Loop Experience 2 earplugs review
Seventeen decibels of filtered reduction, which is a volume knob rather than a mute button.
Reusable filtered earplugs offering 17 dB SNR of reduction while preserving sound clarity, with four ear tip sizes.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reduction | 17 dB SNR of filtered noise reduction |
| Certification | Qualifies as certified hearing protection |
| Design goal | Lowers volume without compromising sound quality |
| Fit | 4 upgraded ear tip sizes, XS, S, M and L, with M pre-installed |
| Reusable | Yes |
| In the box | 1 set of earplugs, 4 sets of silicone ear tips and a keychain carry case |
Specifications above come from Loop's published product specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Filtered rather than blocked. Foam earplugs cut the high frequencies hardest, which is why music through them sounds like it is underwater, and these keep the balance.
- Seventeen decibels is a meaningful reduction while still leaving conversation possible, which is the whole point in an office or at an event.
- Four ear tip sizes means a fit that stays in, and fit is what determines whether earplugs actually reduce anything.
- Reusable and washable, so the running cost is nothing after the purchase.
- The keychain case is the reason they get carried, and earplugs at home are earplugs you do not have.
Where it falls short
- Seventeen decibels is not the most reduction Loop makes. For sleep or maximum quiet, the Quiet line goes higher, and buying the wrong model is the most common mistake with these.
- Anything in your ear canal is uncomfortable for some people, and no tip size fixes that.
- They are visible. Loop leans into that as a design feature and some people would rather not advertise that they are wearing earplugs.
- Reusable means washing them, and earplugs that are not cleaned are a hygiene problem in a warm place.
- Hearing protection is genuinely important and this is not a substitute for reducing exposure. If you are regularly in environments loud enough to need protection, that is worth taking seriously rather than managing with an accessory.
What owners report
Owners consistently report that music and speech remain clear in a way foam earplugs do not allow, which is the reason this category exists. Fit reports are good once people try the different tip sizes, and poor when they use the pre-installed medium without experimenting. The most common purchasing error is buying Experience when Quiet was wanted, since the two look similar and do different jobs.
If the goal is focus rather than events, the Quiet model is the one to look at, and our study environment and focus material covers where earplugs sit against headphones. The perfect study environment and deep work vs shallow work are the free half of that problem.
Who it suits
- Concerts, live events and loud venues.
- Open offices where you still need to hear a colleague.
- People with noise sensitivity who want the world quieter rather than gone.
- Anyone who found foam earplugs made everything sound muffled.
Who should skip it
- Sleep, where the Quiet model gives more reduction.
- Maximum focus, where more reduction is the point.
- Anyone who dislikes anything in their ear canal.
Alternatives worth considering
Up to 24 dB of reduction in soft silicone designed for sleep and deep focus, and cheaper. The right model if quiet is the goal.
Check price on AmazonEarplugs give you silence and headphones let you play something. For studying with music, headphones are the tool.
Check price on AmazonMasking noise for a whole room, which suits people who cannot tolerate anything in the ear canal.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
What is the difference between Loop Experience and Loop Quiet?
Experience filters sound, lowering the volume while keeping clarity, at 17 dB. Quiet blocks more, up to 24 dB, in soft silicone designed for sleep. Experience is for events and offices; Quiet is for sleep and focus. Buying the wrong one is the most common mistake.
Do filtered earplugs really preserve sound quality?
Better than foam, which cuts high frequencies far more than low ones and makes music sound muffled. A filtered earplug attenuates more evenly, so the balance of the sound is closer to what it was. It is still quieter and still not identical.
How do you get earplugs to fit?
Try all four tip sizes rather than using the pre-installed medium. Ears differ between people and between your own two ears, and a poorly fitting earplug reduces far less than its rating suggests. Insert, twist to secure, and check the sound drops noticeably.
Are 17 dB enough for a concert?
It is meaningful protection and it is not the maximum available. For very loud events, higher rated protection is appropriate. If you are regularly exposed to damaging noise levels, reducing the exposure matters more than any earplug, and hearing damage does not reverse.
Keep reading
- The perfect study environment
- Deep work vs shallow work
- Digital detox for study
- Loop Quiet 2 review
- Soundcore Q20i review
- Sony WH-1000XM5 review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.