on your way to keeping your best asset as a music fan. 

To date, Marshall headphones and speakers have largely been aimed at music fans who like their tech to have more of a rock aesthetic and the audio tuned to guitar music. The Marshall Motif II A.N.C. (active noise cancellation) wireless earbuds tick both boxes, but how do they fare in a field dominated by giant tech brands like Bose, Apple and Sony?

The OG Marshall Motif A.N.C. earbuds were released into the wild in 2021, joining Marshall’s cheaper, non-noise cancelling Minor series, now in its third generation. The second-gen Motifs build on the originals with improved battery life (from 20 to 30 hours with the supplied charging case), improved Bluetooth and A.N.C. tech, while they’re now made from 70% post-consumer recycled plastic. And, of course, there’s that fancy gold detailing at the base of each earbud stem. Genuinely, it’s a touch that I love.

For reference, these Marshall buds will set you back £179.95/$199.99. Meanwhile, close competitors Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) currently retail for $249/£229 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds 2 are £279.95/$279 (although you can find them cheaper). They’re certainly competitive on price, but what about performance?

Design

Personally, I find that a lot of wireless earbud designs are pretty awful, bulky and not something I’d willingly step out of the house wearing – I get late-90s Bluetooth headset vibes and in my experience they aren’t all that comfortable. I much prefer the drop-stem design of earbuds like these from Marshall, and the AirPods Pro. They just sit right for me. So, immediately I’m sold on the design. And the looks are right up my street too – the sleek black with distinctive white Marshall M, leading down to the cool knurled stems with signature gold tip, a flourish borrowed from Marshall’s iconic guitar amp line, just look right.

The USB-C charging case is just as cool, sporting a weathered faux leather look and Marshall script logo. The case - which can also be charged wirelessly - will keep the earbuds juiced for up to 30 hours in total, while you’ll get a full 6 hours of playtime from each bud before they need to go back in the case for a top-up. In my tests the charging was seamless and keeping the case topped up meant I never found myself out of power.

To connect the earbuds to your device of choice and to get the most out of their features, you need to download the Marshall Bluetooth app. Setup is incredibly simple and Bluetooth LE Audio meant my connection never dropped and devices were always able to find the buds whenever I wanted to use them. While the app itself hasn’t had much of a revamp in a while, it’s pretty easy on the eye and even easier to navigate.

Each earbud weighs just 4.31 grams, which is slightly lighter than an AirPod Pro (2nd Gen). Having tested both, this is actually a noticeable drop in weight. The Marshall buds feel incredibly lightweight in the hand, even moreso in the ear. You almost don’t know you have them in. I found this lack of heft fine for day-to-day listening, provided you get a good fit - more on this below - but I didn’t have much success keeping them in when going for a run.

In the box you get a Marshall-branded charging cable, plus a set of small, medium and large tips. During setup I found getting the right fit to be crucial, for comfort, security and to ensure the A.N.C. worked optimally. Initially, I struggled with one of the buds falling out consistently. I tried various combos and settled on a medium on the left and small on the right which gave me the most comfortable fit and the best seal for noise cancellation.

Features

So, what else makes these earbuds worth your consideration? Well, aside from the looks, one of the main features I love is the ability to customise the touch controls. You have standard play/pause/skip options, but then you can choose an action for both the left and right buds within the Marshall Bluetooth app. For example, you could set the left bud to turn the volume up with a long press, and the right to cycle between A.N.C., transparency and no noise-cancelling modes. It takes a minute to memorise your settings, but it’s a real win to have so much control at my fingertips without needing to remove the device from my pocket.

One word of warning on this – I did find I’d unwittingly trigger certain actions when adjusting a bud in my ear, so you need to be mindful of how sensitive they are, and that the whole outside of the bud (the part with the Marshall ‘M’ on it) is a touch control.

Another feature I liked is called Spotify Tap. If you’re stuck for what to listen to, double tap then long-press one of the buds and Spotify will kick in with a track based on your listening tastes. Double tap and long-press to skip to a new track if that’s not to your taste. It’s a sweet feature that reminds you Marshall has always been about the music.

Battery life has been dramatically improved on this version, too - up to 30 hours of playtime from the case - an increase of 33%. If you do find yourself low on juice, quick charging will give you a full hour of playtime from just 15 minutes plugged into the wall.

As the name suggests, one of the key features of the Motif II A.N.C. earbuds is the active noise cancelling. I’ve tested a range of earbuds that boast this technology, with varying results. There are definitely better options out there than the Marshalls and I was initially disappointed that engaging A.N.C. didn’t make a huge difference. However, I discovered that getting the right fit is crucial to optimising noise-cancelling. Once I had that dialled, I was pretty impressed with the level of isolation and noise reduction possible. It’s won’t give you complete immersion in your music or podcasts, but for me it did just enough to drown out the din of office colleagues and roadside traffic.

There’s also Transparency mode which is a halfway house that lets a little of the outside in so you can retain awareness of what’s going on around you. It’s ideal if you want to keep conversation with someone but don’t want the music to stop, and it’s a feature I went to more than expected.

Sound

For the types of music I listen to - modern and classic metal, punk, indie and hip-hop - I found that the bass boost EQ preset delivered the best experience overall. Naturally, there was a bottom-end boost, but there was still plenty of clarity in the mid to high ranges. The title track of Sleep Token’s sprawling Take Me Back To Eden album covers the full gamut, from birds chirping over the picked guitar intro, to the sludgy gut punching outro – the Motifs handled it all, delivering a consistent performance through the whole track.

Meanwhile, the urgent indie guitar stabs in Paramore’s The News retained all of their impact, with no sterilisation of the raw sound. Moving over to hip-hop and I stuck on one of my go-to testing tracks - The Ground Below by Run The Jewels. The driving beat, clattering snare rolls and punchy two-headed verbal assault of EL-P and Killer Mike sounds as chunky as intended, despite the small weight of the buds.

Other presets include a ‘Marshall’ option which is mid-level across the frequency range and which gave classic rock greats like AC/DC and Van Halen a livelier feel. The mid-reduction setting scoops mids and brings through more punch, but I found I definitely lost some guts in the middle.

Presets are great for setting and forgetting - you don’t want to be diving into audio settings every time you switch genres, but if you have your own preferences, you can also create your own custom EQ to dial in exactly what you need.

It’s not all about music though, and whether I was listening to a podcast or taking a voice call, audio was clear, bright and immersive.

Verdict

In a nutshell, if the design and colour choices of the current crop of mainstream wireless earbud choices leave you cold and your alternative music sounding sterile, the Marshall Motif II A.N.C.s offer an edgier, cooler and more affordable option, particularly if guitar music is your jam.

The alternatives

If you like the all-black, classic rock aesthetic, then these buds are the ideal accompaniment to your lifestyle. We would say, however, that for just £30/$ more you can get your hands on Apple’s most powerful earbuds yet, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), which simply offer more in the way of tech and, to our ears, sound just a touch more refined. If noise-cancelling is your reason to pick up a new pair of earbuds, then we heartily recommend the Bose Quiet Comfort II in-ears, which boast best-in-class noise cancelling.

I'll level with you: I never took ear buds seriously. I always felt like they were a useful stopgap between the stretches where I could use my 'proper' headphones - big, lovely over-ear ones with lush sound. The only times I'd use in-ears would be if I was on my way to a night out and didn't want to have to lug big headphones around, or if I was in the gym and wanted to just listen to a podcast - who needs that good a sound boost when it's just people talking, right?

Then I discovered Sony's WF range and felt like an absolute wally for ever thinking such nonsense, and with Amazon's Black Friday deal now making the Sony WF-C500s available at 51% off their original asking price (£43.69, down from £90), or 31% off if you're in the States (now $68.99, down from $99.99), you can grab an extremely solid pair of ear buds for an absolute steal of a price. 

Full transparency: I'm currently using the Sony WF-1000XM5 phones, which are a snazzily upgraded version of the ones available in this particular deal. If you're in the market for some real high end in-ear headphones and can splash the cash, I can't recommend that model enough, but there aren't many decent Black Friday deals for them right now and you will have to fork out a lot more. If, however, you're looking for something in the £50-100 range, you really can't do much better than the WF-C500s. 

They look stylish, fit snugly, have great sound for their size and a very decent bluetooth connection. Crucially, they also have a good battery life, going for up to 20 hours, which means they should go the distance for you whether it's for a week's worth of commuting, a long exercise session or even a gruellingly long haul flight. Since I've been using Sony WF's I can't imagine having anything else, and while I still adore my over-ear models for more involved listening sessions, my WFs come with me to the gym, to work and beyond.

If you're not convinced and would like to see more options for good headphone deals this weekend, make sure you check out our Cyber Monday headphone deals, and for a wider range of deals, keep tabs on our Cyber Monday music deals.

It's so important to look after our hearing when attending live events - it’s a subject that’s picked up a lot of support in recent years, and wearing earplugs at concerts is becoming more and more common than it was even five years ago. 

If you’re looking to upgrade an existing pair or are in the market your first set of earplugs, then Black Friday has you covered because Amazon have cut 20% off the price of the Loop Experience High Fidelity earplugs in a range of colour variations in both the UK and US.

And for more discounts, check out all our favourite Black Friday music deals.

In Louder's guide to the best earplugs for concerts, the Loop Experience High Fidelity rank in our top three picks thanks to their excellent performance while attending gigs. They're comfortable to wear, can be easily stored and are reusable - unlike the cheap foam earplugs that are often given away at shows.

They're not custom moulded, but with four different silicone eartips include in the box, getting the right fit shouldn't be a problem - and I've found them to be spot on when I'm at a concert.

With 18dB of noise reduction they do an excellent job and in Louder's review, we found they "tamed the low end fantastically well, the low bass string is suddenly punchy and articulate, the guitars are cutting through the midrange nicely, and we can actually hear the vocalists' best pig squeals."

I started wearing earplugs to concerts after I saw Swans and Anna von Hausswolff live several years ago. I've been to many gigs in the last 35 year or so, but that particular gig was so loud that I was in real pain and had to resort to stuffing the green foam buds they were giving away free at the bar into my ears. Those didn't help me - they just muffled the noise and what was a concert I'd been looking forward to was basically ruined. I was in pain for several days and that's when I decided to buy my first pair of proper earplugs.

Metal Hammer editor Eleanor Goodman also wrote about living with tinnitus since she was 16 and revealed what it’s like to live with the condition and what she does to protect her hearing.

For further hearing support, visit Tinnitus UK.

If you’re looking for a new pair of earphones - and you’re not on a really tight budget - then something from the Apple AirPods range is likely to have crossed your mind at some point. Launched in 2016, these true wireless ear buds were an instant hit and have gone on to become hugely popular worldwide thanks to their combination of stylish looks, great sound quality and impressive battery life.

Of course, seven years is a long time in tech, and since that initial launch there have been several new iterations of Apple’s pearly white buds. Indeed, not only are we up to the third generation of the standard AirPods, there’s also now a second generation of the souped-up AirPods Pro. All of which means that if you are determined to jump on the AirPods bandwagon this Black Friday, you’ll need to make a choice. In this article, I'll help you cut through the clutter and help steer you in the right direction by highlighting the differences between the AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro 2.

Don’t despair if your budget doesn’t stretch to the latest AirPods as you should be able to pick up one of the earlier versions for a lot less money - and with both currently on sale for Black Friday, I'm sure you'll find an Apple product that fits.

If you're after a few more options - both Apple-shaped and more, then we're highlighting the biggest and best Black Friday headphone deals. And for everything else, check out our guide to all our favourite Black Friday music deals.

Latest Black Friday deals

At a glance

Sound

When you splash the cash on any set of premium in-ear headphones, you fully expect the sound quality to be awesome – and both of these AirPods models come up to scratch. There’s impressive clarity and detail across the frequencies and the AirPods 3 and the Pro 2 actually have very similar frequency response profiles. Thanks to spatial audio, music is given plenty of room to breathe too. 

There’s no denying that the Pro 2 offer a better listening experience, though. The bass is meatier largely thanks to that noise-isolating fit, the presentation more organised, and the overall delivery more dynamic. Indeed, the Pro 2 are comfortably the best sounding AirPods I've tested to date. 

Features

It’s no surprise that both of these models pack in a solid set of features - they are, after all, premium earbuds. Inevitably, the Pro 2 are a bit more sophisticated, boasting things extras such as active noise cancellation which is much improved on the original AirPods, thanks to the presence of Apple’s latest H2 chip). There's also Transparency mode that lets in a certain amount of noise from your surroundings – handy if you need to listen out for a crying baby or a train announcement. 

Using my iPhone or iPad, I could fine-tune this mode to suit my own preference, switching on things like Personalised Volume (where the volume of your music is automatically tweaked based on your surroundings) and Conversation Awareness, where it’s lowered as soon as you start talking to someone.      

Speaking of volume, how you manually turn your sound up and down differs between these two sets of AirPods. With the AirPods 3, you’ll either have to ask the Siri voice assistant or use an app on your phone/iPad. However, the Pro 2 are equipped with touch controls that need only a quick swipe to make adjustments - you can, of course, also use Siri if you prefer. 

The Pro 2’s H2 chip has also led to an upgrade in wireless connectivity, with these higher-end ear buds featuring Bluetooth 5.3 support (as opposed to the AirPods 3’s 5.0). In all honesty, it’s unlikely to make a significant difference as both versions are pretty robust – but it does make the Apple AirPods Pro 2 slightly more future-proof.

Most of the other notable features appear on both the AirPods 3 and the Pro 2, including support for spatial audio, adaptive EQ, dynamic head-tracking and audio sharing (where one stream can be enjoyed by two people wearing AirPods). Both of these models also feature IPX4 sweat and water resistance, along with support for the Find My app  - a useful addition for those who tend to mislay their possessions on a regular basis.

Design

While the AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro 2 look very similar at first glance, there are a few small differences in their designs. For a start, the former’s stems are slightly longer than the latter’s. This may make the AirPods 3 more appealing to self-conscious types who would rather have something more discreet in their ears. Interestingly, despite their longer stems, the AirPods 3 are around a gram lighter than the Pro 2 – perhaps this is down to the more advanced technology found inside the Pro buds.

Another difference between the two types of AirPods is that the Pro 2 are fitted with interchangeable silicone tips, designed to nestle snugly inside your ear. Apple provides four different sizes in the box to help you get the right fit, while the AirPods 3 feature an all-plastic, open-fit design, meaning they rest just inside your cavities.

While I prefer having the tips as they make the buds feel more secure, and also offer better noise isolation, if you’re not keen on having earphones stuffed deep inside your lugholes or you’d like to hear a bit of ambient noise, then the AirPods 3 may suit you better. 

Battery life

When it comes to in-ear headphones, battery life is one of the most important considerations; after all, you don't want your buds conking out mid-way through a run or while on a long daily commute. Happily, both the AirPods 3 and the Pro 2 offer decent longevity. Indeed, their battery life is identical – you’ll get up to six hours of listening off a single charge and up to 30 hours when you factor in the charging case. That isn’t best in class – the Sony WF-1000XM4, for example, will give you up to 12/36 hours – but it’s certainly competitive and should see you through most trips.

A quick word about those charging cases: the AirPods 3’s case is topped up using a Lightning cable, while the Pro 2’s is refuelled via USB-C – the same as the iPhone 15. Both cases can also be charged via MagSafe/Qi technology. The Pro 2’s case also comes with a lanyard loop and a speaker that chimes when your battery is running low. Hardly deal-breakers, but pretty cool nonetheless. 

