Review on 🎧 Etymotic Research ER20XS High-Fidelity Earplugs - Standard, Clear Stem: Ultimate Hearing Protection for Concerts, Musicians, Airplanes, Motorcycles, Sensitivity by Kendra Adams

BLUF: I am surprised and excited about my new Etymotic Research ER20XS earplugs. In my 20s I had multiple surgeries to remove a tumor and repair damage to my middle ear. Since then, tinnitus has always been a problem and is greatly aggravated by loud and shrill noises. And since I write/perform music and ride my bike, I struggle with that all the time. I've tried other "affordable" products in the past that claim to reduce decibels that cause fatigue and hearing loss without sacrificing sound quality. but i was always disappointed. I gave up and just relied on standard foam and/or silicone ear tips. Having recently lost my favorite pair of silicone ear tips, I started looking for replacements and stumbled across them here. After reading the reviews I decided to give it a try. I figured the worst case scenario would be losing $14. Well, surprise surprise, they actually work! They fit my ears perfectly, are extremely comfortable, and reduce intensity just enough to avoid serious hearing damage while still maintaining surprisingly good sound quality. I'm not saying it's perfect, but when I'm listening to loud music with them (especially while riding my Harley Street Glide) the music is clear and not muffled compared to standard earbuds. And I don't get that tunnel sound that I've experienced with other similar decibel-reducing earbuds I've tried. However, they don't reduce decibel noise like regular foam or silicone earplugs, but they work as advertised and you can actually HEAR your music as it plays, whether in the studio or on the bike! to say that I would wholeheartedly recommend them to others looking for an affordable hearing protection solution throughout life!