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Overview
I tested three versions of the Loop earplugs to find out how well they reduce noise compared to standard earplugs, and how comfortable they are to wear. You can watch my video above or read about them below.
Here’s the short version:
The Loop Dream were the most comfortable to use in bed. They are very small, soft, and flexible. While they didn’t block out as much noise as my foam earplugs, they still blocked out low to moderate noise, such as light snoring and distant traffic.
See the Dream on Loopearplugs.com
The Quiet 2 were comfortable to wear in bed too, just not as much as the Dream. They also block out a reasonable amount of noise, and could be a good option for daytime noise reduction and focus. They are also less expensive than the other versions.
The Experience 2 Plus were designed to be used in loud social environments. I found them very useful at a parade and fireworks night. They don’t reduce as much noise as the other two, but they made it easier to cope with loud banging sounds, bands, and the noise of large crowds.
Full review / video transcript
Please note that I made a few small edits to the transcript so it’s clearer to read.
In the photo above, you can see the three different Loop earplugs I’ve been testing out. From left to right: Experience 2 Plus, Dream, Quiet 2.
Introduction
When I bought the Loop Dream, the Quiet 2, and Experience 2 Plus, I had four key questions: Are they comfortable? Do they reduce noise well? Would I wear them in public? And perhaps most importantly, how do they compare to the cheap foam earplugs I’ve used for years?
The short answer to the first three questions is that they are all comfortable to wear, particularly the Loop Dream. They do reduce a reasonable amount of noise. And I was quite happy wearing them in public because, well, no one gave me funny looks and they’re quite subtle.
As for the foam earplugs, unsurprisingly, they blocked out more noise in the various tests I did. However, the comparison isn’t that simple, and there are some situations where I think the Loop could be a better choice. But let’s start at the beginning with how much I paid for them and what the differences are between the three versions I got.
In the photo below, I’m wearing the Loop Quiet 2. You’ll see in all the photos of me wearing them that the Loop sit very snugly inside the ear.
Price
On the Loop website I paid £39.95 for the Experience 2 Plus and £44.95 for the Dream. I then bought the Quiet 2 on Amazon for £24.95. Basically, I wanted to hedge my bets in case I wanted to return any!
Last time I bought my foam earplugs, they cost £16.92 for 50 pairs. If it’s true that you can get 100 uses out of the Loop before needing new tips, and you only use the foam earplugs for one night, then the price is fairly similar in the long run.
However, if you use the foam earplugs for multiple nights or keep going with your Loop tips, then the scales could tip either way in terms of which one’s more expensive over the years.
In the table below, you can see how much each earplug would cost per night for 100 nights, based on the price I paid. Keep in mind that the prices are likely to change over time.
| Earplug | Cost per night (£) |
|---|---|
| Loop Dream | 0.45 |
| Loop Experience 2 Plus | 0.40 |
| Foam earplugs (Mack’s Ultra Soft) | 0.34 |
| Loop Quiet 2 | 0.25 |
In the next table, you can see what the price might look like over a 300 night period. Note that the spare Loop tips cost less than the original earplugs, so the overall cost starts to go down over time.
| Earplug | Cost per night (£) |
|---|---|
| Loop Dream (£44.95) + 2 sets of new tips (£14.95 each) | 0.25 |
| Quiet 2 (£24.95) + 2 sets of new tips (£14.95 each) | 0.18 |
| Foam earplugs (1 night per pair) | 0.17 |
| Foam earplugs (3 nights per pair) | 0.06 |
Loop Quiet 2 close up
Below, you can see the Quiet 2, their brightly coloured carry case and the spare tips.
All the Loop earplugs come in different colors, and I got the Bubble Blue Quiet 2. Loop says these ones are for focus, travel, or napping most of all. The case is a practical keychain style, and I like how the Quiet 2 slot into place and don’t fall out when you open the case.
I like how all Loop earplugs come with interchangeable tip sizes, much like headphones. The body and tips of the earplugs are made of silicone, so they’re the easiest of the three to clean, as the whole earplug can get wet. I really like how soft and flexible they are, how easy they are to fit in my ear, and how comfortable they are when walking around or lying down.