Verdict

If you’re happy to spend a bit more, then I recommend you choose the Pro 2 over the AirPods 3. With a stronger set of features, better sound and a choice of ear tips, they’re a no-brainer. The one caveat is that they nestle firmly inside the earholes, providing isolation from the outside world, which might not suit everyone.

Can’t stretch to the Pro 2, or don’t fancy that sealed fit? The AirPods 3 are undoubtedly a good set of ear buds, offering some useful features and more-than-decent sound. Or you could have a look at our guide to the best budget wireless headphones.

The Vibes Hi-Fidelity earplugs sit at the no.2 spot in our guide to the best earplugs for music thanks to their discreet design and 22dB noise reduction level - and with the Black Friday sales coming in, Amazon US have cut the price by 36%, taking them down from $33.99 to just $21.71.

These silicone earplugs will protect your ears while letting you to hear the finer details of live music and the Louder team recommend them if you need a new pair of earplugs - especially at this price.

I've noticed that while many music venues give earplugs away at concerts, they tend to be the most basic type: one-use foam earplugs. These should only be used in emergencies and although they're better than nothing, they will only muffle the sound of the live music. That’s why investing in a good set of earplugs such as the Vibes Hi-Fidelity is so important. 

Packaged with three ear-tip sizes, these compact eaplugs are designed to nestle discreetly inside the ears, protecting your hearing without any fuss. Vibes has fitted these silicone earplugs with high-quality attenuating filters that enable you to hear the detail of the music and, once the gig is over, you can place the plugs safely back in their hard carry case, so they’re much less likely to get lost or damaged. 

For more bargains, keep your eyes on our guide to the best Black Friday music deals which is being constantly updated with all the latest discounts.

Whether you're a devoted music fan who lives for live gigs, or a performing musician who regularly performs loud music anywhere from rehearsal rooms to the stage, your love of music should be harmoniously accompanied by a sense of responsibility for your hearing health. 

We know that sounds very sensible and grown-up, but it’s important – protect your hearing from an early age and you can expect to enjoy a long and fruitful journey in music. Ignore the warning signs however, and you open yourself up to issues such as tinnitus which, take it from us, is an affliction best avoided. 

In this guide I’ll explore the compelling reasons why investing in a good set of earplugs for live music isn't just a choice, but a necessity for music enthusiasts.

I’ll delve into the differences between expensive and cheap earplugs, discuss prominent brands, and highlight what to consider when deciding what to buy.

Hearing health

I’ll start with a reminder of what can happen if we don’t look after our hearing. Our enjoyment of music and everything that comes with being a music fan is completely dependent on us being able to hear what’s going on. 

In the past, the choice was pretty limited and ear defence usually boiled down to those cheap gummy one-use foam plugs that come in big plastic jars. These would sometimes be given away free at concerts, but even that was a rare sight at live music venues. Thankfully, hearing protection innovation has moved on from those dark days and the earplugs we can buy today offer much better protection and help music fans protect our ears without depriving us of too much of the sound. 

Those throwaway plugs are often still given out at shows - and they're better than nothing - but we will always advocate buying your own set that will be more comfortable and offer better protection.

While we can’t turn the clock back to when we were younger and take better care of our hearing, we can make today the point at which we decide to take ear protection seriously. 

For an idea about loudness levels, national hearing loss charity RNID report that 140dB is the level which generally causes pain - but they also stress that some people may find lower noise levels also cause discomfort.

They've also provided a decibel scale so you can get a better understanding of loudness levels:

• 0dB: The quietest sound a healthy human ear can hear
• 40dB: A quiet library
• 60dB: Ordinary spoken conversation
• 85dB: A food blender
• 88dB: Heavy traffic
• 91dB: A pneumatic drill
• 97dB: An industrial fire alarm
• 100dB: A nightclub
• 110dB: A live gig or concert
• 130dB: An aeroplane taking off 100m away

Price

When it comes to earplugs, there's a wide spectrum of options which range from budget-friendly to premium. Many might be tempted to go for cheaper alternatives, but there's a clear trade-off between cost and quality. 

Cheap earplugs typically offer basic noise reduction, although they often sacrifice sound clarity and comfort. They may do little more than muffle the music, making it harder to appreciate the nuances of a live performance – a common reason for gig-goers to ditch the 'plugs altogether. They also might not be made from the most robust of materials meaning there’s every chance they’ll degrade and waste away not long after you’ve bought them.

In contrast, investing in a more expensive pair of earplugs can enhance your musical experience by preserving sound quality while protecting your ears – and they’ll typically last longer than a prog metal solo. 

Comfort & quality

When choosing to buy a pair of earplugs for music, it's essential to consider a few critical factors. Look for earplugs with a suitable noise reduction rating (NRR) that balances noise reduction with sound quality. While the temptation may be to go for as high as NRR as you can find, that doesn't always equate to better since it might over-muffle the sound. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the right grade for you, so factor that in before laying down your cash.

You’ll also want to look out for earplugs that provide flat attenuation and preserve the entire spectrum of frequencies without distortion. This ensures you hear music as intended by the artists and don’t end up completely depriving yourself of the higher (or lower) frequencies. Again, this is a feature that separates the cheap foam earplugs from the dedicated audio ones, so is worth considering. 

Comfort is obviously important, especially if you're planning on attending a weekend festival or taking part in extended practice sessions in the studio. Many premium earplugs come with multiple ear tip options – both in terms of size and material – to ensure a secure and comfortable fit. I often find people new to earplugs gravitate towards the foam buds, thinking they’ll do a better job of blocking out the sound, but you should make a point of testing the different options out to see what works best. 

Consider the build quality and lifespan of your earplugs. As you’d expect, higher-priced earplugs stand a better chance of lasting long enough to see plenty of action, so investing in a durable pair may actually save you money in the long run. 

You can also prolong the life of your buds by keeping your earplugs clean. This is made simpler by the fact you can remove the ear-tip itself and wash using a light soapy water mix. Most sets also come complete with a handy cleaning brush and/or scraper tool to get the worst of the waxy build-up off. 

Brand choice

Several reputable brands specialise in creating high-quality earplugs designed specifically for music enthusiasts. Alongside well-known audio/music brands such as Sennheiser and Fender are names including Etymotic, Alpine and ACS Custom, who have good reputations when it comes to hearing protection. And, on a personal note, I’ve been making heavy use of a set of the new Minuendo Live earplugs recently. 

All these brands prioritise sound fidelity and comfort, ensuring you can enjoy live music without compromising on clarity. The research and innovation behind these products make them worthy of consideration for anyone seeking to safeguard their hearing without too much of a compromise on sound quality.

Personalised earplugs

Custom-made earplugs offer advantages for musicians and live music enthusiasts. These personalised earplugs are moulded to your ears' unique shape, ensuring a precise and comfortable fit. Unlike generic earplugs, custom plugs offer flat attenuation, preserving the full spectrum of frequencies for a more accurate and enjoyable listening experience.

Many trusted brands offer custom earplugs, but the process of getting hold of them is a little different to just buying off the shelf. Typically, you’ll visit an audiologist or an ear specialist who will take ear ‘impressions’ using foam. These impressions are then used to create your personalised earplugs. 

While custom earplugs can be more expensive than off-the-shelf options, their longevity, comfort, and sound fidelity make them a worthwhile investment in your hearing health and music experience. The cost varies depending on the provider and the features you choose, but many musicians and audiophiles find the benefits far outweigh the price.

Conclusion

If you love live music, protecting your hearing should be a top priority. Investing in high-quality earplugs is a small but essential step towards ensuring you can continue to savour the magic of live music or deliver your best performances as a musician. By choosing earplugs that prioritise sound fidelity, comfort, and durability, you're not just safeguarding your hearing; you're elevating your musical experience. 

So, whether you're in the audience or up on stage, let the music resonate without compromising your hearing health. Make the wise choice, invest in quality earplugs, and let the music play on.

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If you’ve been trawling Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event today and can’t find anything you fancy amongst the air fryers, pet food and Echo Buds deals then here’s an affordable accessory that should appeal to anyone who counts live music amongst their hobbies. In my experience, a pair of quality earplugs is a necessity for gig-goers and for a limited time one of my favourite pairs – the Loop Experience plugs – are 20% off at Amazon, dropping the price to just $27.95 in the US and £23.95 in the UK.

Loop’s striking Experience earplugs feature a unique design with a handy loop that makes them easy to insert and remove and they are designed to tame the most damaging frequencies – you know, the ones you’ll still hear days after the band has left the stage – without completely removing the soul from your live music experience.

It’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve started consistently using hearing protection at gigs, and I wish I’d done it sooner. I’ve been attending live concerts – particularly at the heavier end of the music spectrum – since 1996, and am certain my hearing has taken a hit from some of the punchier bands. I find it difficult hearing people in noisy environments and, pre-earplugs, my ears would ring for a lot longer after a gig than they did in my twenties. This doesn’t have to be everyone’s fate. 

A couple of years back I decided it was time to invest in some hearing protection and head any further damage off at the pass. It just so happened to coincide with testing a few pairs of earplugs for Louder’s best earplugs for concerts guide. 

One of the sets I reviewed was the Loop Experience plugs – a pair I always have ready to rock in my pocket at gigs now. They feature a unique design with a handy loop that makes them easier to insert and remove. In my review I concluded that the Loop plugs “work impeccably well to tame even the most extreme forms of music, without costing the earth.” And right now they’re even cheaper for a limited time. 

In addition to multiple size options from extra small to large, they’re available in 7 colours to match your style - gold, black, amber, cerise, violet, rose gold and silver - and all options are available at the discounted rate. Additionally, Loop has other models for different applications, such as Loop Quiets, which are aimed at travel and those who are sensitive to noise. These are also discounted on Amazon currently. 

Ready to book some tickets? Take a look at our recommendations for the best concert ticket sites. And keep an eye out for more killer gear discounts on our Black Friday music deals page. 

Amazon have officially launched their Prime Big Deal Days sales event which runs over October 10 & 11 and is effectively the online shopping giant's second Prime Day of 2023.

The price drops ahead of next month's Black Friday are dropping in fast - and the first to catch my eye are brilliant savings on the noise cancelling Amazon Echo Bud (2nd Gen) in-ear headphones in either black or white which have been cut from £109.99 to just £35.99 for the bundle that comes with a wired charging case, while the earbuds with wireless charging case are down from £129.99 to £44.99.

In the US, the earbuds with wired charging case are down from $119.99 to $64.99, while the wireless case pack have been reduced from $139.99 to $84.99.

When you consider the Amazon Echo Buds include very decent active noise cancelling, these deal prices really stand out. These headphones are great for when you’re out and about or pounding the miles on the treadmill thanks to their IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating, while music delivery is excellent.

There’s Alexa/Siri functionality included too to keep things hands free, and you’ll get around five hours of music from a full charge - and that can be increased to 15 hours with the included charging case. If you’re in a rush, then a 15-minute quick boost will give these in-ear headphones two hours of playback.

The Amazon Echo Buds are lightweight and come with ear and wing tips for a more secure fit - and they’re smaller and less bulky than previous models and come highly recommended by the Louder team - especially at these prices.

And don't forget that Black Friday will be with us next month, where the Louder team will be sharing all the best Black Friday headphones deals along with our pick of the Black Friday music deals that make us sit up and take notice.

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Released in August 2023, the Sony WF-1000XM5 in-ear headphones serve as a follow-up to the richly received Sony WF-1000XM4, which were unveiled in the summer of 2021.

Promising even better sound, beefed-up noise-cancelling capabilities and more, Sony are clearly focused on maintaining their standing as leaders in the in-ear headphones market – and they’ve produced another knockout product here, even if it all comes at a steep price.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Design

True to form, the Sony WF-1000XM5 look sleek and stylish and come in two colour variants; I got to test the particularly snazzy-looking black set but the silvers look great too. Both pack minimal designs with a small Sony logo on the sides, with matching charging carry cases that won’t take up much room wherever you store them. In fact, both the carry cases and the WF-1000XM5s themselves are significantly smaller than their predecessors - the headphones have been made 25% smaller and 20% lighter according to Sony.

Much like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the new model offers simple controls - one tap on the left earbud switches from Noise Cancelling to Ambient Sound, a longer tap activates Quick Attention, while a double tap on the right earbud skips to the next track. Tapping four or more times in a row controls volume. You can change these controls in the free Headphones Connect app that you can access via the product’s packaging. The app also lets you alter your EQ settings, sound levels and much more.

Like its predecessor, the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes in environmentally safe packaging, which is a nice bonus.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Features

The Sony WF-1000XM5 boast a shiny new Integrated Processor V2 feature for maximum noise cancelling effect. I tested this function in a busy gym with its own PA, out on a walk near a busy road and on a 40-minute train journey. While the earbuds’ noise cancelling capability doesn’t quite match up to Sony’s over-ear equivalents, this is as good as I’ve ever heard it through in-ears and more than enough to keep the outside world at bay

Speaking of ears: mine often stubbornly seem to push out in-ear buds when performing strenuous activities (running, working out). Initially, I found one of the default buds a little uncomfortable, but upon swapping it for one of the three alternative sizes provided in the packaging, I didn’t experience any more issues.

With eight hours of charge on the in-ear headphones themselves another 16 in the case, you’re effectively set for a whole 24 hours of audio before needing to hook the Sony WF-1000XM5 up for a proper recharge. Plus, with up to an hour of play from a quick three minute charge, if you get caught out at short notice, you can still get a good bit of extra life.

I tested the Sony WF-1000XM5 for a couple of phone calls, and while my voice came across nice and clear, I wouldn’t describe the headphones’ audio on those calls as particularly impressive. This isn’t an issue for me as I’ll be mainly using these for entertainment rather than business function, and it was certainly good enough to have conversations with, even in busy areas.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Sound

I wanted to give the Sony WF-1000XM5 as wide a testing pool as possible, so I picked a decent range of albums to listen to. First up was a blast of propulsive dance music courtesy of new Jungle album Volcano, which sounded lush and beautifully layered, the headphones perfectly picking up every floating bit of synth or pattering blast of percussion.

I swung over to some entirely different next with a play through of Swedish extreme metallers Orbit Culture’s latest album Descent. Despite the dizzying wall of noise coming at me, the Sony WF-1000XM5 kept everything crystal clear while never losing the impact of those ferocious riffs and battering drums.

Finally, I went for something a little more classic - a play through of Lauryn Hill’s legendary 1998 opus The Miseducation Of…. It sounded as fresh and vibrant on the Sony WF-1000XM5 as it did the first time I listened to it 25 years ago, the mixture of Hill’s soaring, soulful vocals and those r’n’b-flavoured beats sounding electric through the headphones.

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: The alternatives

While the Sony WF-1000XM5 sound fantastic, look cool and are super user-friendly, their steep price, however worth it they may be, may understandably put off some. With that in mind, there are some alternatives you can always look at.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation are always worth a look if you want a high-end, reliable set of earbuds to meet all needs. The sound is always top drawer and the battery life is extensive. Paired with Apple Music, and these are a great alternative option.

Of course, you could always dive into the still excellent Sony WF-1000XM4. Great audio deliver, excellent noise cancelling, comfortable and top battery life... and you'll probably be able to get them a little cheaper than the new model.

