By the time EarPeace began handing out hearing protection to concertgoers in 2010, I had already developed tinnitus in one ear. Too many years of playing drums in clubs without ear protection had been hard on my ears. It didn’t help that I had also started commuting to work on two wheels 15 years ago when gas prices hit an all-time high. That was another assault on my ears, but hearing protection was not something many of us thought much about back then. EarPeace has been on a mission to change that; the latest example is the EarPeace Moto Pro earplugs.
Most of us instinctively know that loud noise is not good for our ears. If you have the urge to put your fingers in your ears when you hear a power saw (130 dB) or take advantage of the inexpensive, disposable foam earplugs offered by a favorite local band such as Cinder Cone at their shows (110 dB), that is a good reaction! Similarly, fast speeds on your motorcycle can produce windblast noise in the 100 dB range. The American Academy of Audiology cites noise in the 90-to-110 dB range as dangerous after 30 minutes of exposure. So those of us with long commutes or who tour on motorcycles at high speed should be wearing ear protection—but what kind?
There are plenty of earplugs on the market for different applications, from foam to silicone to moldable putty earplugs. Foam and putty plugs work by simply blocking as much noise as possible. While effective for jackhammers, they are not the best choice for motorcyclists. We have a heightened need to hear emergency sirens, car honks, and squealing tires as clearly as possible—notice I didn’t say as loudly as possible. EarPeace uses acoustic filters in its Pro line earplugs to reduce the decibel level, without excessively obstructing any particular frequency. Thus, we get to hear in “high fidelity” while protecting our ears.
How exactly does this work? The tuned filter inside the EarPeace Moto Pro plug acts as your primary eardrum, absorbing the incoming soundwave and replicating it at a reduced amplitude, though not perfectly. Because the amplitude (the intensity of the soundwave; the loudness) of the original frequency is attenuated rather than the frequency (the number of times a soundwave repeats itself per second), the sound is not appreciably changed. The clarity of comparted foam earplugs is impressive.
By using the EarPeace Pro Moto earplug, not only am I reducing the assault on my eardrums, but I can do so without reducing situational awareness. Equally important, helmet communication with my riding partners isn’t compromised; it has been improved.
Of course, none of this matters if the earplugs are uncomfortable or won’t stay in your ears. Happily, this is not the case with EarPeace Moto Pro. I can slide my helmet on and off without dislodging the earplugs, and from a comfort standpoint, I am completely unaware of them while riding. I was previously a user of the EarPeace Moto earplugs. I like them, but the Pro version has a better ergonomic shape for the ear canal.
With foam earplugs, I simply roll them thin and insert, hold them in place till they expand, and I am done. Sometimes, they make a decent seal inside my ear, sometimes not. Inserting the EarPeace Moto Pro plugs correctly takes practice. I found I needed to slow down and be deliberate.
Following instructions from EarPeace, hold the silicone tab between your thumb and index finger with one hand, then use your other hand to pull the top of your ear up and back. The up-and-back step is crucial as it straightens the ear canal, allowing you to insert the plug snuggly. I found EarPeace’s one-minute demonstration video on YouTube to be quite helpful. A small tab makes removal easy, though you will likely need to remove your gloves.
Unlike disposable earplugs that you can toss, a reusable earplug with a filter needs to be cleaned—your ear harbors plenty of bacteria. Cleaning the EarPeace Moto Pro earplugs isn’t a big chore; they just need to be wiped with a damp cloth. If you make that a habit after each use, you can avoid a deep clean—washing in warm, soapy water with the attenuation filter removed.
EarPeace makes two versions of the Pro Moto earplug: High (20 dB reduction) and Max (24 dB cut), with an Ultra Max (27 dB attenuation) option. The Max version is suggested for louder, longer rides, and High for shorter rides or where communications devices will be used extensively. I tested the Max version and was completely satisfied with the high-frequency white noise reduction while still clearly hearing the latest high-fidelity Sena and Cardo speaker systems. The sound reduction is less in the human voice’s frequency range, making verbal communication easier.
The Moto Pro earplugs box includes a filter set and two sets of three earplugs—one set is Standard size, and the other set is Large. The third earplug in each set gives you a spare should you lose one. Three plugs fit in the sleek aluminum carrying cylinder that you can clip to your keys, purse, or belt loop.
We do have a little secret for you, however. EarPeace also sells Music Pro earplugs. While you might think the sound is different, it is not. The Music Pro filters have the same fidelity as the Pro Moto earplugs. However, when you buy a set of Music Pro earplugs, the two seats are Standard and Small, making them the right choice for motorcyclists with narrow ear canals.
The Music Pro earplugs come in three levels of attenuation—Max (24 dB), High (20 dB), and Medium (16 dB). So, if you ride motorcycles, have a Standard-sized ear canal and want a bit less of a sound cut, the EarPeace Music Pro is for you. Like the Moto Pro, the Music Pro offers an optional Ultra Max filter that cuts the sound intensity by 27 dB. Visually, the Music Pro earplugs are clear, while the Moto Pro earplugs are gray.
I tested the Music Pro plugs with the Medium filter while playing drums in a small club. I was impressed with how well I could still hear, and feel, my bandmates while simultaneously having that high-frequency edge from the cymbals taken down a notch. The EarPeace Music Pro’s filter does have a bit of a curve for attenuation, cutting the highs more than the lows.
Unlike age-related hearing loss, the percentage of American adults who have experienced preventable hearing loss was 14 percent in 2012. There’s no reason to be part of that 35+ million stat when proper hearing protection exists. EarPeace says it wants ear protection to be as common as sunscreen, and as someone who has had skin cancer bouts, I wear the Ear Peace Moto Pro and Music Pro earplugs when needed. At $40 for the set (and $30 for extra filters), it protects a priceless possession—your hearing.