With an SNR of 24 decibels in the European system and a noise reduction rating of 14 in the American system, they should technically block out much less than my foam earplugs, which have a noise reduction rating of 33 decibels. And you will see that when we come to my noise tests.
Loop Dream close up
In the photo below, you can see what I got with my Loop Dream. I thought the packaging was unusually stylish for earplugs. I’m more used to them arriving in basic boxes, tubs, or plastic wrapping.
The Dream are one of the more recent Loop earplugs and the ones I was most interested in. They again come with different tip sizes, which is great, and a carry case.
There aren’t slots for the earplugs in the case though, which means it’s easier to pop them in at night. But when you get them out of the case, I find they sometimes tumble out unless you hold it flat, which is kind of annoying.
I really like the design of the Dream earplugs though. Compared to the Quiet 2, the Loop is closed to block more sound, and the silicone tip has foam inside, also to block more sound. They’re very soft, small, and flexible, which is what I want from sleep earplugs really.
The SNR is 27 decibels with a noise reduction rating of 21 decibels, so on paper, they should block more noise than the Quiet 2 and Experience 2 Plus, but still less than my foam earplugs.
Experience 2 Plus close up
Below, you can see all the pieces that came with the Loop Experience 2 Plus. Most of them will never be used as they don’t fit my ears, but it’s good to have so many ways to customise them to your ears and situation.
Finally, the Experience 2 Plus. These ones came with two different sets of four tips and optional mutes to block out more noise, so there are quite a lot of pieces.
Like the Quiet 2, the carry case has slots to keep the earplugs from falling out and a keychain design. These ones are intended for noisy environments such as sporting events, gigs, festivals, and fireworks. They’re designed with an acoustic channel, so the idea is that they reduce noise to protect your hearing without ruining the sound around you completely.
Unlike the other two, the Loop and body are made from durable ABS. The solid body meant they were less comfortable when I used them in bed, but still very comfortable when I was out and about.
Loop says the noise reduction rating is 12 decibels without the mutes and 15 with them, so I’ve just left mine in. I also found the foam tips reduce more noise, but I don’t like the sticky feel, so I’m only using the silicone tips.
Comfort
Below, you can see how the three Loop earplugs look in my ear. The Dream (left) is the softest. The Experience 2 Plus (right) has a solid body. The Quiet 2 is softer than the Experience, but not as flexible as the Dream.
To really understand how comfortable the earplugs feel, I’ve spent the last few weeks wearing them every night in bed, as well as when out and about, and I paid particular attention to how they feel when I’m lying on my side or my front, as well as how they compared to other earplugs.
I was really surprised by how comfortable the Loop Dream are. I think the combination of the small size, flexible silicone, and flat loop that sits snugly inside your ear makes them very practical to use in bed, and I’ve had no problems lying on my side with them.
In the next two photos, you can see how unobtrusive the Loop dream earplug is in my ear. Even on my side, I find this version very comfortable to wear all night long.
Since I’m not a fan of wax or silicone earplugs because of how sticky they get, the Loop Dream are the first to come along that I’d be happy to use instead of foam where comfort is concerned.
The Quiet 2 were also comfortable to wear in bed but not as much as the Dream. They’re fine on my back, but on my side, I sometimes have to slightly adjust my head position to get comfortable. But on the whole, they’re still pretty good.
The Experience 2 Plus weren’t intended to be used in bed, but I tested them anyway. Like the Quiet 2, they were okay on my back, so you could use them for short naps. But the solid loop and body meant they dug into my ear when lying on my side, so I won’t be using them again in the future as a side sleeper.
For outdoor use, I found all three Loop earplugs very comfortable, and I’ve been able to wear them for hours on end with no problem.
My noise reduction tests
The Loop earplugs impressed me where the comfort is concerned, but that’s only really half the story; they also needed to impress me where noise reduction is concerned, especially when I’m wearing them in bed.
So let’s look at some specific noise tests I did, in which I compared them with wax, foam, and silicone earplugs.
In the photo below, you can see how the Loop earplugs compare in shape and style, and the size compared to my Mack’s Ultra Soft foam earplugs.