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Out to tempt buyers on a budget, the Lypertek Pureplay Z7 earbuds have a solid tech spec including a unique triple hybrid driver configuration with two balanced armature drivers and a 6mm graphene driver per bud.

They’re a little on the chunky side, but they do come with a selection of earpiece sizes in both silicone and foam, while the charging case is wrapped in a smart fabric finish, which is cool.

Battery life is excellent, with 10 hours of playback. Under the hood, a Qualcomm chipset powers the Bluetooth 5.2 with support for AAC and aptX Adaptive audio codecs. An IPX5 water-resistance rating ensures protection from rain and sweat.

Out of the box, treble detail is impressive but the default setting might leave you yearning for more bass but that can be remedied with some EQ tweaks. For the price, they're a solid choice.

Read on for more detail.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Design

It’s not an unkindness to describe the Lypertek Pureplay Z7 as cookie cutter True Wireless buds. They’re dot style, with a chubby chamber that’s difficult to ignore. Helpfully, they come with a full complement of earpiece sizes, both silicone and foam so a decent fit is assured.

Once paired, various presses and taps allow you to control playback and volume. The charging case is nicely finished in a snazzy fabric wrap, which feels good in the hand. Also included in the box is a USB cable.

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Features

The Lypertek Pureplay Z7 don't offer any active noise cancelling but as a result they have greater stamina than some ANC competition, offering 10 hours of playback and another 70 hours of juice in the charging case. The earbuds also support wireless charging and Lypertek sell an optional wireless charging pad to do the job.

Beneath the hood, a Qualcomm chipset powers Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with AAC and aptX Adaptive audio codecs. The headphones are IPX5 water-resistant for protection from rain and sweat.

In depth control is available through the partnering PureControl app. It’s here you can tweak a seven band equaliser and experiment with various sound presets, including an LDX Audio mode specifically optimised for the Lypertek Pureplay Z7.

I found the Pure Control app decidedly flakey. More often than not, it failed to connect to the buds (even though the buds themselves were connected over Bluetooth) so not a great experience.

While the Z7 lack noise cancelling, there is an Ambient mode and a helpful Find my Earbud feature, should you inadvertently drop them someplace. 

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: Sound

The Z7 feature a novel triple hybrid driver configuration, with each bud boasting two bespoke balanced armature drivers and a 6mm graphene driver. The configuration certainly doesn't shy away from toppy detail and things can get a little brittle - there’s also a low frequency deficit, at least in the default setting. The Offspring chanting Sharknado sounds as musical as a nuisance phone call.

This shortfall can be remedied by selecting Loudness in the Pure Control app which boosts the low end and mid-range. Boston’s More Than A Feeling immediately sounds fleshier with its anthemic guitar moving to the fore. Other presets include Bass Boost, Neutral, Podcast, Gaming and Movies, plus a couple you can customise. I recommend sticking with the Loudness setting.

I also found the soundstage confined. No matter how much keyboard flourish goes into Boston's Foreplay/Long Time, it still sounded like the band were playing in a tunnel behind my head.

The LDX Audio mode is a bit perplexing as it’s flatter than craft ale. What’s more, when it’s engaged you can’t change any of the presets, so I'd give it a swerve. Things can get ragged at volume. Linkin Park's One Step Closer takes these buds to the edge. That driver trio doesn't have a lot of headroom.

On the plus side, the Z7 are happily prog centric. While they have the energy for ribald riffing (Bullet For My Valentine's Waking the Demon is fast and furious), keyboards, acoustic guitars and vocals are their real happy place. Sonja Kristina’s vocals on Curved Air’s Back Street Luv are pure silk. 

Lypertek Pureplay Z7 review: The alternatives

The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch also lack noise cancelling but compensate with a novel custom fit design using an array of silicone fins and ear tips. They sport 7mm graphene-enhanced drivers and boast a formidable nine hours playback, with 41 more in the charging case. When you need to hear what’s going on around you, there’s an Activate Transparency mode. These buds also have an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance. 

If you want to spend a little more, consider the LG Tone Free T90 earbuds. These LG earphones feature some cool audio tech called Meridian Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP). Developed by high-end Hi-Fi specialist Meridian, this DSP process opens up the soundstage to great effect. They also support Dolby Head Tracking for when you listen to Dolby Atmos spatial music on Tidal or Amazon Music Unlimited.

They come with a UVnano charging case, which uses ultraviolet light to help keep the earbuds hygienically clean as they recharge. Battery life is rated at nine hours, with 20 in the charging case.

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Marshall have lifted the lid on their brand new Motif II ANC in-ear headphones which have improved noise cancelling over the original earbuds and a better battery life.

The second generation Motif II ANC deliver six hours of music from a full charge with ANC enabled and nine hours without - and that can be increased to 30 hours of ANC playback (43 hours without) via the charger - that’s 10 hours more than the 2021 Motif model. If you're in a rush, a quick 15-minute charge will give you an hour’s worth of sounds.

The Motif II ANC also come equipped with Bluetooth LE - tech that Marshall report provides a greater streaming range and better audio sync. The earbuds have also been made from 70% recycled plastic, and that includes water bottles, used electronics and light covers from cars.

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds will be available from September 12 priced at $199.99/£179.99 and they’re available to pre-order direct from the official Marshall website right now.

In 2022, Marshall celebrated their 60th anniversary by launching a limited edition diamond jubilee edition of the Motif ANC earbuds and earlier this year released their new stackable portable Middleton Bluetooth speaker.

If you want some other options, then take a look at our guides to the best Marshall headphones and Marshall speakers.

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If you have an active lifestyle then you’re going to need a set of headphones that are flexible enough to cope with your daily demands. The Beats Flex sound like they fit the bill – and not just because of their name. Upon the release of these wireless earbuds in 2020, Apple subsidiary Beats hailed their “all-day” usability and “durable” construction - not to mention their “powerful sound”. But do these headphones deserve a place in your kit bag or are they best left on the shelf? To help you decide, I've put them through their paces and focused on their build quality, battery life, features and more.

Want to see what else is on the market? Then take a look at our best headphones for music and best in-ear headphones guides, where our audio experts give their opinion on a wide range of products that cover every budget.

Beats Flex review: Design

True wireless earphones such as the Apple AirPods Pro are still incredibly popular so wireless, but not true wireless in-ear headphones, may have limited appeal. But if you’ve got your heart set on the latter then – aesthetically speaking – you could do a lot worse than the Beats Flex. 

Minimalist, modern-looking and available in four snazzy colours – Black, Citrus Yellow, Flame Blue or Smoke Grey – they’re sure to prompt nods of appreciation whether you’re at the gym or travelling on the train for your daily commute. Even though they’ll not give you the same level of kudos as the aforementioned Apple product, the big Beats logo on each bud will at least advertise these were made by the Cupertino company.

Seeing as you’re likely to wear your earphones throughout the day (either in your lugholes or dangling around your neck) you’ll want the cable to be tough enough for the task. Made from durable nitinol, aka nickel titanium, the flat one that holds these earbuds together felt pretty tear-proof to me and gave me confidence it wouldn’t perish after a few days’ training. One thing I did notice was that tugging the Beats Flex cable sometimes resulted in a small amount of hiss during playback. On the upside, I liked that the earbuds are magnetic which means they clink together when hanging loose and create an impromptu neck chain.

As for comfort, the lightweight Beats Flex come with four ear tip sizes to ensure most people will be catered for. I have quite small ears and was able to find a set that nestled nicely inside. While there’s no genuine noise cancelling here, choosing the right size for you will give a certain amount of isolation.

It's also worth noting that the Beats Flex come in a box, 87% of which is constructed from recycled plant-based materials.

Beats Flex review: Features

The “all-day” functionality I mentioned earlier doesn’t just refer to these earphones’ comfort and durability: one full charge of the Beats Flex's lithium-ion battery (using the included USB-C charger) will give you 12 hours of music playback. However, it should be noted a lot of modern earphones come with a charging case that ramps up the amount of battery life. The Beats Flex don’t. One bonus though is they offer something called ‘Fast Fuel’, where you can get 90 minutes of listening from a quick 10-minute charge. 

If you balk at the idea of controlling your music by tapping your earbuds then you’ll be pleased to know that playback, volume adjustment and making/taking phone calls are all operated via an in-line control centre. It doesn’t require a PhD to get the hang of it, though I did find it a bit fiddly having to tap the play/pause button two or three times depending on whether I wanted to skip tracks forwards or backwards. Pleasingly, all of this can be avoided by long-pressing the same button which activates Siri voice assistant. As with the people on the other end of your calls, Siri should hear you loud and clear thanks to the built-in mic’s wind-reduction feature.

At some point you’ll need to take your earphones out but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss any of your music. As soon as they leave your lugholes, the Beats Flex pause your song, with the track resuming when you put them back in. I also like that you can pair the Beats Flex with the Apple Find My app, meaning they can be easily located if you put them down and forget where.

I'm sure you and your friends won’t want to listen to each other’s music, but should that happen you can use the one-tap Audio Sharing facility to connect your Beats buds with their compatible headgear.

Beats Flex review: Sound

Despite their low price, the Beats Flex provide a fairly satisfying listen with a reasonable amount of detail, beefy bass and forthright treble. Timing is also on-point which isn’t always the case with earphones at this price. The one real downside is the mid-ranges which I found sounded too feeble for my liking, while rendering keyboard riffs got a little lost in the mix. The Beats Flex don't compare favourably when tested side-by-side with Apple AirPods, but they're great value for money and perfect for your workout routine.

Beats Flex review: The Alternatives

If you’re prepared to splash the cash, then you should seriously consider the Sony WF-1000XM4 - a set of true wireless earphones that offer finely balanced sound and superb noise cancellation. They’ve since been usurped by the Sony WF-1000XM5, but the newer buds are more expensive, making these a great all-round choice.

Alternatively, for just a bit more than what the Beats Flex cost, you can get the JBL Reflect Flow Pro. With terrific battery life, adaptive noise cancelling and a lovely comfortable fit, these are ideally suited to gym work or jogging.

The Amazon Prime Day music deals don't show any signs of slowing down. I've seen epic discounts on turntables, stellar bargains on vinyl and now it's the turn of the beloved AirPods to get the Prime Day treatment. Right now you can bag 2nd generation AirPods Pro for only $199 over at Amazon - saving you a cool 20% off the normal price. According to CamelCamelCamel, this is the lowest price they've ever been!  

The ever-popular Apple AirPods Pro sit proudly in our guide to the best in-ear headphones and earbuds – and with good reason. The sound quality is brilliant, they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and they're sweat and water-resistant thanks to IPX4 tech.

In Louder’s review, we said: “As well as looking better, the AirPods Pro are more comfortable than the cheaper versions. This is partly down to the internal tapers that conform to the shape of your ears but also because Apple has provided soft silicone tips this time around – and with three different sizes in the package, it's likely that you'll find one that fits just right.”

This deal is likely to disappear once Prime Day comes to a close at midnight tonight, so best be quick to grab the Apple AirPods Pro at this neat price.

Looking for more cut-price offers before the sales door slams shut? Then check out our Prime Day turntable deals and Prime Day vinyl deals pages for some top offers.

Now more than ever, music fans are paying more attention to the most important tools in our arsenal. We’re not talking about anything that produces sound itself - quite the opposite. We’re talking about our ears or, more precisely, the gift they grant us. By protecting our ears and hearing using the best earplugs for concerts, we can give ourselves the best chance of being able to enjoy the gift of music across a lifetime. 

But what happens when they break? How often should we be looking to replace our earplugs, even if we've been diligently cleaning our earbuds? In my guide, I'll break down some of the facts, including a look at the different types of earplugs, the situations in which they excel, and what to do when they inevitably start to degrade. 

Advice from Tinnitus UK

We'll leave the last word to the team at Tinnitus UK who have practical information about protecting your hearing through their on-going Plug 'Em campaign.

Tinnitus UK say: "Exposure to loud noise can damage your ears and give you tinnitus. But just like you protect your eyes with sunglasses, you can protect your ears with ear plugs.  

"We want everyone going to gigs, riding motorbikes, using power tools, going to festivals, working in loud environments, out clubbing, doing DIY or in any situation where noise can rise to a potentially harmful level to wear earplugs.

"Protecting your hearing is very important. Once the damage has been done, it cannot be repaired, only managed. Being aware of the problems that loud noise can cause, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, is vital. 

"We want to remove the stigma of earplugs and show that they don’t have to reduce sound quality, be uncomfortable or bright yellow! "

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When we’re choosing some of the best earplugs for concerts, many of us won’t initially think about keeping them clean. However, if you want to use them gig after gig, then taking a few simple steps to keep your earplugs in top shape makes sense - especially if you’re a touring musician or regular gig-goer.

It’s also pretty easy to care for your earplugs, although if you’re using the cheaper foam versions, they’re only supposed to be used once. Another downside with these is they can’t be recycled, which is disappointing.

Some products like the popular Alpine MusicSafe Pro High Fidelity Music earplugs come with cleaning fluid and a small cloth, but it's worth noting that most earplugs don’t.

As for the importance of keeping your earplugs safe and sound, especially at an outdoor festival, Tinnitus UK advise: “In a field, if you drop an earplug, you definitely wouldn’t want to put it back in your ear. You don’t want to be getting an ear infection after a great weekend away.

“Keep a little sealable bag, something like a freezer bag, to hand to put them in when you aren’t wearing them. Some earplugs will come with a neck strap to attach them to, which means you can keep them safe. But if you don’t get a neck strap, a little sealable bag you can pop in your pocket or bag is a great way of keeping the dirt out.”

How to clean your earplugs

1. Straight off the bat, wash your hands before getting stuck into cleaning your earbuds. Then take a damp cloth and carefully wipe down each earbud to clear the grime away. Pay attention to the tips as this is where earwax can build.

2. If you’ve forgotten to clean your earbuds after a festival and they’re still residing in a corner of your mud-splattered backpack, then a little more elbow grease might be necessary. Rather than just using a damp cloth, use soap and water to wipe them down - and if needed, grab an old toothbrush and use that to work into the nooks and crannies.

3. Where you store your earplugs is also important in keeping them in tip-top condition. Some brands such as the Eargrace High Fidelity concert earplugs come with a keyring holder, while others like the Flare Audio Isolate Pro come packed with a small mesh bag. Don’t leave them lying around as you just know one will inevitably get lost.

4. While some brands of earplugs will last longer than others, all earplugs should be replaced eventually. This will obviously depend how often you use them, but if you notice they’re becoming looser or see some degradation to the tips, then it’s time to stop cleaning them and let them go.

5. Always leave your cleaned earplugs to dry naturally. Don’t be tempted to perch them on top of a radiator or use a hairdryer to get the job done. Earplugs are delicate things and you don’t want to run the risk of damaging the materials… or see them disappearing down the back of the radiator.

Hopefully these tips for keeping your earplugs clean and hygienic will help you get more life from them so you can keep enjoying your favourite live music safely.

For more about protecting your hearing and for tinnitus support, visit Tinnitus UK.

Related content

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Whether it’s Metallica or Måneskin, we all enjoy going to see live music, but, at the same time, it’s important to protect the old eardrums so we don’t end up deaf in our old age. No one is more aware of this than Ronnie Madra, who developed tinnitus after spending many years as a DJ and event organiser. It was his experiences that inspired him to found Earos, an earplug manufacturer that’s dedicated to “responsible listening” and helping people to “stay safe in sound for longer”. 

