Great for live music!
I've been swing dancing Tuesday nights at a 1930s social club where [[ASIN:B00002060M Stompy Jones]] plays every week.  It isn't as loud as a rock concert, but after three hours of music I've been going home with ears ringing and sometimes ringing in the morning.  I wore DownBeats this week!<br /><br />Unsurprisingly: no ringing in the ears.<br />Surprisingly: I think (just maybe) it was easier to hear my dance partner talking than without.  I usually have to ask girls to repeat themselves endlessly.  (The only problem was I had to remember to talk loudly because it brings everything down to a normal level and are comfortable enough to forget about.)<br /><br />* Visibility: Obviously not invisible.  I'm not sure how visible they are, but no one commented on them in low light of the venue.  Definitely not visible to someone in front of you.<br />* Frequency attenuation: Seems very even across spectrum (listening to voices and acoustic instruments).  But surely not enough protection for spending three days at a music festival.  Also perfect for motorcycling or driving in convertible (cuts down wind noise just enough).  I tried wearing them to the grocery store; it was pleasant as background noise fades away, but missed a few words when talking to the checkout clerk.<br />* Comfort: Very comfortable at the point where they are sealed and working correctly.  If you push them in quite a bit further (to where they are probably barely visible) they get a lot less comfortable.  They are a tiny bit adjustable--You can leave them a little loose and they will dampen sound some, but not fall out!  The stem doesn't stick out far enough to interfere with motorcycle helmet--and I just tried laying on pillow and that is perfectly comfortable too.<br />* Practical: Easy to insert and not difficult to remove (I can't figure out why other reviewers want tweezers to pull these out); washable plastic; key-chain container is helpful and better thought-out than most ear-plug containers.<br />* Size: I occasionally use ear plugs that are too big and uncomfortable; I've never used any too small.  I can imagine these could be too big for small ears; the core of these is a hard plastic shaft that doesn't taper down.<br /><br />Favorite feature: short stem = discrete and can use while sleeping or under motorcycle helmet.<br /><br />I'm totally delighted with the product, and although it seems like you should get two pairs for your $14 (or maybe a half-off coupon for another pair), the quality makes them a very reasonable price.  But expensive enough I'm hoping that the soft plastic eartip piece is durable enough to last a couple years.<br /><br />** Update.  I've been using these a couple times a week for nearly a year.  The ear plugs are holding up well.  The key chain case occasionally unscrews in your pocket, but obviously not a big deal.  I will concede that for riding my motorcycle, I prefer a pair of MSA Tri-Seal Ear Plugs which fit further in your ear and have three flanges, features which prevent them from backing out (these occasionally get loose and have to stop and take off helmet to reinsert...).
Rating: 5 stars