Test 1: snoring
First up is the snoring test. I’ve already got my snoring recording at the ready. I played it a second ago and set it to peak at around 55 dBA with my decibel meter. Let’s get it going, and I’m going to start with the Loop Dream and work my way through all six to see which best block out the snoring.
| Earplug | Blocks /10 |
|---|---|
| Foam earplugs (Mack’s Ultra Soft) | 7 |
| Loop Dream | 5 |
| Loop Quiet 2 | 4 |
| Loop Experience 2 Plus | 4 |
| Wax earplugs (Quies) | 4 |
| Silicone earplugs (Mack’s Pillow Soft) | 4 |
The foam earplugs did the best, scoring a 7 out of 10. I gave the Dream a 5, and all the others a 4. Considering the earplugs have different noise reduction ratings, you’d imagine the scores would be different. Honestly though, it was hard to tell if any were significantly better than the rest because they all struggled with the snoring. Still, at least they made it a bit more tolerable.
Test 2: loud music in an adjacent room
Okay, next it’s the music test. I’m going to take the Bluetooth speaker, put it on the other side of this wall, blast some music with some bass, and see how the earplugs deal with that.
Note: I played Drum & Bass for this test
You should be able to hear the music through the microphone coming through the wall. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I could sleep through that. Let’s have a listen, go through the earplugs again and see how they fair.
| Earplug | Blocks /10 |
|---|---|
| Foam earplugs | 9 |
| Loop Quiet 2 | 7 |
| Loop Dream | 6 |
| Loop Experience 2 Plus | 5 |
| Silicone earplugs | 5 |
| Wax earplugs | 4 |
Once again, the foam earplugs blocked the most noise, and I gave them a 9 out of 10. The Quiet 2 came second with a 7 out of 10. I gave the Dream a 6. The Experience 2 Plus and silicone earplugs a 5, and the wax just a 4.
The Quiet 2 and Dream were very close, so it may have been the fit that made a difference. Perhaps the Quiet 2 just did a better job of blocking some of the bass.
Test 3: barking dogs
This next test is in response to one of my subscribers on YouTube who was saying they’ve got a problem with the sound of dogs. So, this one is for you.
| Earplug | Blocks /10 |
|---|---|
| Foam earplugs | 6 |
| Loop Quiet 2 | 4 |
| Loop Dream | 4 |
| Loop Experience 2 Plus | 3 |
| Silicone earplugs | 3 |
| Wax earplugs | 3 |
If my neighbours work from home, they’re going to hate me today! As I expected, the foam earplugs blocked the barking best but I only gave them a 6 out of 10, as a lot of noise still got through. The Quiet 2 and Dream scored a 4, and the other three only scored a 3.
How I blocked the barking noise
Not to be defeated, I went off on a little tangent to see if I could beat the barking. I found I could mask it completely by playing pink noise or music on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or the Soundcore Sleep A20 headphones, but I had to play it very loudly, which is far from ideal.
The only way I could create silence was to wear foam earplugs and my Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 over the top. I could also block a lot by combining the Loop Dream and headphones, but not all of it. The issue there, however, is sleeping on your side or front with the headphones on. But, at least there are some options to experiment with.
| Combination | Blocks /10 | Tolerable? |
|---|---|---|
| Airpods Pro 2 + pink noise, 60% volume | 10 | Maybe |
| Airpods Pro 2 + music, 60% – 80% volume | 7-10 | Maybe |
| Soundcore Sleep A20 + masking sounds, 80% volume | 10 | Maybe |
| Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 + foam earplugs combined | 10 | yes |
| Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 + Loop Dream combined | 8 | yes |
| AirPods Pro 2 – just ANC without audio | 5 | yes |
Traffic, television and talking
As well as doing those specific tests, I have a couple of other points to share. Firstly, when I’m in bed at night, I can often hear the sound of traffic. It’s loud enough that I have to try and edit it out of my videos when I’m recording in the bedroom!
I found that the Loop Quiet 2 and Dream earplugs block that background traffic noise completely, but the occasional speeding motorbike or loud truck still gets through.