To date, Earos has launched two sets of earplugs, each costing $41/£34 for a set. There’s the Earos Sport, which are designed for use in sporting environments such as spin classes and noisy stadia. Then there’s the Earos One, which are meant for music listening and producing – and which we’ll be reviewing on this page. 

The company describes their earplugs as “the best hearing protection product on the market,” and one that’s capable of “filtering out harmful decibels without sacrificing your ability to communicate and enjoy high-fidelity music and sound.” 

That’s a pretty bold claim. So, the big question is: do they live up to the hype? To find out, we took a closer look (and an even closer listen)…   

Earos One earplugs review: Design

If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about walking into a gig with two bits of foam sticking out of your ears, you’ll be pleased to know that the Earos One earplugs look very decent, with their sleek black form factor and distinctive gold stripe giving them a semblance of sophistication. 

The plugs lodge inside the ears rather well thanks to their compact size and twist‘n’lock functionality. You also get two different tip sizes to improve your chances of getting the right fit. This is also quite handy if you plan to share the buds with a family member who has bigger or smaller ears than you.

As for what they’re made of, they're a combination of medical-grade ABS plastic and thermoplastic rubber which makes these plugs feel reassuringly robust. They wouldn’t survive being stamped on by a gorilla, but being tossed around inside your bag or pocket shouldn’t do them any harm. 

Earos One earplugs review: Features

Seeing as these are earplugs, there isn’t a long list of features to tell you about. What’s certainly worth mentioning, though, is the level of ear protection provided. According to Earos, these earplugs were developed over a number of years by “acousticians, audiologists, vibration engineers and industrial designers” to ensure they would preserve eardrums as much as possible – tests have shown that they reduce noise by a minimum of 17dB – while enabling music fans and musicians to hear their tunes in full clarity. 

To achieve the latter, Earos has equipped each earplug with a “proprietary, patented sound bore that replicates how the inner ear resonates.” We’ll give our opinion on how well it works in the next section.

One other feature of note is that the Earos One earplugs come with a small carry bag, which means you can stow them away in your pocket after use without them getting dirty or damaged.

Earos One earplugs review: Sound

Whether you’re making your own music or watching other musicians perform on stage, you want to be able to hear the songs in the best possible clarity – but you also want to prevent your eardrums from being blasted to pieces. So, how do the Earos One earplugs perform in terms of balancing these two crucial roles? 

Thanks to that twist‘n’lock mechanism, the earplugs fit snugly in the old lugholes, giving you a sense of cocooned security as you crank up your amp or wander into a music venue. It’s not too dissimilar to the feeling you get when putting on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Even at high volumes, the Earos One earplugs provide a level of reassurance that helps to reduce anxiety levels when those power chords and drum crashes kick in. 

However, unlike a bog-standard pair of foam plugs that can leave you wondering what song your favourite band is playing, the Earos One earplugs don’t muffle the music, allowing you to hear every bell and whistle, albeit at a slightly reduced volume.

What’s more, you won’t find them difficult to remove once your session is finished, meaning you can avoid having to reach for the tweezers.

Earos One earplugs review: The alternatives

The Fender Musician Series earplugs offer a cheaper alternative, even if their noise reduction rating (NRR) is slightly lower than the Isolate Pros at 27dB. These accessories are also somewhat bulkier, though they’re still comfy – and are washable too. No wonder they sit pretty at the top our list of the best earplugs for concerts. 

Meanwhile, we'll also give a shout out to the Vibes Hi-Fidelity earplugs, which impressed us when we put them through their paces. They're reasonably priced and reduce unwanted noise by 15dB. Sure, they're not going to cut the mustard if you're down at the front, but if you like to stand back from the action, these are well worth a closer look.

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• "No live event is more important than your hearing."
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• How to keep your earplugs clean so you can use them time after time

We've been scouring the internet to find some early Black Friday wireless headphone deals and we stumbled across this brilliant bargain. Amazon are currently selling the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ in-ear headphones in white with 20% off, taking these True Wireless earbuds down to just £39.95!

Amazon have also cut the price of the same headphones in the US, taking them down from $59.95 to $49.95 - a 17% saving.

To pay less than £40 for these earbuds is a steal and definitely one to jump on ahead of Black Friday as we doubt this price will be bettered throughout the big sales weekend.

So what exactly do you get for your money with the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+? Well, these in-ear headphones boast 5.8mm graphene-enhanced drivers and a High Performance Audio Mode, which helps deliver truly immersive audio - and it can be tuned to your specifics through the customisable EQ settings on the dedicated Melomania app.

Battery life is a decent nine hours from a single charge and that can be boosted to 45 hours through the included charging case. The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ impress us so much that they also feature high up in our guide to the best in-ear headphones.

And with Black Friday taking place this year on November 25, we'll also be keeping our list of the best Black Friday music deals updated to help steer you towards a great saving or two.

Black Friday is still weeks away, but that hasn’t stopped some of the big online retailers from cutting the price of the ever-popular Apple AirPods Pro in both the US and UK ahead of the big sales weekend which gets under way on November 25.

The first offer to catch our eye is at Walmart, where the US retailer has reduced the price of the Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) with MagSafe charging case from $214 to $159 – a brilliant 25% off.

And if you’re after a pair of Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) then BestBuy have you covered. They’re selling them with charging case for $249.99 and are throwing four months of Apple Music, four months of Apple News+ and three months of Apple TV+ into the bargain for new or returning subscribers.

Meanwhile, Amazon UK have also slashed the price of the Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) with MagSafe charging case, cutting them from £239 to £184.

Check out the best deals we’ve seen on the Apple AirPods Pro below and keep your eyes on our guides to the best Black Friday wireless headphones deals and Black Friday music deals so you can grab brilliant Black Friday bargain.

• Bag a bargain using our Black Friday AirPods deals live blog

Apple AirPods Pro: US deals

Apple AirPods Pro: UK deals

Black Friday deals: US quick links

We expect the online retailers listed below to get in on this year's Black Friday sales weekend. While the Black Friday sales won't get under way until November, some of the sites listed have reductions on a number of products.

• Walmart | Big Fall savings on tech and more
• Amazon (US) | All the daily deals in one handy place
• Best Buy | Top deals on headphones, video games and more
• Bose | Offers on headphones, speakers and audio sunglasses
• Converse | Classic styles and more on sale
• Guitar Center | Huge savings on instruments, amps and more
• Marshall | Explore the latest speaker and headphones
• Nixon | Home of the Metallica, Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones watch
• Sweetwater | Musical instruments at knockdown prices
• Musician's Friend | Save big on essential items for musicians
• Target | Explore savings on practically everything!

Black Friday deals: UK quick links

• Amazon (UK) | Shop the latest deals at Amazon
• AO | From tablets to fridges, check out the deals at AO
• Argos | Tech and toys for less
• Bose | Back to school savings at Bose
• Converse | Big discounts on classic styles
• Currys | Epic prices on top tech
• EMP | Heavily discounted rock and metal merch
• Etsy | Merch, collectibles and more
• Firebox | Mad gifts for weird stuff
• HHV | Save big on vinyl and merch
• I Want One Of Those.com | Daft gifts and cool tech 
• John Lewis | Shop the latest tech offers
• LoveHoney | Sex toys
• Marshall | Explore the latest speaker and headphones offers
• Nixon | Home of the Metallica, Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones watch 
• Thomann | Hot deals on big-name music gear brands
• Townsend Music | Hundreds of records going cheap
• Very.co.uk | Big savings on everything from headphones to tablets

Loop have unveiled a brand new set of earplugs which have been designed for everyday use when out and about.

The company are perhaps best known for developing earplugs for audio, with the Loop Experience earplugs featuring high in our guide to the best earplugs for concerts.

Now the Belgian company have unveiled something new in the shape of the Loop Engage Plus earplugs which come as a result of feedback from their customers who indicated they’d like earplugs which offer noise reduction but not at the cost of hearing their own voice while in conversation.

Loop state: “Loop Engage Plus earplugs allow you to have conversations freely, offering up to 16dB noise reduction without compromising sound clarity. Thanks to a newly engineered filter, Loop Engage combats the echoey occlusion effect in your head, helping your voice sounds more natural during conversations.

“Loop Engage can be worn at any engagement – at bars, birthday parties, dinner tables, networking events and especially Disney Parks."

They add: “Engage in every conversation with these reusable earplugs. Sustainable and lightweight, they help you manage sound without the echoey, head-underwater feeling.”

There are four colour variations to choose from and each comes with a Loop Mute accessory which gives you an additional 5 dB of noise reduction. Check out a gallery and video of the Loop Engage below.

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• How often should you replace your earplugs?
• "No live event is more important than your hearing."
• Help Musicians offer support to artists over "rising issue" of hearing loss

We’re big fans of Apple’s AirPods Pro wireless earbuds here at Louder. Not only do we believe they offer the best audio and features for the price in the AirPods range (AirPods Max are still too rich for our blood), but the shorter stems look way better than the original AirPods. Like, way better. Just check out our Apple AirPods Pro review to see how much we love them…

So, when Apple announced the release of the AirPods Pro 2, we were excited - especially since they've already been discounted by $26 for Amazon Prime Day. 

We already loved their neat form factor, while Active Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio ensures that everything from the latest Slipknot album and our favourite podcasts to video calls sound full-bodied, crisp and intimate. The second generation AirPods Pro have taken all that we loved about the originals and cracked them up to 11, with better noise cancelling, even better audio and longer battery life.

But the pièce de résistance for us is the one thing we thought was missing from version 1… the ability to adjust the volume without having to reach for your handset or ask Siri – not a great look in public. With the AirPods Pro 2 you can swipe up or down on the stem of either Pod to nail the volume you want. Magic. We’re going to upgrade ours for this feature alone.

• Bag a bargain using our Black Friday AirPods deals live blog

Other key features of the AirPods Pro 2 include IPX4 water and sweat resistance, a killer MagSafe Charging Case that keeps them juiced up when you’re not using them, and a low-distortion audio driver and a custom amplifier for richer bass and crystal-clear sound across the frequency range.

While this is a fantastic discount, we’re excited to see what this year’s Black Friday music deals bring when it comes to discounts on vinyl, headphones, turntables and more.

• Need more inspiration? These are the best Christmas gifts for music lovers
• Our pick of the best budget wireless headphones

The second and final day of Amazon’s Prime Day Early Access deals event is in full swing, with prices tumbling on a whole range of tech, collectables, vinyl and more.

One deal that made us sit up and take notice today was the Bose QuietComfort earbuds for a knockdown price of £132.05 – that’s £117.90 down from the RRP of £249.95. They're also on sale through Amazon US, with the price reduction taking them down from $220.99 to $199.49.

• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the UK
• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the US

The noise cancelling on the Bose QuietComfort is excellent and will block out noisy traffic as you go about your daily business. That means you can properly appreciate your music on the go, especially with Bose’s volume-optimised Active EQ teach and support for hi-fi audio.

Like the name implies, these are a comfortable set of in-ear headphones to wear for long periods and they come with three sizes of StayHear Max tips to ensure you get a great fit. They also give you up to six hours of playtime on a single charge, but that can be increased by a further 12 hours with the charging case.

The Bose QuietComfort also have an IPX4 rating which keeps means they’re safe from the rain - perfect if you’re planning to use them mainly while out and about.

If you're looking for more bargains this Prime Day, take a look at our roundup of Prime Day Sony headphone deals and our Prime Day tech deals for music fans under $50/£50.

And with Black Friday on the horizon, keep our Black Friday wireless headphones deals page bookmarked. We'll be filling it up with more top headphone deals before too long, along with highlighting the best Black Friday music deals around.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up now. Not only will you get access to great deals, but other benefits include Prime Video, next day delivery and more.

Amazon Prime Day Early Access deals 2022: Best deals right now

• Amazon Devices: Up to 60% off Echos, Kindles and more
• Apple savings: Apple iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 6
• Booze: Up to 32% off rum, whisky, beer and champagne
• Coffee machines: Save big on your next cup of rocket fuel
• Gaming: Mega savings on XBox, Switch and PS5 gear
• Headphones & speakers: Up to 61% off Sony, Sennheiser, Marshall
• Laptops: Microsoft, ASUS, Lenovo and more going cheap
• Lego: Up to 47% off sets. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Technics...
• Smartphones: Save hundred on handsets from Sony and OnePlus
• Vans: Save up to 40% on high-tops, slip-ons

Such has been the ubiquity of the Apple AirPods and Apple AirPods Pro over the past few years, we were starting to wonder whether we'd ever see anything other than those droopy white buds sitting in, or on, people's lugholes. Of course, there are plenty of other, equally-excellent options for those wishing to listen to their music in private, but few brands can compete with the Cupertino lot when it comes to delivering that most coveted of benefits: street cred. 

As it turns out, it's Apple themselves who've challenged the AirPods' dominance in December 2020 by launching their first set of over-ear headphones. According to the tech giant, the wireless, active noise cancelling AirPods Max provide “the ultimate personal listening experience” whether you're looking to play your favourite playlist on one of the plethora of music streaming services, or watching the latest blockbuster or show on one of the many TV and film streaming sites.

And that statement has been backed up by both customers and experts, with the headphones scoring an impressive 4.6 out of five based on more than 600 Amazon ratings, and earning a place on our list of the best over-ear headphones.

But what makes these pioneering head-speakers so hot? Read on to find out more about the AirPods Max, from their design and features, to how they sound. 

• Bag a bargain using our Black Friday AirPods deals live blog

Apple AirPods Max review: Design

Being an Apple product, the AirPods Max aren't exactly the most rock'n'roll-looking headphones you can buy. For us, they're more middle of the road than Highway To Hell. But they're still pleasing to the eye, looking every bit as sleek and contemporary as you'd expect from the Cupertino tech giant. Available in a choice of five colours – Silver, Space Grey, Sky Blue, Pink or Green – they're built upon a durable stainless steel frame that's wrapped in a soft-to-the-touch material you'll never get bored of, well, touching. 

Seeing as the AirPods Max are meant for wearing rather than touching, though, you'll be pleased to know that the frame isn't the only thing that's soft with these headphones. The ear cushions are made from a sumptuous, acoustically engineered memory foam that's not only super-squishy, it allows for a secure fit that makes the listening experience more immersive. Couple this with a breathable mesh canopy that's designed to distribute weight to reduce on-head pressure, and you have a pair of headphones that are ideal for long listening sessions. Luckily, they have the battery life to match – more about that in a second.       

Flexibility is always a bonus when it comes to headphones, and the Apple AirPods Max have it in spades. Adjusting the size to fit your head is easily achievable thanks to the telescopic arms. But you should only have to do it once anyway, as the headphones are designed to stay in position, ready for the next time you want to use them. Another pretty cool feature with the AirPods Max is that the anodised aluminium cups rotate independently, meaning you can tweak and turn them to your heart's – and your ears' – content.

Finally, a quick word about the controls. In a design move that's got Apple's name written all over it, the AirPods Max feature something called a digital crown on the right ear cup - similar to the one on the Apple Watch. This small, rotating knob can be used to adjust the volume, skip tracks, take calls and activate Siri. It's all very smooth and, once you've got past the initial learning curve, you'll love using it. Joining the digital crown on the right ear cup is the button for switching between active noise cancelling and transparency modes – that's another thing we'll discuss in the next section. 

