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Alpine MusicSafe Review (Purple)

Description

Designed for musicians, MusicSafe earplugs feature special filters that allow you to protect your hearing while still being able to clearly hear the music. MusicSafe earplugs adapt to the shape of the auditory duct for a secure, comfortable fit, and do not cause pressure on or in the ear. They come with different sets of filters. This review tests the purple filter associated with the medium attenuation.

Average price : $25 a pair.

Attenuation Table

	60Hz	125	250	500	1k	2k	4k	8k	16kHz
Rated	-	14.8	15.0	15.7	18.7	26.6	26.4	18.9	-	NRR 17
Measured	11	14	15	18	20	20	22	26	38	ΔF ±8

NRR stands for Noise Reduction Rating. It is a standardized measure expressed in decibels (dB), and represents the overall attenuation offered by the earplug. The higher the NRR, the stronger the attenuation. Differences in the NRR of less than 3 dB between earplugs have no importance in practice.

ΔF represents an important factor for musical applications, as it measures the standard deviation from a spectrally flat attenuation between 60Hz and 16kHz. The smaller the ΔF, the higher the fidelity. ±3dB is virtually inaudible and can be considered as the very best one can get.

Audio Simulation

Using headphones is best for this test. Pick a file from the top row, adjust its sound level to match the real life situation (e.g., the bike should play louder than the snoring), and then switch to the bottom row to audition the earplug under test.

Snoring	Bike	Babble	Plane	Gun	Industrial	Club	Rock
w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug	w/Plug

Comments

The MusicSafe accomplishes it's aim: protecting your hearing from loud music while keeping the sonic balance not too far away from the original mix. The MusicSafe offers a transparent attenuation in the midrange frequencies. Only the last octave (12kHz and above) could have been better preserved. This earplug won't isolate you from external noises, but simply protect your hearing against damaging sound levels.

Use	Score	Comments
At Home	•	Won't block noise.
On the go	•••	Won't block noise but protect your hearing.
Industry	••	Won't block noise but protect your hearing.
Music	••	Musicsafe has hit where it aimed. Highest frequencies could have been better preserved though.

Manufacturer Links

• Alpine Music Safe