Secondly, they also do a good job if there’s TV or people talking in another room. Again, it depends how loud it is, but for moderate noise levels, they block it out quite well.
Experience 2 Plus for social events
The Experience 2 Plus didn’t do too well in my noise tests, but that’s partly because they were designed to filter noise rather than to block out as much as possible.
Below, I’m wearing the shiny silver Experience 2 Plus. They come in a matt colour as well if you’re not keen on having bling in your ear canals.
To find out how well these work, I’ve been wearing them around town, on trains, and one night gave them a tough test, which is the Lewes bonfire and fireworks night in the UK.
Around town and on trains, I found they reduced all types of noise a bit, but I can still hear people talking nearby very clearly, as well as announcements.
The best use was at the Lewes bonfire parade, which is an amazing night but incredibly loud. I found the Experience 2 Plus were all I needed to cope with the noise there.
I particularly liked how quickly and easily I could insert and remove them when there was a quiet moment without needing to touch the tips like I would with foam. I also liked how stylish they looked compared to my basic foam earplugs.
My only criticism was that they reduced the sound of the people around me most of all, which made the atmosphere feel a bit less lively. But it was a trade-off I was willing to make to ensure I didn’t go home with my ears ringing.
Occlusion effect
Let’s talk about the occlusion effect. This is something I noticed with all three Loop earplugs, and most earplugs in general. It’s one of the ways you know you’ve fit them correctly (if your voice sounds louder in your head).
However, I noticed that chewing is particularly loud. So if you’re the kind of person who would like to wear these in a busy restaurant or bar, for example, then that is something to keep in mind.
I also found that when you’re talking to someone and you’re making typical kind of listening or agreeing noises, they sound quite bassy. All those sort of “hmmm, uh-huh, ahh” sounds that you might make, you’re going to really notice those.
In bed, the occlusion effect is there too, which doesn’t bother me, but I know some people are sensitive to the sound of their own breathing, so it is something to keep in mind.
Verdict and who might like each version
It’s time for my final verdict and who I think might like these earplugs. Personally, I was really surprised by how much I like the Loop Dream, and I’m definitely going to keep these.
They’re very comfortable to wear in bed, and they do a decent job of blocking out a lot of lower-level noise such as my partner’s light snoring and distant traffic. I liked how I can actually hear my partner if she talks to me when I’m in bed, whereas I have to remove one of my foam earplugs if she asks me something.
Below, I’m wearing the Loop Dream. For me, they were the most comfortable for sleep. During the day, I don’t notice much of a difference between the three. But in bed, the Dream are my clear favourites.
I also think that if you don’t like the feeling of foam earplugs and haven’t had any joy with wax or silicone either, then they’re definitely worth trying.
However, if you’re okay wearing foam earplugs and you need the best noise reduction possible, then there are many foam earplugs that will block out significantly more noise than these.
For that reason, they won’t be completely replacing my foam earplugs, even though I’m going to keep the Dream and try them again in the future. I know that I’ll still need the foam ones if I want silence on a particularly noisy night.
I also plan on keeping the Experience 2 Plus. Even though I’m not going to use them regularly, I think it’s really good to have them for a loud night out, like a gig or a concert.
I actually think Loop have done a really good job in providing a way for people to look after their hearing without worrying about the way they look. I have several friends whose hearing is suffering now, and dancing next to oversized sound systems in nightclubs in the ’90s may have had something to do with it.
None of us ever wore earplugs in those days, but looking back, some of us might have done if these existed.
As for the Quiet 2, I’m considering sending these back. I feel like they’re not as comfortable as the Dream for sleep, and they’re not as practical as the Experience 2 Plus for going out. So, if I’m going to hang on to those two, I don’t really see the point in keeping these.
Having said that, if I was only going to keep one, I’d be tempted to pick the Quiet 2, especially if you mainly sleep on your back and you don’t want anything shiny in your ears when you go out. They were also the easiest ones to clean and quite a lot cheaper than the other two.
Please keep in mind that there are other versions of the Loop earplugs, and I only covered the three that most interested me in this video and article.
Thanks for watching and/or reading. Sleep well!