Apple AirPods Max review: Features

We mentioned earlier that the AirPods Max are blessed with great battery life, and we weren't lying. From a full charge, you can get up to 20 hours' usage whether you're listening to music (with active noise cancelling or transparency enabled), watching movies (with spatial audio switched on) or nattering away on the phone. That's around four times as much as the previous AirPods iterations offer – though you can get up to 24 hours' usage with those if they're paired with their respective charging cases. 

The AirPods Max carry sleeve doesn't offer charging, but it does allow the headphones to drift into an “ultra-low power state” when they're not being used, helping to save valuable minutes. By the way, if you need some emergency battery power for that last-minute train journey, you'll be pleased to know that just five minutes of charge will get you around 90 minutes of listening. 

On to the audio smarts, and while the AirPods Max contain some of the same features as the AirPods Pro and the AirPods (3rd Generation) – including Adaptive EQ, in which playback is tuned according to how the listener's ears fit inside the cups, these over-ears pack larger, custom-designed 40mm drivers. Also present is a dual neodymium ring magnet motor that allows for much lower distortion across the entire audible range – even at high volumes.

Love movies? With gyroscopes and accelerometers built in, the AirPods Max will follow the movement of your head as you watch a film, and adapt their soundstage accordingly. This means you're guaranteed an immersive, three-dimensional audio experience whether you're looking at your popcorn, your phone or – crazy idea though it is – the screen that you're watching the actual movie on.   

The Apple AirPods Max also manage to squeeze in no fewer than nine microphones. This, along with the aforementioned stainless steel, might explain why the headphones are so heavy at 386 grams. Eight of these work together to provide the active noise cancelling, while three of them are used for voice pick-up, allowing for crystal-clear calls. 

Apple AirPods Max review: Sound

To find out how the Apple AirPods Max sound when streaming a bit of old-fashioned, hair-swinging metal, we enclosed them around our ears, switched on active noise cancelling and lined up Iron Maiden's Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter. 

No sooner had we requested the song than the opening chords came crashing through the cups, full of verve and precision. These were quickly followed by the bass, and the feeling of satisfaction as those bottom notes plunged into our earholes was instant. Rich and rounded like a fat millionaire, they gave this rock classic a whole new lease of life. Even when we inevitably turned up the volume, the bass didn't buckle, sticking to its task with heroic vigour. Neither did the mids and highs, and even in Bruce Dickinson's shriekier moments, any deterioration in quality was minimal. 

It helped that the active noise cancelling was so impressive; not only did it manage to snuff out the vast majority of unwelcome sounds, it also emphasised the finer textures in Iron Maiden's music. And that, friends, can only be a good thing. 

Apple AirPods Max review: The alternatives

If you're a fan of Apple's products but prefer in-ears to over-ears, then why not consider a pair of Apple AirPods Pro? These classy buds offer great sound, active noise cancelling and transparency modes, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, Siri voice support, plus more than 24 hours of battery life when used with their charging case. And they come in considerably cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max.

Not an Apple fan? For a great alternative, check out the Sony WH-1000XM4. They sit comfortably at the no.1 spot in our guide to the best over-ear headphones, and these foldable headphones combine superb sound quality and best-in-class active noise cancelling with 30 hours of battery life for an overall listening experience that'll have you chomping at the bit to put them on again.

If you’re a rock or metal fan, House Of Marley might not be a name that you instantly recognise when it comes to audio tech. However, they’ve been releasing products since 2008 and have steadily been building a reputation for themselves – not just in the audio sphere, but because they’ve based their business model on sustainability and charitable causes through the Project Marley initiative.

House Of Marley were founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan and they’ve gone on to release turntables, Bluetooth speakers, accessories and in-ear headphones, with each of their products created using bamboo, natural wood fibre composite and recycled plastic.

Today, we’re taking a look at the recently released House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 in-ear headphones which have entered the competitive earbud marketplace. Do they do enough to stand out from the crowd? Read on to find out.

House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 earbuds review: Design

As mentioned previously, all House Of Marley products have a bamboo finish and the Redemption ANC 2 look particularly smart with a thin strip of wood used down he side of the antenna. Bamboo is also used on the top of the handy charging case which has a flecked design due to the recycled plastic used.

Three sizes of isolation earbud tips are included - the medium set are on the buds right out of the box, while the large and small sizes are neatly strung on a small piece of twisted bamboo. The textured USB-C charging cable is also wrapped in a bamboo tie to complete the package.

I had no issues with fitting the buds and they remained comfortable for long listening sessions.

House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 earbuds review: Features

The earbuds come with Active Noise Cancellation – a feature that’s now seen more and more in the in-ear headphone category. The ANC here is pretty good too, managing to block out some of the rush hour traffic on a recent walk. You can switch between ANC and ambient modes by pressing and holding either the right or left bud.

Sure, you can find better ANC on some headphones such as the Sony WF-1000XM4, but considering the price difference between the two models, I wasn’t disappointed at what House Of Marley have delivered here. 

As for other controls, they're pretty straightforward: A single touch of the right bud increases volume while a touch on the left reduces it. A double tap on either the right or left bud allows you to skip to the next track. 

The Redemption ANC 2 are also IPX5 certified meaning they’re sweat and water resistant, so good for a workout or a walk outdoors even if the weather isn’t great. Wireless charging is also catered for and a single charge will give you six hours of ANC playtime and eight in ambient mode, with up to 24-hours when you factor in the charging case. In addition, a quick 15 minute charge will give you two hours of music. This is a nice touch, but I’d like to have seen more playtime out of the case.

We’ll get on to the sound quality in a moment, but it’s worth pointing out that you can update firmware, tweak the EQ settings and customise touch controls through the easy to use House Of Marley app.

House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 earbuds review: Sound

Right out of the box, I found the House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 earbuds far too bass heavy for my tastes. But a few minutes tinkering with the EQ settings on the app and I was able to find my audio sweet spot and save my choices. 

While I put the earbuds through their paces with a variety of musical genres, one thing that really did stand out for me was the warmth of sound that came through the headphones - like a wee sonic comfort blanket for your lugs. Lovely.

Using Apple Music, I first fired up Pink Floyd’s Learning To Fly from the 2019 remix of A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It was punchy and clean with Tony Levin’s bass well balanced against Rick Wright’s keyboards and David Gilmour’s guitar tones and vocals.

Bryan Adams’ One Night Love Affair from his timeless Reckless album was equally impressive with that warmth and audio depth coming through that can sometimes be absent from certain in-ear headphones.

To move up a gear, I jumped straight into Metallica’s …And Justice For All and the title track. The intro guitars shone and I could almost feel the floor shake when Lars battered his way in. It sounded fresh and exciting – even though Jason Newsted’s bass still struggled to rise above the mix.

For the final tests I picked Low Earth Orbit from North Atlantic Oscillation’s Grind Show album and it sounded terrific. Everything was in harmony and its finer details came through brilliantly, while Cocteau Twins classic Heaven Or Las Vegas sounded magical, with Robin Guthrie's shimmering guitar sounding crisp and clean alongside Liz Fraser's astonishing vocals.

House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2 earbuds review: The alternatives

I mentioned them previously, but if you’re looking to spend a wee bit more on in-ear headphones, I recommend the Sony WF-1000XM4. I bought a pair of these last year and they continue to deliver on all fronts and I’m still vey happy with my decision to buy them.

If your music subscription service of choice is Apple Music, then you can’t go far wrong with the iconic Apple AirPods Pro. They are more expensive than the House Of Marley Redemption ANC 2, but the music quality when paired with Apple Music’s spatial audio is simply stunning.

Related guides

• The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
• Plug your lugs with the best earplugs for concerts
• The best budget wireless headphones
• Best headphones for music: supercharge your listening
• The best audiophile headphones: Get more from your music
• The best headphone amps: Boost the mood
• The best kid's headphones: Headphones that are great for children
• Loudest headphones: You want volume and lots of it? You got it

With the live music scene now back in full swing, we’ve been keeping tabs on how best to protect your hearing with our best earplugs for concerts guide.

Now, another contender for our list has been revealed in the shape of a collaborative project between D’Addario and EarLabs, who have combined their efforts to produce the dBud earplugs which cater to both fans and musicians.

The partnership promises hi-fidelity sound without damaging hearing, with the dBuds featuring two volume sliders to decrease noise by either 11dB or 24dB depending on what suits you best.

Each set of dBud earplugs includes two filters along with five pairs of reusable silicone inserts to suit a variety of ear canal sizes. They’re also magnetic and can be attached through an enclosed lanyard for safe keeping when not in use.

EarLabs Christian Dittrich says: “Working with D’Addario made the most sense. From their reputation in the music industry as the leading accessories manufacturer and their constant curiosity for innovation, we couldn’t think of a better home for dBud.”

The dBud earplugs are available from the official D’Addario website priced at $54.99. A UK price has still to be confirmed.

For more information about how to protect your hearing at live shows and festivals, visit the British Tinnitus Association's website.

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• How often should you replace your earplugs?
• "No live event is more important than your hearing."
• Living with tinnitus: "We all love music – why would we want to lose that?"
• Help Musicians offer support to artists over "rising issue" of hearing loss

We think we speak for the majority of the music-loving community when we say that certain styles of music are best enjoyed loud. There's something primal about a blisteringly loud rock or metal concert. For us, searing guitars, rumbling bass and gut-punching kick drums are what gigs are all about. However, one thing we could live without is hearing damage. That's why we never attend a show without a set of the best earplugs for concerts safely in our skulls. 

Today we turn our attention to the Eargrace High Fidelity earplugs, which promise to deliver up to 23dB of attenuation via their specially designed filters that Eargrace say can "reduce noise while retaining the entire sound spectrum". 

While they may be primarily marketed toward musicians and gig-goers, the High Fidelity hearing protectors can also be used for just about any loud event, from rowdy nightclubs and pubs to calming the roar of a crowd at sports match. 

Made from a non-toxic silicone material, Eargrace claims the High Fidelity plugs are highly comfortable, even after prolonged use, and will not cause itching or pressure pain – something we will put to the test. 

Naturally, one of the best ways to test a set of earplugs is to wear them in a loud yet controlled environment – so what better place than the rehearsal space of a noisy, punk rock band. Over the course of the jam session, we paid careful attention to the overall clarity of the sound, the comfort of the fit and, of course, the overall noise reduction. 

Eargrace High Fidelity Earplugs review: Features

In terms of features, there isn't all that much to talk about with the High Fidelity plugs, you do, however, get a few goodies in the box. Each set comes with two different sizes of earplugs – large and small – to ensure you get the best possible fit for your ears. You also get a handy aluminium carry case, which can be fitted to a key ring, as well as a neck cord and a cleaning brush. 

The plugs themselves are made of a transparent silicone material and feel very soft and pliable. It's also refreshing to not have any faffing about with filters and extra parts. The earplugs come ready-made, with no need to insert the filter yourself – making them a very convenient option.

Eargrace High Fidelity Earplugs review: Comfort/performance

As we said, these plugs are incredibly easy to use – simply select the correct size for your ears and stick them in – but how comfortable are they? We actually found Eargrace's High Fidelity earplugs to be very comfy indeed. Okay, they aren't as invisible as the custom moulded plugs we are used to, but you soon acclimatise to the feeling of them in your ears.

Now, a massive hurdle for earplugs to overcome is how well they stay put while singing – or if you aren't a vocalist, then simply talking. It's very common for plugs to become dislodged when you move your jaw, and this can be infuriating for someone trying to pour their heart out into a microphone. I'm delighted to announce these earplugs did a great job at staying in place and didn't leak in any unfiltered sound – a massive win in my eyes.

That brings us on to the noise reduction and clarity of the plugs. Eargrace boasts that these earplugs deliver 23dB of attenuation, and while this may be true, we certainly didn't feel like we were getting that level of protection. When we compared them to a set of the Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs – which offer up to 22dB – we felt that there was a dramatic difference in volume between the two sets. So if you are going to a particularly loud concert, then you may want to opt for a set with a more consistent attenuation. 

That said, the clarity of the plugs was pretty good. The high frequencies of the cymbals remained bright and present, while the low end of the bass didn't get too muddy. As the frequency spectrum was rather broad, we did find that the vocals got lost, and we struggled to hear ourselves sing – so for that reason, we wouldn't recommend them for vocalists in a noisy band.

Eargrace High Fidelity Earplugs review: The alternatives

If you've been looking for a while for a new set of earplugs, then you'll not need us to tell you that there are a slew of options out there, varying from the cheap and cheerful foam plugs to top of the range hi-tech options. 

Now, while we enjoyed most aspects of Eargrace's High Fidelity plugs, we feel more comfortable recommending the Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs. These plugs are around the same price, offer more in the way of extras, and more importantly, we feel they offer better noise reduction. 

For those looking for a budget option, it's hard to beat Fender Musician Ear Plugs. Fender manages to deliver a super functional set of hearing protection at a price every musician and live music fanatic can afford. 

Related content

• Best earplugs for concerts: Get your ears gig-ready
• 5 things to consider when investing in a pair of earplugs
• How often should you replace your earplugs?
• "No live event is more important than your hearing."
• Living with tinnitus: "We all love music – why would we want to lose that?"
• Help Musicians offer support to artists over "rising issue" of hearing loss
• How to keep your earplugs clean so you can use them time after time

Whether you’re a touring musician or a serial gig hound, we’re all using those two funny-shaped pieces of skin and cartilage at the side of our heads to enjoy our music. They’re the inlet through which whatever particular formulation of sound waves we live for enters our brain, causing that dopamine release of happiness when we hear a particularly epic chorus or savage breakdown. Enter Loop Earplugs, a new offering that aim to protect your eardrums while still allowing you to enjoy raucous rock'n'roll – and keep you looking stylish at the same time.

Here at Louder, we like things, well, loud. We get it, talking about hearing protection isn’t particularly rock'nroll. Rock and metal should be about walls of Marshall stacks, oversized drum kits with way too many cymbals, and vocalists who go from low growls all the way to piercing shrieks right? Well, it was with horror we listened to a drummer’s story of how they now have to sleep with headphones on because the constant ringing in their ears was driving them insane. From that day on, we opted to wear earplugs, and you should too.

Loop Experience earplugs review: Design

Our set of Loop Earplugs arrived in a luxurious-looking black and gold box made of soft card. Ours is the Experience set, one of three variations that Loop offers its customers. Rated at -18dB, not only are they great earplugs for concerts and rehearsals, but they’re also ideal for motorbike riders and beleaguered parents too.

Opening up the box we find a tiny, circular case with the Loop logo lightly debossed into it. A small loop of elastic is attached to the top of the case, for attaching to keyrings and the like. When we open the case we discover our set of Loop Earplugs looking like some kind of alien jewellery thanks to their unusual design. They certainly look more like an accessory than something functional, standing out amongst the plethora of earplugs we’ve tried previously.

It's also worth pointing out that they're available in a variety of colours: Black, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold.

Loop Experience earplugs review: Features

Loop Earplugs don’t just look like this for the sake of it, there is in fact a method to their unusual design. Looking closely at the loop attached to the earplug you can see a tiny hole on the inside of the circle. This is where the sound enters, travelling around the full length of the loop before it hits the noise filter located in the ear tip before terminating at your eardrum.

Nestled among the box they arrived in are three alternative size plugs so you can mix and match them to suit your unique ear canal shape. There's a total of four different sizes including the ones already attached to the earplugs, which should be more than enough to suit the vast majority of ears out there.

