Boules Quies Review

Description

The famous Boules Quies from France are cotton-wrapped, malleable ear plugs made of natural wax. To use, simply roll the ball of wax in your hands to make it soft and then place the ball in the ear for a custom fit. Boules Quies are well known for their comfort and maximum protection. Beware though, as they hermetically seal your ear canal, Boules Quies will exert more pressure than foam or silicon earplugs. They are not suggested for re-use, but if you keep them clean you can use them a few times.

Average price : less than $10 for a box (7 pairs).

Attenuation Table

	60Hz	125	250	500	1k	2k	4k	8k	16kHz
Rated	-	25.6	22.5	23.9	25.5	34.7	40.3	39.8	-	NRR 30
Measured	20	22	24	26	28	32	40	40	40	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

It is best to use headphones 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 sound louder than the snoring), and then switch to the bottom row to audition the earplug being tested.

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

Boules Quies possibly represent the most efficient solution among the inexpensive options. A classic and excellent performer for all-around use, but not as easy to handle compared to foam. Not suitable for music purposes.

Use	Score	Comments
At Home	•••	Great all-around earplug. Some users like the comfort offered by wax.
On the go	••	Efficient but more difficult to handle than foam earplugs.
Industry	•	Difficult to handle in an industrial environment.
Music	•	Rather flat frequency-wise, but attenuation is too strong.

Alternative : foam earplugs are nearly as efficient but easier to handle and exert less pressure in the ear canal.

Manufacturer Links

• Quies Website
• Boules Quies Brochure