Peace and quiet. It’s vital for concentration, health and wellbeing, and getting a good night’s sleep, but it’s pretty hard to come by in this day and age. Which helps to explain why Belgian lifestyle brand Loop have sold over 8 million pairs of their fashion-forward earplugs worldwide since launching in 2016.
As a big fan of the brand’s earwear, I’ve tested various models from Loop’s collections of Quiet, Engage and Experience earplugs that provide hearing protection to suit different moods and surroundings, including the 3-in-1 Loop Switch earplugs which combine the qualities of the Quiet, Engage, and Experience into one device.
Now, Loop has announced the newest addition to its best-selling ‘Quiet’ earplug range: the Loop Quiet 2 Plus earplugs, hailed as their comfiest, most noise reducing earwear yet. But are they worth investing in? Let’s find out.
LOOP QUIET 2 PLUS REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Loop Quiet 2 Plus is now available to buy in four colour options – Black, White, Violet and Mint – for a recommended retail price of £29.95 / $34.95 / AU$49.95 from Loop UK / Loop US / Loop Australia.
(Image credit: Future)
LOOP QUIET 2 PLUS REVIEW: DESIGN AND FEATURES
The Loop Quiet 2 Plus earplugs are the third iteration of the original (and now defunct) Loop Quiet earplugs that provided hearing protection up to 26 dB [SNR].
Even though they were best-sellers for the brand, Loop recently gave the Quiet earplugs an ultra-comfy upgrade in the form of the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs, featuring a sleeker shape, upgraded ear tips, and more efficient sizing for all-day-and-all-night wearability. The payoff for improved comfort, however, was a decrease in sound reduction of up to 24 dB [SNR].
But, in a bid to meld greater comfort and noise reduction together, Loop has now launched the Quiet 2 Plus earplugs, which boast all the improved comfort of the Quiet 2 design with better-than-ever noise reduction up to 27 dB [SNR] courtesy of Loop’s new double-stacked ear tips for less noise when you need it.
Yes, that’s right, the ‘Plus’ comes from the new ‘Double Tips’. And to that end, once you open the sleek packaging, you’ll find a pair of the Quiet 2 earplugs nestling inside a convenient keychain carry case, an instruction manual, four sets of the standard silicone ear tips that come with the Quiet 2 earplugs in sizes XS, S, M and L, plus four sets of Loop’s new Double Tips in XS, S, M and L (the Medium Double Tips are already fitted to the earplugs).
Now, at this point, you might be thinking it sounds like a bit of rip-off that you have to buy a whole new set of Loop earplugs for better noise reduction. But the good news is that existing owners of the Quiet 2 can upgrade their Loops by buying a year’s supply of the new interchangeable Loop Double Tips for £14.95 / $14.95 / AU$19.95 to get the extra 3 dB [SNR] of noise reduction (Loop recommends that users change their ear tips every three-to-six months for optimal performance and hygiene).
But the question is: should owners of the OG Loop Quiet earplugs upgrade to the newest Loop Quiet 2 Plus? And should Loop Quiet 2 owners upgrade their standard ear tips to the double-stacked ear tips? Spoiler alert: it’s a yes and yes from me.
(Image credit: Future)
LOOP QUIET 2 PLUS REVIEW: PERFORMANCE
Loop’s collection of Quiet earplugs has always been deemed suitable for sleep, unlike the Experience, Engage, and Switch models which are designed for use in social situations and loud events like concerts.
However, as a user of the original Loop Quiet earplugs, and a side-sleeper, it’s fair to say I personally didn’t find them comfy enough to wear through the night. I loved their noise-muffling powers during the day and very rarely noticed I was wearing them, but they definitely felt a little uncomfortable during sleep and would sometimes fall out of my ears, or I would remove them without realising while asleep due to discomfort – which is problematic when they cost a lot more than your usual foam earplugs!
But any discomfort is a thing of the past with the new design on the Quiet 2 and Quiet 2 Plus. While the original Quiet earplugs and the Quiet 2 Plus earplugs look practically identical in shape and size in my comparative photos and to the naked eye, there’s no denying that the ‘sleeker design with upgraded ear tips’ fits and feels differently in the ear.
Loop doesn’t clarify if the ‘flexible soft-touch silicone… for dreamy comfort day and night’, is different to the soft silicone material used in the original Quiet earplugs. I would say they do feel softer and not as hard as the original Quiet earplugs when my head is resting on the pillow, but I can’t confirm this and it’s possible the increase in comfort is down to the sleeker fit.
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Either way, I can confidently pop the Quiet 2 Plus in my ears before bedtime and wake up with them still in my ears every morning without feeling any aching or discomfort. They stay in place, always feel good, and I get a better night’s sleep without hearing my dog and partner snoring, or the foxes or car alarms or police sirens wailing at night (you’ve got to love living in London).
Which brings me on to the 27 dB of noise reduction – the highest level offered by any of Loop’s models to date. To be clear, noise reduction does not equal the effects of the best noise-cancelling headphones or the best noise-cancelling earbuds, so you should never buy a pair of Loop earplugs expecting they will block out all sounds.
But there’s no doubting the enhanced noise-reducing powers of the Quiet 2 Plus. Loop doesn’t explain the science behind the Double Tips or how they provide an extra 3dB of noise reduction, but it makes sense that a second layer adds more ear-muffling prowess.
Combined with the superior fit and added comfort, I’ve definitely found it easier to sleep at night wearing the Loop Quiet 2 Plus, focus better on my work with reduced distractions, travel on public transport without losing my sanity, and read a book while family members are watching the latest Netflix boxset or playing Call of Duty in the same room.
(Image credit: Future)
LOOP QUIET 2 PLUS REVIEW: VERDICT
The Loop Quiet 2 Plus earplugs offer the highest level of noise reduction in Loop’s portfolio to date thanks to their new ‘Double Tips’ which provide up to 27dB of noise reduction. Coupled with their improved fit and big increase on comfort, these discreet and stylish earplugs will help you focus on work, get a better night’s sleep, and drown out distracting noises when you’re trying to relax.
Portable, reusable, and simple to clean for day-to-day use, they’re easily Loop’s most effective and comfiest earplug to date, and the good news is existing Quiet 2 owners can obtain the extra 3dB of noise reduction by buying a set of Double Tips rather than buying a whole new set of earplugs.