We can’t help but feel it’s a slight oversight that there’s no cord to hold the earplugs together. Like most earplugs, they’re small and relatively fiddly to get out of the case and we could easily see them getting dropped on the floor of a dark venue to vanish forever.

Loop Experience earplugs review: Usability and comfort

Popping the Loop Earplugs in takes a little getting used to. It’s not unlike our usual moulded earplugs that need to be orientated the correct way to fit into your ear canal. It doesn’t take us long to get them in however, and once they’re there you can hardly feel them. In fact, we found ourselves loudly discussing last week's rehearsal hijinks with the majority of the bar, blissfully unaware the music in the background had stopped, and much to our partner’s chagrin.

Loop Experience earplugs review: Sound

Our litmus test for the Loop Earplugs was our local Metal To The Masses final. Featuring the best in heavy music from Viking Metal all the way to Deathcore, we can think of few better ways to test how a new set of earplugs perform.

With our earplugs out, the mix of drop-tuned guitars was muddy, the bass overhyped, and the mids nigh-on non-existent. Popping our Loop Earplugs, in we see that same mix transformed before our very ears. They tame the low end fantastically well, the low bass string is suddenly punchy and articulate, the guitars are cutting through the midrange nicely, and we can actually hear the vocalists' best pig squeals.

As is inevitable with any kind of ear protection, you do lose some of that high-end sizzle, but it’s a price we’re willing to pay to actually be able to hear what these talented instrumentalists are playing. Loop Earplugs make the experience of listening to live music infinitely better, and the best thing is that the protection they offer will ensure you’re able to keep on listening without strain.

Loop Experience earplugs review: The alternatives

Loop Earplugs aren’t quite priced at the budget level, but they’re not priced for a premium audience either. If you’re looking for a budget set, then we can highly recommend the Fender Musician Earplugs. Costing less than $10/£10 you get great protection that probably costs less than those gig tickets you just bought.

If you’ve got a little more cash on your hip, then Earasers earplugs are a more premium offering that does a fantastic job of ensuring you get an even balance. Although aimed primarily at musicians, these will work well for all music fans, ensuring you get the best possible sound without any hearing damage.

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As musicians, gig-goers, and general music lovers, we tend to like our music loud, probably too loud if we're honest. So while it's exhilarating to listen to a live band who has turned everything up to 11, there's one major downside – irreversible hearing damage.

That's why everyone at Louder takes their hearing health very seriously, and we feel you should be doing the same. We wholeheartedly believe that every live music fanatic should own a quality pair of earplugs because, at the end of the day, you don't want to be listening to your favourite artist behind a high-pitched whistle you'll never shake.

Now, if you are going to invest in a pair of earplugs, you'll want to know they're going to do the job. That's why we've turned our attention to Alpine's MusicSafe Pro plugs, putting them through their paces at a rather loud and energetic band practice to see how they hold up in a real-life situation.

We tested the Alpine earplugs in a relatively small room, with hard-hitting drums, rumbling bass, screeching guitars and vocals, taking note of the noise reduction, clarity and, of course, the comfort of the fit.

Who are Alpine? Starting back in 1994 in the Netherlands, Alpine has been focused on producing high-quality hearing protection for decades, and it’s not just the music industry they service. Alpine also offers options for motorcyclists, swimmers, and even those looking for a more peaceful night's sleep.

Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs review: Features

As far as earplugs go, the Alpine MusicSafe Pro set come with a slew of extras aside from the plugs themselves. In the box, you'll find three plugs (one as a spare), three sets of filters (two gold, two silver and two bronze), a carry case, cleaning fluid and a cord to hold them safely together.

The provided filters offer varying levels of noise reduction, with the bronze reducing the level by 16 dB, the silver by 19 dB and the gold lowering the level the most by 22 dB. For the purposes of this review, we opted for the gold filter, as the noise level in the rehearsal space was pretty intense.

We must say, this is a rather neat little package, for not a lot of money and we were pretty impressed with what was included. That said, we did feel that while the extra plug seems like a great idea on the surface, it's rendered almost useless when you consider you only get one set of each of the filters.

Okay, if you lose one of the plugs at a concert, you could change to the other set of filters – for example, go from gold to silver – but we would have loved to have an extra filter to go with the extra plug. Admittedly this is a tiny complaint, and we guess you just need to make sure you don't misplace one of your earplugs!

We have to quickly mention the addition of a cleaning spray with the earplugs. This is something we very much appreciated. We may be guilty of forgetting to clean our earplugs as regularly as we should, and this spray is so easy to use that it makes cleaning them after every use a breeze – other earplug companies should definitely take note.

Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs review: Usability & comfort

Getting the Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs ready to rock couldn't be easier. Simply push your desired filter into the plug, and you're ready to go – it's really that simple. If you plan on using the accompanying cord, you just clip it on to the stem of the plug, and your earplugs will be secured.

When it comes to earplugs, comfort has to be one of the most critical factors for us – well, apart from noise reduction, but we'll get to that. As we typically wear plugs for upwards of four hours in a rehearsal room, the slightest discomfort is amplified dramatically by the time you near the end of the jam session.

Now, we can safely say that the Alpine MusicSafe Pros are among the most comfortable off the shelve plugs we've ever tried. After one or two songs, we quickly forgot we had them in and got very used to the feeling of them in our ears. Much to our delight, there was no discomfort or itchiness to speak of – and that's not something we can usually say about the more common silicon plugs on the market.

While they can't fully compete with the comfort provided by the custom moulded plugs we typically use, their lightweight nature and soft "AlpineThermoShape" construction make them a very viable option for those looking to keep the cost down while also protecting their ears.

Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs review: Performance

That brings us to the overall performance of the Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs. As we said previously, we were putting them through their paces at a very loud band rehearsal. If you've ever been in a practice studio with a live band, then you'll know how loud it can get – especially if you have a guitarist who thinks the amp only works at 11 and a drummer who hits the snare like it owes him money!

We must say the Alpine earplugs did a great job at retaining the overall clarity of the sound in the room. While some of the frequencies lost a little definition – mainly the low mids – overall, the balance was pretty outstanding. The noise reduction was pretty spectacular, too. We were using the gold filters, which dropped the volume by 22 dB, and this made the volume much more manageable and comfortable.

We'll also mention that the Alpine plugs held up surprisingly well to the demands of singing. Lesser earplugs tend to move around with the movement of your jaw, which can result in loud audio bleeding in, which is not only distracting as a performer, but it's also not great for your hearing. Luckily the Alpine MusicSafe Pros were as solid as a rock and didn't move around at all.

Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs review: The alternatives

It's safe to say that you aren't short of options if you are looking for a quality set of earplugs. There is pretty much a set out there to suit every budget. That said, it does mean there are many sub-par options on the market.

If you are looking for a low-cost set of earplugs that are sure to protect your ears without affecting the natural sound of the music, then you may want to turn to famous noisemakers, Fender. This legendary guitar manufacturer's Fender Musician Series earplugs offer a whopping 27dB of noise reduction at an unbeatable price.

If you are looking for a high-end option, then the Etymotic Music Pro active earplugs definitely get our vote. These hi-tech plugs employ an electronic circuit, designed to automatically adjust to the changing audio levels. Basically, any noise below a certain level will pass through unaffected, while loud sounds will be attenuated.

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• "No live event is more important than your hearing."
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These Fender plugs have the ‘Musician’ moniker because they’re primarily aimed at people who spend a lot of time in rehearsal rooms with cranked amps and clamorous cymbals and who want to prolong their hearing health by plugging their ears. But the same applies outside the rehearsal room, as these affordable plugs are also ideal earplugs for concerts, whether you’re performing yourself, or attending a big rock show.

For the purposes of this Fender Musicians Ear Plugs review, we purchased a pair from Thomann and headed along to Architects’ gig at Cardiff Arena (UK) on Thursday May 5 to do some testing.

In this review we’ll explore the main features of these plugs, talk about comfort and performance based on our personal experience and suggest alternative options if you have something different in mind.

Fender Musician Ear Plugs review: Features

The Fender Musician Ear Plugs are made from black rubber and come connected by a thin plastic cord, which is permanently attached. While the cord won’t stand up to much tension, it certainly serves its purpose of stopping a loose plug falling to the floor if one pops out of your ear. We’re big fans of the cord here at Louder, especially considering higher end plugs like the Flare Audio Isolate Pro cost up to three times as much and don’t come with one.

The plugs themselves feature a four-step flanged design, so they should fit most sizes of ear canal – you basically push them in as far as you need to find the right fit and get a good seal. 

The earplugs are washable with warm soapy water so you can clear the inevitable ear grime on regular occasions and continue to re-use them for as long as they’re hygienic. There’s also a small plastic carry case included in the price. The case features a short keychain so you'll always have your plugs to hand – whether you’re at a gig, operating machinery or simply want to drown out the din at home. The case is a great way to keep them clean and dust-free, too.

Prices vary but on average you should be able to pick up a pair of Fender Musician Ear Plugs for around $10/£5.

Fender Musician Ear Plugs review: Comfort & performance

These plugs promise up to 27dB of sound reduction. According to non-profit organisation H.E.A.R (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), the volume of most concerts is between 110 and 120 decibels (dB), with the standard talking volume sitting anywhere between 40 and 60 dB. With this 27dB reduction, the Fender Musician’s Ear Plugs do a decent job of keeping your ears safe from the most harmful volumes.

In the proving ground of an arena gig, these plugs do the trick. Inserting them takes some practice to ensure you get them seated right and get a proper seal between your ear canal and the outside world. In our experience, the best approach is to pull up and back on your ear to open up the canal, enabling you to insert the plugs easily and comfortably. Once seated properly we experienced a decent and almost immediate reduction in overall volume.

Often at this cheaper end of the spectrum, budget plugs reduce the volume but also muffle the clarity of the audio – often diminishing your experience and ability to feel the event – but we didn’t experience much of that here. Reducing volume will always take something away from the overall impact of a live event, but we believe that protecting your ears will ensure you can go damage-free for longer and attend more gigs anyway. 

While these earplugs are a pretty basic affair, the Fender stamp of approval instils a certain level of confidence in you – after all, they do make guitars for the exact same instrument-playing and gig-going audience as these plugs are aimed at.

They’re not the most attractive product you’ll ever buy, but they’re built for a very important purpose and they nail the brief. If you need further proof, the average score on Amazon is 4.2 out of 5, based on 350 reviews. That’s a lot of happy rockers.

Fender Musician Ear Plugs review: The alternatives

You can’t go far wrong with a pair of functional plugs like the Fender Musician Ear Plugs that cost less than $10/£10. That said, you don’t have to push your budget much further to get yourself a pair that delivers even better noise protection, clarity and comfort. We highly rate the Vibes High Fidelity plugs for that. They come with a case, too.

Push your budget a little more and you’ll be able to pick up a pair of the Flare Audio Isolate Pros. They’re some of the most discrete earplugs we’ve tested, they look super stylish and they reduce volume substantially, without impacting the quality of the music too much. Our only reservation is that they don’t come with a connecting cord, so losing one or both is a very real scenario. 

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House Of Marley – the audio firm created in collaboration with the family of Bob Marley – have launched a new pair of wood-finished earbuds.

The Redemption ANC 2 True Wireless Earbuds are available to buy right now in the UK and are priced at £149.99, with a US price expected to be announced in the near future. 

Like the popular House Of Marley Stir It Up turntable and all their other products, the Redemption ANC 2 in-ear headphones have been made with the environment and sustainability in mind. They’ve been created using recycled plastic and finished in bamboo, and come in 100% plastic-free recyclable packaging.

They feature Active Noise Cancelling to block out the outside world while listening to your favourite tunes and podcasts, and can also be switched to Ambient Mode when you want to let more noise from your surroundings in. They also support wireless charging and have IPX5 tech meaning they’re sweat and water resistant.

House Of Marley say: “Designed for your everyday commute or daily sweat session, the Redemption ANC 2 offer an ergonomic fit and soft gel ear tips for music lovers on the move. Choose from three sizes of included ear tips to find the perfect fit.”

In addition, House Of Marley have created an app for iOS and Android which allows you to pair up the Redemption ANC 2 True Wireless Earbuds, adjust the EQ settlings, access user guides and enable firmware updates.

To find out more about House Of Marley's support for global reforestation and ocean preservation in conjunction with One Tree Planted and Surfrider Foundation, visit the Project Marley website.

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There’s no getting away from it, watching live music is an exceptionally loud pastime. Especially if you have a penchant for the heavier side of the artform. You don’t need us, or any of the skull-crushing bands on this loudest bands on earth list, to tell you that long-term exposure to loud music can be damaging to your hearing. That’s why we have no shame in recommending our readers invest in proper earplugs for concerts; protecting your hearing in the earlier stages of your gig-going career will ensure that you won’t be hanging up your moshing trousers early.

The subject of this review is the Flare Audio Isolate Pro earplugs. Flare made their start in the live audio world, building PA systems and loudspeakers for live events, before pouring their expertise into a debut line of Flare earplugs back in 2015. Since then, they’ve sold over 300,000 pairs of plugs and expanded their line to include everything from earplugs for sleepers to in-ear headphones for music fans.

We’d heard plenty of positive things about Flare from musicians and gig-goers alike, so we’ve been keen to put some to the test. For the purposes of this Flare Audio Isolate Pro review we’ve been sent a pair of the Titanium edition earplugs. We tested them at a Less Than Jake gig on Friday 8 April at Bristol Academy (UK).

Flare Audio Isolate Pro review: Features

There are clear, aluminium or titanium versions of the Isolate Pro earplugs. This relates to the material of the central stems. The clear (plastic) models are the cheapest, with the aluminium model sitting somewhere in the middle, price-wise. It really is down to your budget as to which ones you opt for, but we like the titanium model for their looks, their light weight and durability.

Whichever set you opt for, each one comes complete with the central stems, alongside two sizes of soft memory foam tips - in standard and large sizing - and a small mesh carry bag.

The Isolate Pros also come in recyclable packaging - including sealed envelopes for the Isolate Pro stems and foam tips - which is a nice touch.

Flare Audio Isolate Pro review: Usability & comfort

The Flare Isolate Pros come deconstructed in the packaging, but the supplied installation instructions are easy to understand and it only takes a couple of minutes to be ready to plug your ears. To construct, you simply push your preferred size of memory foam tip onto each stem until you feel a soft click, after which they feel pretty secure – there are no worries about foam tips coming loose in your ears with these. 

We would recommend testing the tips for the right fit before you leave the house for your first gig. We tried swapping out to different sized buds during the gig, and the fear of losing one of the tiny black tips on the dark venue floor was very real. Drop one of those and you won’t be finding it again.

Inserting the plugs into your ears is a cinch. With the correct size tip installed (we opted for standard size), simply scrunch the end as tight as you can, pull the top of your ear up and backwards, insert the plug gently into your ear and wait for each one to expand – this takes around 15 seconds. During this time you feel the foam slowly expand before achieving what feels like fantastic isolation, as if the sound guy is slowly turning down the volume and dialling in some EQ.

Overall, the Isolate Pros are on the small side, which makes them nice and discreet for those who prefer their plugs to be inconspicuous. You really only have the slim stems poking out of your ears. In a dark venue with everyone focussed on the stage, they’re barely noticeable.

