Just used mine at a Tool concert a few weeks ago. They worked very well and kept my ears from ringing the next three days. Music was still clear and enjoyable. This was my first concert application. I’ve been using them for years in mechanical rooms for work. I can still have a conversation with my colleagues but the compressors don’t pierce my ears.

The etymotics are good. Really, any plugs are good for protection, but the etymotics do allow fairly flat frequency response through so that you can enjoy yourself. The solid rule is the best hearing protection is the one you have when you need it. If you’re caught without hearing protection, DO find a napkin and ball it up tight such that it plugs your ears. It’s not the best protection, but it will help prevent damage. Dangerous levels of sound are cumulative and exposure time/amplitude is on a log scale. A typical concert can reach 110dB peaks and even stay at that level or louder continuously, depending on the music and the venue (small clubs are notorious). Use these as a guide. https://boomspeaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/decibel-chart-based-on-time-exposure.jpg https://www.captel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/safe-vs-dangerous-decibel-levels-infographic-800x1598.jpg

Just ordered, I’ve got a four night show run starting Wednesday, excited to try them out.

Love these. I actually think many shows I’ve been to sound better. When it is too loud I think I miss some of the finer detail.

Also when you first put them in, everything sounds muffled (as it should) and “worse”. But give yourself five minutes to get used to them. I’m convinced that people that hate them have either bought cheap earplugs or they didn’t really give them a chance and took them out after a few seconds