ifi Audio Ear Plugs Review – Shut Up!

ifi Audio Ear Plugs are form-fitted, memory foam 37 dB noise stoppers that work well in VERY LOUD environments.

I thank ifi Audio for supplying their ear plugs for my review upon my request.

Introduction

Commercially produced ear plugs are a German invention from the last century, when Max Negwer started distributing his “Ohropax” (ear peace) back in 1907. These were made of wax. Earlier, the ancient Greeks had experimented with beeswax, wool, cotton etc. whatever worked for them. Moldable clay and silicone ear plugs appeared in the 1960s, and memory foam followed suit in the early 1970.

Ear plugs are obviously used to filter out noise so that, in many cases, you can sleep better. ifi Audio from Northern England are not necessarily the first address for noise cancellation that comes to mind, they rather made themselves a name with devices that produce noise: DACs, amps, dongles, etc. Their gear can be played LOUD!

But somebody in the company must have been exposed to snoring dogs, loud neighbours, or some other form of constant noise (think heat pumps, air conditioners, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, hot tubs). Or they just fly frequently or take these noisy British diesel trains. Or they shoot a lot. Maybe, they hate Coldplay concerts. Or they are musicians on stage themselves. Well, you can also use ear plugs in libraries.

The inventors also had the great idea to have their ear plugs produced in very bright colours…they do NOT glow in the dark but you still can find them more easily in your bag or suitcase.

Specifications ifi Audio Ear Plus Soft Foam Earplugs

What makes a good Ear Plug?

People need ear plugs for all sorts of situations and environments, as discussed above. The plugs have to insulate properly (duh!!!) but also provide good comfort, fit, and breathability. They should be skin friendly and not trigger allergies. Important is their ability for long-term use.

How do the ifi Ear Plugs perform?

The ifi ear plugs are have a very special “form fitting” shape I have not seen in any other models. And their memory foam is denser than of any other ear plugs I have tested. Both are needed to reduce noise by a staggering 37 dB (that’ a lot) as claimed by ifi Audio. That’s why there is a warning on the box that people should not use them while cycling, walking, or running.

The question is whether they are comfortable for you. I cannot answer this question as everybody has different ear canal shapes. You will have to try it out.

After noisy snow removal with 2-stroke leaf blowers, the lawn mowing season has started. My neighbour has an excruciatingly noisy 2-stroke string trimmer. It is so annoying as it intrudes even the back of our house from across the street. The ifi Audio ear plugs remove that noise substantially. Pairing them with my Bose QuietComfort 15 brings the noise effectively down to zero.

Taking the Boses off again, I could not communicate with my wife over the cooking. So, yes, these ear plugs work. One caveat, though: if you have monster wide ear canals, these ergonomically shaped ones may not seal.

Are the ifi Audio Ear Plugs washable or disposable?

I fear they are not washable, and hence they are an expensive affair. Whereas the competition comes in mega jars containing up to 100 pairs, ifi sells their earplugs in packs of 3 or 8 pairs. Depending on the cleanliness of your ear canals, you can probably use each pair for 3-5 nights/flights.

How do the ifi Audio Ear Plugs compare?

3M classic earplugs are the current market leader. They are the main noise cancellation devices used on job sites. The 3Ms are different from the ifi Audio ear plugs in the they have a cylindrical shape and are shorter and thicker (though both have the same diameter at their base). This means that the ifi Audio ear plugs sit deeper in your ear canals.

As you can see in the photo, the 3Ms are more porous, this means there is less contact area between the ear plugs and the ear canals, which may make them more comfortable for some. Others may find the molded shape of the ifi Audio ear plugs more pleasant to wear.

The denser ifi Audio ear plugs are somewhat harder than the softer 3Ms.

The 3M have a noise reduction rating of 29 dB, any other earplug I have tested never exceeded a noise reduction rating of 33 dB. dB is a measure of the sound pressure and doubles every 3 dB. Our ears only perceive the doubling every 10 dB. Therefore, 8 dB make quite a difference.

Nevertheless, no pair of earplugs filters excruciatingly loud noise out perfectly. If you operate a gas-powered leaf blower, you are advised to use an additional pair of earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones. Adding the depicted Bose reduces the noise by 62 dB…which, for example, will bring your Dyson vacuum cleaner down to zero.

Concluding Remarks

ifi Audio’s ear plugs are a treat for my ears, first because they are very effective, and second, because they are pricey. Apart from that, they are quite attractive looking.

Have a good and healthy sleep!

Until next time…quietly yours…and keep on listening!