In use, these plugs are pretty comfortable. You certainly know you have something in your ears, but they’re so lightweight you barely know they’re there. We wore these for the full 90 minute headline set without any fatigue or noticeable discomfort. Some earplugs - we’re looking at you, free foam earplugs - make their presence known instantly and constantly. Not these.

As part of your research you may read user reviews reporting that the Isolate Pro foam tips tear when you insert the stems through them. We didn’t experience this during multiple uses and felt the tips were tough enough; our advice would be to exercise caution when installing the buds rather than forcing them. Then, once you’ve found your size there really is no need to remove the tips again anyway. Flare Audio sells replacement tips (a pack of six will cost you around £4.99) and they recommend that tips are replaced every 6-8 weeks or at least regularly cleaned – using disinfectant and a damp cloth – to ‘prolong their lifespan’.

Our only real criticism of the Isolate Pros, is that they are so tiny we can imagine losing them quite easily during the melee of a live show. We were mildly concerned about losing one (or both) on the venue floor when taking them from the supplied mesh carry bag to our ears before the first support band kicked in. Some plugs we’ve tested come complete with a string to connect the two together. This obviously makes them more conspicuous, but adds an extra layer of security for your plugs. Considering the cost of the Isolate Pros, we’d welcome this as an option.

Flare Audio Isolate Pro review: Performance

According to H.E.A.R, the average concert volume is between 110 and 120 decibels (dB), with the standard talking volume sitting anywhere between 40 and 60 dB. Flare claims that the Isolate Pro earplugs deliver an average attenuation (that is, the reduction in energy from sound waves) of 32 dB across the frequency range, which means the harmful volumes of live music are reduced to a far healthier level.

The fear with earplugs is that, whilst you obviously wear them to limit the damaging frequencies hitting your eardrums, you’re also reducing the impact of the music itself. We all attend gigs to feel the energy and movement of the music. We get it. But we can report that, while the Isolate Pros did reduce the overall volume as expected, we also experienced enhancements in the bass frequencies, particularly the bass guitar and kick drum, meaning the music still felt nice and punchy. The plugs also helped clear up some of the muddiness in the raw live sound (ie. the sound without plugs in). And post-gig, we’re happy to report zero ear fatigue and zero ringing.

Flare Audio Isolate Pro review: The competition

There’s a lot of choice in the earplug world and we would always recommend spending as much as you can afford on high quality, built-for-purpose plugs like the Isolate Pros, but we also get that they cost the price of a gig ticket themselves. For a more wallet-friendly alternative, the Vibes High Fidelity earplugs are a worthy alternative. Their sound attenuation is a little lower than the Flares, but they cost almost a third less, come with three tip size options and a useful carry case.

For a mega budget option, try the Fender Musician’s earplugs. They’re dirt cheap and no frills (you won’t find any tip size options here), but if you simply want to protect your ears from the venue to the rehearsal room without paying the earth (and without any fancy features), you can do no wrong with with a pair of these in your wallet.

If you’re on the hunt for a great set of in-ear headphones, then Amazon have a deal that will make you sit up and take notice. That’s because the online shopping giant have slashed the price of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live in black from £179 to just £68 – a mammoth 62% saving.

Meanwhile, in the US, you can get the same headphones in red from Amazon with 41% off. They were $169.99 and are now $99.99.

In our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review, we were very impressed with the bean-shaped in-ears – not only for their excellent sound quality, but their ergonomic shape which is designed to match the curves of your ear. 

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live also boast active noise cancelling which is good quality – and even better when you take this sale price into consideration. They also have Bixby voice assistance which allows you to make calls or check weather reports, sport scores and weather reports without taking the phone from your pocket – and this works well thanks to Samsung’s Voice Pickup Unit which produces crisp, clear sound.

As for battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live offer up to six hours of music with ANC activated which can be boosted up to 21 hours with the included charging case. And if you lose the earbuds, you can quickly discover their location thanks to Samsung’s SmartThings Find app. Tip: Check down the back of the sofa first!

Spotify integration is the icing on the cake, with all your favourite albums and playlists available by pressing the left earbud.

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When I was first introduced to the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live in August 2020, the first thing that sprung to mind was the story of Jack and the Beanstalk – the tale about the young lad who traded the family cow for a handful of magic beans that ended up growing into a sky-scraping plant.

No, these true wireless earphones from Samsung won't make a giant tree grow in your garden, but they do look a lot like beans, and they're sort of magic because they offer active noise cancelling despite rocking a rarely seen 'on-ear' design.

But are they any good? In this review, I'm going to put them through their paces to find out how they feel and sound, and whether you should consider sacrificing the family cattle to get some. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review: Design

To be honest, when I heard that the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live were going to be shaped like beans, I performed a face palm. They were going to look crap, weren't they? Well, you'd think so, but I actually warmed to them rather quickly thanks to their ergonomic shape designed to match the curves of the ear and face – not to mention the high-gloss finish. 

Whichever of the five colour options you go for – Mystic Black, Mystic White, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Blue or Mystic Red – you're sure to get a few double-takes when you're down at your local gym.      

These buds have an 'on-ear' design. Don't worry, that doesn't mean they'll fall out as soon as you start sprinting on the exercise bike. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live are designed in such a way that they nestle softly yet snugly inside the lugholes, reducing fatigue when listening over longer periods. And just to make sure you get a fit that's right for you, the earphones come with two different wing-tip sizes.    

Each of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live capsules weighs 5.6g, which is somewhat lighter than Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro (6.3g per capsule) but a little heavier than the Galaxy Buds2 (5g per capsule). In my experience, though, all of those products are comfortable in, and on, the ear – even when listening for hours at a time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review: Features

Whether you plan to use these pulse-shaped earphones at the gym (runner beans), on a cruise (navy beans) or on the sun bed (baked beans), you'll be hoping for a decent set of features to make your music or podcast listening as pleasurable as possible. And the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live don't disappoint – indeed, you could argue that the spec list is quite generous for a pair of buds at this price. 

Active noise cancelling isn't a given in a set of mid-priced earphones, but it's available here – and decent it is, too. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have UL verification for snuffing out background racket by up to 97% in low-frequency bands. Bixby voice assistance enables you to adjust the volume, make or take calls, and check the latest weather forecast, all without taking your phone from your pocket. Of course, if you don't fancy chatting, you can use the buds' touch-sensitive controls. And speaking of calls, three built-in mics work in tandem with Samsung's high-tech Voice Pickup Unit to ensure you can hear, and be heard, with real clarity.

Battery life may not be best-in-class but it's very reasonable, with the buds providing up to six hours of ANC listening on their own, or up to 21 hours if you're carrying the included charging case. And there's a quick-charging feature, too, which enabled me to get one hour's listening from just a five-minute top-up.

Finally, you needn't worry about losing your snazzy new earphones. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live work with SmartThings Find, which means you'll be able to easily locate them, via your phone, if they happen to go astray. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review: Sound

To help nail the performance of these bean-shaped earphones, Samsung teamed up with Grammy Award-winning audio expert AKG... and the results are decent. Driven by 12mm speakers, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live deliver a spacious sound that's characterised by solid, punchy bass. Want to adjust it? Head over to the Galaxy Wearable app and you can choose between six different presets, including things like bass boost and treble boost. Detail is a little lacking in the mid and high ranges, but that's not uncommon in earphones of this price, and overall I found these Samsung buds provided an entertaining listen. 

What's more, they also feature Spotify integration – simply press on the left bud for a second and you'll gain access to all your favourite playlists, and much more. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review: The alternatives

If you're happy to listen to your favourite tunes through a pair of wired earphones, then I recommend the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone. Designed in collaboration with acclaimed sound engineer Luca Bignardi, and boasting three drivers, these TXH-certified buds deliver precise, powerful sound that belies their modest price tag.    

Want to stick with true wireless buds? Well, the Sony WF-1000XM4s are more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, but they're well worth the investment, marrying a classy black-and-copper aesthetic with exceptional sound quality and a wide range of in-app features. Louder's Scott Munro bought a pair of these in the 2021 Black Friday sales, and in his review said they were a "cut above thanks to their crystal clear sound and excellent noise cancelling."

Related guides

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• The best earbuds and in-ear headphones: From wireless to wired
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Presidents' Day is here – and that means deals galore on all manner of electronic goods. Here at Louder, we're sifting through the array of bargains hitting websites across the US to bring you some amazing products at knock-down prices. One particular deal that's caught our eye is over at Best Buy who have reduced the price of the Apple AirPods Max, cutting them from $549 to $449 – a saving of $70.

This covers the Apple AirPods Max in either Sky Blue, Green or Pink, while the Space Gray and Silver models are down to $499.

As if that wasn't enough, Best Buy are also throwing in six months of Apple Music, six months of Apple News+ and three months of Apple TV+ for free when purchasing the AirPods Max.

Note: The limited time offers are for new subscribers only.

• Bag a bargain using our Black Friday AirPods deals live blog

The Apple AirPods Max are the Cupertino tech giant’s latest foray into the busy headphones market and follow their hugely successful Apple AirPods and Apple AirPods Pro. 

The AirPods Max have proved to be incredibly popular since launching in late 2020 and sit comfortably in our guide to the best headphones for music and come in five colour variations: Space Grey, Silver, Sky Blue, Green and Pink.

Sure, they look the part with a premium finish and a good weight to them, but thankfully the audio quality matches the design, with the Apple AirPods Max easily going head to head with the likes of Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. They also boast excellent noise cancelling and a battery life that’ll see you enjoying 20 hours of music from a single charge.

Pair these with Apple Music – which you’re getting for free with this deal for six months if you’re a new subscriber – and the music will shine thanks to Apple’s lossless/spacial audio features.

New year resolutions are notoriously difficult to stick to, especially if they involve physical exercise. If you're determined to get fit in 2022, then you might need something to keep you motivated. A personal trainer would do the job, of course, but paying a fortune to be verbally flogged by a retired squaddie isn't everyone's cup of tea. 

A cheaper – and less stressful – alternative would be a pair of earbuds that enable you to listen to your favourite tunes while busting out those reps. In this review, we're going to look at, and listen to, a particularly cheap pair: the SoundMAGIC E11Cs. Launched in 2018, these British-made buds were named 'Best in-ear headphones under £50' at the What Hi-Fi Awards a year later. But are they still worth buying now? Step this way to find out... 

By the way, if you want to see what other options are available right now, check out our guide to the best earbuds and in-ear headphones 2022.

SoundMAGIC E11C earbuds review: Design

It can't be easy creating a set of earphones that look genuinely stunning – after all, there isn't exactly a lot to work with. Bang & Olufsen managed it with the PI7s, as did Campfire Audio with their Honeydew buds. But genuinely beautiful in-ears are few and far between. SoundMAGIC doesn't quite nail it with the E11Cs, their cylindrical aluminium form factor being workmanlike rather than spectacular. However, they feel pretty robust in the hand, and the hand-painted finish (you can get them in black or silver) is a nice touch.

As for how they feel in the ears, the ergonomic angled sound tubes, combined with the silicone ear tips (you'll get three different sizes), mean that they nestle snugly inside the lugholes. This will obviously come in handy if you're planning to take them running or cycling. Since the snug fit provides fairly effective noise isolation, though, you'd best keep an eye out for traffic.

Speaking of noise, the silver-plated copper cable that comes with these earphones is designed to eliminate interference, enabling you to enjoy your music or podcast in high fidelity. Attached to this cable is a splash proof, in-line control pad that'll enable you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, start and stop phone calls, and activate your phone's voice assistant. One thing we like about the E11Cs is that they can automatically detect whether you're using an Android or an Apple device and adapt accordingly. 

Note, however, that the cable features a standard 3.5mm connector, meaning you'll need an adaptor if you want to hook up to a USB-C or Apple Lightning port.

SoundMAGIC E11C earbuds review: Features

Compared with some earbuds, which offer things like noise-cancelling technology and true wireless capability, the SoundMAGIC E11Cs' list of features is pretty basic. Indeed, we covered most of them in the previous section. Basic isn't necessarily a bad thing, though – after all, it's much easier to lose true wireless earphones, and you also have to charge the batteries.  

One thing we haven't mentioned about these earphones is that they feature redesigned 10mm drivers – an upgrade on the ones SoundMAGIC used in previous launches. How do they affect the sound quality? We're just coming on to that...  

SoundMAGIC E11C earbuds review: Sound

The days of expecting awful performance from a pair of earphones are long gone, and it's now possible to get truly lost in your music while working out down at the gym. But is that the case with a pair of buds costing as little as this? As it turns out, yes. 

Despite those redesigned drivers, the sound isn't noticeably different to previous SoundMAGIC earphones, but that's not a bad thing; listening to some classic Oasis, we found the performance to be taut and energetic. The treble could be a little forthright in places, but not to the detriment of the bass, which was rich and precise. With a sensitivity rating of 112dB, the E11Cs also offer plenty of volume, which, on life-affirming tunes such as those on Definitely Maybe, is absolutely essential.

Inevitably, you'll get a more sophisticated delivery from costlier earphones – more detail, more rounded bass, a slightly better balance – but for the money, these buds sound really, really good.

SoundMAGIC E11C earbuds review: The alternatives

True wireless buds are in abundance these days, and you don't need to spend a fortune to get some. One of our favourite sets, the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus, are available for an attractive price considering you get up to 45 hours of battery life, not to mention great-quality sound. 

If you want true wireless capability and proper noise-cancelling, then expect to pay a bit more. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 will leave your wallet somewhat lighter, but you'll be treated to up to 28 hours of immersive listening, and without a cable in sight.

You probably don't need me to tell you, but there’s not long to go until Christmas. However, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably have started frantically scrambling for gifts with just weeks to go. But if you’re on the hunt for a set of earbuds to buy, then we can point you in the direction of the excellent Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch wireless earbuds, which are currently reduced in both the US and UK.

Amazon US have cut the price from $119.95 to $89.95 on both the black and white styles – a 25% saving, while in the UK, the official Cambridge Audio site have slashed the price of the Melomania Touch from £129.95 to £79.95. Again, both the black and white models are covered in the sale.

Cambridge Audio know their stuff when it comes to delivering great audio, and the Melomania Touch are a serious contender in the competitive earbud market. Performance can be measured and tweaked through the Melomania app on both Apple and Android, and they also boast an impressive nine hours of playback and 50 hours with the charging case.

There’s no active noise cancelling here, but when you factor in Cambridge Audio’s Unique High Performance Audio Mode and the price, that’s hard to fault. They also look the part and aren’t too bulky - and they’re comfortable to use too.

An added bonus is that the Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch are compatible with both Siri and Google, so you can control music volume and taking calls on the go without the need to touch your phone.

If you’re still looking for great offers on headphones, don’t forget to check out our guides to the best headphones for music, the loudest headphones on the market, and the best budget wireless headphones.

Cyber Weekend music deal are coming in thick and fast, but we've been weeding through them all to find you the very best ones in the bunch. There's been tonnes of wireless headphone deals, and we know that with so many to choose from, sometimes it can be quite hard to decide which one is the one for you...which is why this latest deal at John Lewis makes things easy, it's a no brainer!

In a huge Cyber Weekend offer, they're selling Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones for £99.99, a great big 40% off from their original price of £169.99. So go on, why not snap them up before the sale is over and save yourself a truckload of cash?

Featuring a new compact design and improved eargels, Jabra's Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds sit comfortably and wirelessly in your ear with no strings attached (literally!). Ideal for high-powered exercise sessions, these headphones are the ultimate tool to take your workouts to the next level.

