DownBeats compared against LiveMus!c & DUBS: Not Protective
I have the unique perspective of having the opportunity to try these DownBeats, as well as [[ASIN:B00NW1IZ5Q DUBS Acoustic Filters ]] and the [[ASIN:B00H2F87I8 LiveMus!c HearSafe Ear Plugs]].<br /><br />TTL;DR: Don't bother with these. Compared to LiveMus!c, these offer pathetic protection. You might not ever realize this, though, if you don't try out other brands.<br /><br />My belief is that if you're going to go through the hassle to research earplugs, buy them, remember to bring them with you and actually use them when you are at an event, they ought to work really well or else that's a whole lot of wasted effort for nothing.<br /><br />I don't often write reviews - I specifically bought these for TomorrowWorld and was so frustrated by their lack of protection that I thought it was worth expressing. It was my first festival to bring ear plugs to! I thought I was ready. I thought wrong. There's not much else to say. They're comfortable, the case is nice, they're not that expensive, but when it comes down to it, all that matters is protection. Even before sound quality, in my opinion. You're not wearing these for style. If you disagree, then this review might not apply to you.<br /><br />Earplugs are unique in that they're difficult to test in your home; you can't exactly recreate an actual concert environment in your apartment (or probably shouldn't). So when you take these to an event, you might believe they're effective since you have nothing to compare it against. This false sense of security is dangerous! Especially if it's your first pair.<br /><br />I thought these were also on par with my [[ASIN:B00NW1IZ5Q DUBS ]] as well. Comfortable, cheap. but you truly don't know what you're missing until you try the [[ASIN:B00H2F87I8 LiveMus!c]] plugs.<br /><br />I think the perspective of comparing this to two other brands is quite valuable. I am not some crazy earplug freak - I bought these for my festival, tried the DUBS, and then my friend let me borrow his LiveMus!c. If protection is most important, spend the extra $15 - don't cheap out on your cochlea.
Rating: 2 stars