You’re in the middle of a live gig, surrounded by thumping bass and screaming fans. The energy is electric, but your ears are ringing like a fire alarm when you get home. Whether it’s live music, motorsport events, or even just working with power tools on a DIY project at home, it’s easy to forget about hearing protection until the damage is done. That’s where Loop Switch 2 earplugs come in.
Loop Switch 2 Earplugs: What are they?
There are myriad earbuds available that block sound or filter out the worst noise, but Switch 2
offers three different levels of sound control and noise reduction in one earplug. Engage mode is the lowest setting, cutting 20dB of sound, Experience mode cuts out 23dB, and Quiet mode offers the highest level of hearing protection, with 26dB of sound filtration.
Rather than relying on electronics to reduce or block sound, Loop has developed a system that adjusts the acoustic channels within the earplugs, with mesh filters and membranes providing different levels of hearing protection depending on which mode has been selected. Each mode allows a different sound level to reach the ear canal, giving the wearer maximum control with minimal adjustment.
Switching between the three modes is very easy, and there’s no need to remove the earbuds to do it. The top half of the earplug rotates to select the mode you want to use, with Engage mode at the top, moving downwards to Quiet mode at the lowest point. An audible click lets you know each mode has been selected, with the switch moving from mode to mode with gentle pressure.
All earbuds help protect your hearing by reducing noise in environments where sound levels can quickly become harmful. Normal conversation is measured at around 60dB, but loud events like concerts can get to 110dB and beyond — enough to cause hearing damage. Noise doubles in intensity every 3dB, so the louder it gets, the quicker you’re at the risk. The RNID says that, if you’re straining to speak to someone 2m away, the noise is probably dangerously high. By filtering out up to 26dB, Loop Switch 2 can cut a concert’s volume to something closer to heavy traffic.
We tried out Loop Switch 2 in a few different situations to determine the effectiveness of all three settings.
Engage Mode: Ambient awareness with 20dB reduction
In Engage mode, you can hold a conversation with those around you, even in pretty loud situations, without too much difficulty. We headed out to work from a local coffee shop for a change of scenery and found that Engage mode was great for letting through some of the background music and hubbub around us without it feeling too isolating. Ordering yet another cinnamon bun latte at the counter was easy as we could hear the barista clearly without needing to adjust anything.
You’d probably not find this mode particularly helpful in very noisy environments, but if you are made anxious by noise or just need to dial things down a little, Switch 2 could be beneficial to calm things a little.
Experience Mode: Balanced focus with 23dB reduction
In the coffee shop scenario, Experience mode allowed just a little more concentration and focus without feeling completely detached from the surroundings. This mode was more effective during a night out with live music, where many of the harshest sounds were dulled, but the background music was still perfectly audible. While the music was playing, conversation was possible, if not easy, but we could see the benefit overall.
Quiet Mode: Maximum noise reduction with 26dB reduction
This mode would be reserved for the nosiest environments, like concerts, or to reduce the horrendous screeching of the brakes on the tube trains of the London underground system down to a muffled hum rather than a full-on assault of the eardrum. They would be perfect for the latter, as just a quick flick of the switch allows you to reduce the blocking a little and hold a conversation with ease, flicking just as easily back when needed.
At a music venue with Sham Fender playing, we found that while we could hear the music and lyrics well enough, the Loop Switch 2 earbuds really muddied the sound, taking away the clarity of higher notes and reducing the range of audible tones. However, for the overall result, it was a tradeoff we’d be willing to make for a small venue with perhaps less-than-perfect sound, but if you’re heading off to see Oasis later in the year, then you might want to look at Flare Audio’s options instead.
Loop Switch 2 Earplugs: The Verdict
If you’re looking for total silence, the Loop Switch 2 won’t replace high-tech noise-cancelling earbuds, but for those wanting to reduce the harshest of sounds, they will work well. The ability to change the level of noise reduction will appeal to many, meaning that you can pop them in and get the equivalent of three different sets in one neat solution.
An obvious plus point for Switch 2 is that no charging is required, and no app is needed to switch modes. Unlike many noise-cancelling earbuds, you’ll never pick them up to use and find that the battery is flat — just grab them, and you’re good to go — and flick a physical switch when you need to up the protection.
Loop Switch 2 also look great — available in black as well as more statement colours of silver, gold and emerald; they sit unobstrusively inside the ear and look more akin to jewellery than an earplug.
With a £55 price tag, there are definitely cheaper options available that do a similar job, and earbuds with active noise cancelling (like the Creative Zen Air Pro we tested) are available from around £30. But these are comfortable, adaptable, and stylish, which are all essential if you’re protecting your hearing or focussing all day.
Tested: Loop Switch 2 Earplugs
Price: £55
Average Joes Rating: ★★★☆☆