Their Active Noise Cancellation feature is here to keep you focused and motivated, by blocking out all surrounding distractions, including your squabbling kids and noisy neighbours. 

Forget having to consistently untangle your earphones while treadmilling at the gym, as not only are they wireless, but they're durable, comfortable and secure, meaning they won't fall out when you're giving your workout all you've got either.

And don't worry about missing important calls while you're in the zone, as these Jabra in-ear headphones provide a crystal clear sound with 4-microphone technology. 

Their voice command Elite Active 75t feature additionally allows you to instantly connect to your smartphone's 's voice assistant; Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant.

With these headphones, you can adjust the sound with the music equaliser, and update the latest firmware to experience the best sound quality possible.

Sold with an accompanying charging carry case, it allows users up to 24 hours of listening time with ANC on, or up to 5.5 hours off a single charge without the case. For quick listening sessions on low battery, a 15 minute charge provides up to an hour of playing power.

Built for sports, the Elite Active 75t are IP57 rated water and dust resistant (meaning they can be submersed in water up to one metre deep for thirty minutes), to withstand the demands of a high-power workout, indoors or out. So forget putting your tech in bowls of rice to dry the water out, as these are super resilient. 

For focusing on your surroundings, instead of your workout or the music you're listening to, the Hear Through feature gives you the option to channel external ambient noise into the earbuds for increased awareness. Simply adjust its level via a slider in the app.

Looking for more offers? Then check out our Cyber Monday wireless headphones deals, Cyber Monday record players deals, Cyber Monday Bluetooth speakers deals and Cyber Monday vinyl deals pages for all the latest bargains.

Sony’s premium flagship WF-1000XM4 true-wireless in-ear headphones contain 'industry-leading' noise-cancellation technology that provides a genuinely immersive listening experience. Sound exciting? Well, how about this – to celebrate Black Friday, Amazon is offering these earphones for just $248, an 11% discount on the usual price of $279.99. That means you'll save $31.99 if you buy a pair of the black or silver options right now!      

Black Friday Sony headphones deals have been coming thick and fast this year, and that's great news for music fans as the Japanese company is known for its high-quality audio products. The WF-1000XM4 earphones are certainly no exception to this rule; available in black or silver, these stylish 'buds offer magnificent sound reproduction, crystal-clear call quality, great battery life, Alexa voice assistance and much more. Needless to say, deals this good don't last forever, so if you want to treat your ears and your bank balance, you'd better get a move on! 

When it comes to headphones for music, the more immersive the better – which is why you'll want a pair of Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds wedged into your lugholes. Containing the Japanese company's Integrated Processor V1, they offer outstanding noise-cancelation, eliminating ambient racket so that you can enjoy every nuance of your favorite tunes. Add in Sony's 360 Reality Audio technology, plus support for Hi-Res Audio, and the result is a truly life-like audio experience that'll take your listening to the next level.

Need to make a call? These Sony earphones feature speak-to-chat technology that'll automatically reduce the volume of your music when you start a conversation. And, thanks to a beam-forming mic and bone-conducting smarts, your voice will come across loud and clear. With up to 24 hours of battery life, IPX4 water resistance and wireless charging rounding off the spec sheet, these little gems belong in your ears.

For further great bargains on audio tech, instruments, vinyl and much more, read our guide to the best Black Friday music deals. If have your eye on another pair of headphones, our Black Friday wireless headphones page is worth a look too. 

Over the past 18 months or so, we've been shoving things up our nostrils and down our throats to check that we haven't caught the dreaded lurgy. So, when presented with the chance to review Shure's SE425 Wired earphones, we figured: why not complete the set and stick something inside our lugholes, too? With any luck, the experience would be a little more pleasurable. 

The early signs were certainly promising; according to the Shure website, these sound-isolating earphones “show you how your favourite artists hear music” (better just hope that your favourite artist isn't Beethoven, eh?). They also look like a premium product – and so they should, considering they have an RRP of £209. But how would they fare upon closer scrutiny, and would they compare favourably to the best in-ear headphones and earbuds on the planet? Only one way to find out... 

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Shure SE425 Wired earphones review: Design

You could argue that it doesn't really matter what earphones look like, since they spend most of the time stuffed inside your head-handles. But we'll tell you anyway: the Shure SE425 Wired are a snazzy-looking set of buds. 

OK, they don't look entirely unlike king prawns, but thanks to their curved plastic casings and neatly positioned logos, it kinda works. There's a reason for that prawn-like shape, anyway – it enables the earbuds to be rotated fully 360 degrees, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your ear shape. 

The aforementioned plastic casings (which, by the way, can be either silver or transparent) are designed to cover your entire earhole, helping to isolate exterior noise and keep you immersed in your music. 

For what it's worth, we prefer the transparent ones as they enable you (when you're not listening to them) to view the earphones' inner workings, including the gold-plated MMCX connectors. 

What are the connectors for? Well, these being wired earphones, they connect to a phone or similar device using the 3.5mm Kevlar-reinforced cable. However, Shure has made the cable detachable (hence the connectors), meaning you can easily replace it when it starts to show signs of wear and tear. 

A couple more things to mention: the Shure SE425 Wired earphones come with an in-line remote control and mic, and are packaged with numerous sleeves of various sizes and materials, giving you the freedom to experiment.

Shure SE425 Wired earphones review: Features

Due to their flimsier build, listening to music through earphones can often leave you exposed to outside noise. That's why we always wear our over-ear headphones to the gym – anything to avoid overhearing that godawful pop pap while pulling a few squat thrusts. 

Of course, this weakness doesn't apply to all sets of earphones, and some of the more expensive models do a fine job of keeping out unwanted din. Indeed, four of the products on our list of the best in-ear headphones – the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, the Apple AirPods Pro and Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 2 – boast genuine noise cancelling technology. 

That's not something you get with the Shure SE425 Wired earbuds, though they do offer the next best thing – sound isolation. This means that instead of using electronic trickery, they rely on ergonomics to plug your ears, thus shutting out unwanted noise. Shure claims that these buds will reduce 37dB of it, which is competitive but not best-in-class. 

To further enhance your listening, Shure has installed dual high-definition MicroDrivers in each earphone. The US manufacturer reckons that these tweeter/woofer partnerships deliver “true-to-life sounds”, enabling you to “hear music as you're really meant to”.

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Shure SE425 Wired earphones review: Sound

We've lost count of the times we've had to stuff our earbuds back into our lugholes because they've fallen out during rigorous exercise (and by that, we mean walking).

However, as soon as we inserted the Shure SE425 Wired earbuds, they felt snug and secure. The side effect of that – as Shure intended – was that the world around us became instantly muted. We've tried a fair few pairs of noise cancellers in our time (including the best budget noise cancelling headphones), and, with the possible exception of the most expensive models, the level of isolation with these buds really didn't feel much different.

As a consequence, the listening experience was all-encompassing. Streaming I Think I'm In Love from Sprititualized's Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, we became so immersed in the Pink Floyd-esque ambience that we almost forgot that we were wearing earphones. 

The SE425 Wired earbuds delivered incredible detail and energy, without ever sounding over-excited. Vocals were presented with clarity and nuance, and even though the bottom end didn't quite stand up to some buds we've heard, we weren't left thinking that the bassist had gone on strike.

On the whole, listening to music through these earphones was a lovely and encapsulating experience that – just as Shure promised – enabled us to hear our favourite tunes in a whole new light.  

Shure SE425 Wired earphones review: Alternatives

If bass is important to you, then you might want to take a look at the Klipsch XR8i wired earphones. Made in the US, these buds offer thundering bottom-end along with decent 26dB sound isolation. They're a bit more expensive than the Shure set, though.

Prefer to listen to your music wirelessly? The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus tick so many boxes, and at a very affordable price. They look sophisticated, they're comfy and they offer a generous 36-hour battery life (when used with the charging case). There's no noise cancelling, and they're not right at the top of the tree for sound quality, but they're a very impressive all-round package.

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A high performance audio mode and customisable EQ control are the main attractions offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus – the second generation True Wireless earbuds from the UK Hi-Fi specialists (and also featured in our guide to the best budget wireless headphones). 

Performance wise they are a step up on their predecessors, the original Melomania 1, and boast noticeably better dynamics and noise management. Also new on these second generation buds is USB-C fast charging.

Design wise they look much the same, with that distinctive slug design - now available in matte black or stone white – and on-bud controls. They’re also IPX5 rated, to offer protection against rain and sweat. So they should survive a weekend at Donington Park.

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Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ review: Features

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus may lack Active Noise Cancellation, but they counter with excellent battery life. These earphones offer around seven hours use on a full charge with the default High Performance audio mode engaged, or nine otherwise, which is several hours more than many ANC rivals.

The charging case holds enough power to re-juice the buds for another four stints, so that’s a lot of power in reserve – 35 or 45 hours in total, respectively. The charging case illuminates a row of LEDs as it replenishes. 

It’s definitely worth downloading the new Cambridge Melomania app, as it unlocks additional features. You can check on the battery level of each bud, watch neat little graphical routines as firmware updates, and customise sonic output to taste. Presets comprise Balanced, R&B, Electronic, Bass Boost, Rock and Voice. Unsurprisingly, Rock (a little thicker) and Electronic (thick with a treble tickle) are the sensible options. Avoid Voice at all costs.

The Bluetooth spec is 5.0, which supports both AAC and aptX high quality codecs. Which brings us to performance.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ review: Performance

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus are a helluva lot of fun. Their Low Power mode may gain you more playtime, but stick to High Performance, as it sounds significantly better!

We’re told this High Performance mode uses trickled down technology from the brand’s stereo amplifiers. The user benefit is a higher dynamic range, with wider staging. Translated, that means plenty of space between the cowbells on Blue Oyster Cult's Don’t Feel The Reaper.

Once you've achieved a snug fit (more on which later), these little buds have real visceral kick, so much so you’ll feel basslines reverberating around your orbitals at volume. The pop punk of Trash Boat’s Controlled Burn had my peepers pogoing in their sockets (an alarming sight for fellow commuters, to be sure). 

Each Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus earbud is built around a 5.8mm graphene-enhanced driver. Lightweight Graphene is notable for its strength and rigidity, which gives rise to a confidently dynamic performance. These little buds are ballsy, and make a tight, impressive noise.  

But that’s not to say they can’t be gentle too. The plaintive chords of Creeper’s Suzanne (Eternity, in your Arms) are crisp and clean, Will Gould’s tremulous vocals deliciously emotive. 

I love the way these buds involve you, even during quiet stuff: Hannah Greenwood's soulful solo country vocal sounds on the money.

That said, they can get a little foggy when things get dense. The tempo changes on Conjurer's debut Mire present these modest earbuds with a challenge. The clean, melodic bridges that link the band's crunching riffs are tonally rich, almost tuneful, but when the gates of hell open, growling vocals and guitar churn tend to blur into one. 

To be fair, we’re probably asking a bit much at this price point. Only pricey open-backed over-ears, forged in fire pits stoked by Surtur, are likely to cope with Conjurer unleashed.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ review: Accessories

Given that there’s no Active Noise Cancellation available, getting a good fit is more important than ever. A tight seal helps mitigate against intrusive ambient noise.  

While the lack of ANC will be an issue for many, when they’re tight you get natural noise mitigation. And let's face it, nothing much is going to intrude on Creeper’s anthemic Down Below, a right rollicking singalong, even on the centennial clatter of the Piccadilly Line.

Cambridge includes various sizes of both silicon and memory foam ear tips in the box. It's worth experimenting, I settled on the memory foam tips for the best fit. Remember, a good fit is also key to a better performance. If the buds don’t sit right, the sound thins out.  

Comfortably light, at just 4.6g, the pointy design means they don’t quite lock in place as easily as some rival buds, you have to lightly screw them in. This takes a little practice, not least because you’ll want to ensure that the pin-prick mic on each bud isn’t obscured; it needs to be facing down for best voice pick-up. But practice makes perfect.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ review: Alternatives

If the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus aren’t quite your cup of tea, then there are some other in-ear options coming in at around the same price that are well worth a closer look. The Sony WF-1000XM3 are a tad more expensive in general, but are absolute belters. They have noise canceling tech built in and deliver fab sound no matter where you are. Want more? The Jaybird Vista are a little under the radar but are an ideal option if you use your earbuds for gym sessions or outdoor runs. They offer up great sound and are snug and comfortable to wear.

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Prime Day is a few days off yet, but British audio specialist Cambridge Audio is getting in on the action early with this mega Prime Day headphones deal - knocking £20 off their astonishing new Melomania 1+ true wireless earbuds, now just £99.95.

A significant upgrade on the previous model, the budget-friendly Melomania 1+ includes app control and customisable EQ settings so you can tune them properly for the tunes you’re listening to. The icing on the cake is the 5.8mm graphene-enhanced drivers and a new High Performance Audio Mode, which helps deliver truly immersive audio.

Elsewhere you can enjoy faster charging via USB-C and an epic 45 hours of battery - the buds themselves dish out 9 hours of playback, plus four additional charges from the case. That’s almost enough time to get through Maiden’s entire back catalogue. Adding them to our best in-ear headphones guide recently was a total no-brainer. 

The sale runs from now through to 11:59pm on Thursday 24th June, unless the stock runs our sooner.

• Explore more of the best headphones for music

Prime Day might still be over a week away (21 and 22 June, in fact), but the price slashing is already well underway. But you can forget Amazon for the time being as one of our favourite pre-Prime Day deals is happening elsewhere. Laptops Direct has knocked 70 quid off the original price of Apple AirPods Pro, dropping the price to just £179. 

This Laptops Direct discount is the best AirPods deal we’ve seen so far ahead of Prime Day - the cheapest you’ll find them on Amazon is £189.97 - so we know it’s going to cause a stampede. And if you’ve read our Apple AirPods Pro review you’ll know how much we love these dinky earbuds, giving them a solid 4-star rating and going so far as including them in our round-up of the best in-ear headphones you can buy right now. 

We rate their superb active noise cancellation (ANC) to block out noisy people and places, and that same noise cancelling tech is handy when you’re working from home and need to focus.

The AirPods Pro pumps out a punchy yet nuanced sound that will help you pick out new levels of detail in your favourite songs, whether you’re an Architects fan or want to chill out to some Abba. This is thanks to the presence of a high-excursion, low-distortion driver for clear bass and impressive clarity on vocals and instruments.

• Bag a bargain using our Black Friday AirPods deals live blog

Call us shallow, but one of our favourite features of the AirPods Pro is the shorter stems compared to those on older AirPods. While we still have a lot of love for the older models (as we explain in our Apple AirPods review), and the AirPods Max are ace but formidably expensive, the AirPods Pro are our pick of Apple’s true wireless tech right now. They’re sweat- and water-resistant, so you can pop them in while working out. The fit is decent too, so don’t expect them to drop out during a run.

The Pro’s also come fitted with Apple’s H1 chip for fast pairing, and hands-free Siri voice control. While the AirPods Pro battery life is about average at 4.5 hours listening time per charge, you can still enjoy around three hours of non-stop talk time. The earbuds also come with a Qi-compatible charging case that dishes out around 20 extra hours of power, so you shouldn’t run out of juice anytime soon.

Keen to check out more Prime Day discounts? We’re keeping tabs on the best Prime Day headphones deals, as well as more general Prime Day music deals for all things music-related. 

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