Loop Experience Plus (Pro) Earplugs Review

When you’re sensitive to sound, volume can affect how you feel in excruciating measures. Sure, car alarms, jackhammers, and truck clangs jolt everyone out of a moment. But when sensitivity to light and sound irritates cognitive function and increases pain, you need hearing protection that turns those harmful noise levels down. That’s precisely what Loop Earplugs aim to accomplish.

I’ve had the post-viral illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) for many years. There’s an autonomic component to ME/CFS, so I soon identified that loud, unexpected sounds send my heart racing into fight-or-flight mode. Post-exertional brain fog and pain always follow. It took me much longer to realize that noise sensitivity to the subtle hum of electronics, street traffic, or boiling water can derail my baseline, too. I knew I needed noise-blocking earplugs

Most disability aids offered to those with sound sensitivity from autism, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, or Long COVID center around noise-canceling headphones. These provide a sound vacuum or ambient noise to reduce overwhelm, and I’ve called upon them time and time again.

But they’re often big, bulky, and not the most subtle sound reduction method. They also need recharging and connection to a sound app, so they’re not a seamless option for times when you want a simple auditory escape.

Which brings me to Loop, a company that promises you can “live life at your volume.” Its lineup includes Loop Experience and Loop Quiet earplugs, specifically tuned to dial in the amount of noise you wish to block.

How do Loop Earplugs work?

Noise above 85 decibels is damaging to your ears. That’s equivalent to anything that makes you raise your voice to talk to someone a few feet away. Standard foam or wax earplugs reduce volume anywhere from 10 to 30 decibels (dB), muffling sounds as they do so.

By comparison, Loop Experience earplugs mimic the ear’s natural function. They reduce volume by 18dB, but remaining noise sounds natural.

The brand’s Quiet Loop earplugs offer a more standard reduction by 27dB. They’re built to be super comfortable, so wearers can sleep and travel with ease.

A Loop Mute add-on inserted into the ring of either of these sets reduces volume by an additional 5dB.

What I like about Loop Earplugs

They’re effective at reducing noise to your desired level

Both the Quiet and Experience plugs help reduce my sound sensitivity migraines, body pain, and fatigue.

Working with the Quiet earplugs in, I have more focus and can concentrate for longer stretches of time. Sounds like the jolting bark of my terrier soften, giving me a greater sense of calm. After a while I don’t notice that I hear less noise, I only notice relief.

I don’t have an entirely equal result when working with the Experience plugs. I guess the number of decibels these plugs reduce truly does make a difference! That said, cooking and cleaning sounds are much more pleasurable. I’m not constantly distracted by trucks passing outside or the clatter of a pan on the stove.

They also help when I spend time with a relative who has hearing loss and keeps the television so loud that I usually run from the room. With the Experience earplugs in, I still hear the noise, but it doesn’t overwhelm me. Out of both Loop models, Experience seems like they could be formidable earplugs for concerts or enjoying music in loud environments.

Accessories provide a snug fit and customized style

Between both sets of Loop earplug variations and a Mute add on, these plugs truly let you decide exactly how much noise you want to reduce. Quiet and Experience sets come with silicon tips in four sizes to guarantee a snug fit. Experience Plus adds four sizes of thermo-shaping memory foam to its ear tips, which adapt to the ear canal even more.

Each set comes in a variety of colors—from black to gold to pastel mint—so they’re a stylish option compared to other reusable earplugs.

They’re comfortable to wear, even for long sessions

The Quiet earplugs are made entirely from light, soft silicone, and they’re luxuriously comfortable. I rarely noticed I was wearing them—even after many hours. The Experience earplugs are made from ABS (a non-toxic, durable plastic) and coated with a metallic finish. I found the Quiet plugs a touch more comfortable, but negligibly so.

What I don’t like about Loop Earplugs

The Experience plugs don’t invite conversation

The Loop website claims you can carry a conversation while wearing the Experience plugs, but I do not find this to be true. I can barely hear others speaking at a volume I’d consider average, so I take them out and insert them again as needed.

The packaging may be troublesome for those with low vision

The package design is beautiful, but its printed instructions come in a laughably small font. This doesn’t affect the plugs’ efficacy, of course, but it could make them frustrating to set up, especially for those with low vision.

Should you buy Loop Earplugs?

If you’re looking to block out sound on a regular basis, definitely!

I live a quiet life alone in suburban and rural spaces and still feel better wearing Loop Earplugs than I do without. If I was still living in New York City, they would be a miracle product.

If you’re looking for a pair of earplugs with high-volume reduction, I’d suggest the Quiet Loop earbuds or the previously reviewed Vibes earplugs. I’d choose either for public transportation or anywhere loud that necessitates concentration.

If you can only choose one pair, I’d go with the Experience Plus. They’re a little more expensive, but they come with two types of buds plus two sets of Mute. This makes them a go-between the Experience and Quiet options for people who wear earplugs on the regular.

And if you’re looking for a disability aid to subtly reduce noise sensitivity while keeping conversation easeful, I still recommend Flare Audio's Calmer buds. They’re equally comfortable, and, while they don’t reduce overall volume, they significantly soften the blow.

For those who want high-fidelity earplugs, Loop’s offerings work as advertised regardless of the type you choose. From concert goers to anxious personalities in need of peace, these plugs are an effective purchase made to suit a wide variety of needs.