Loop's Switch 2 Is Making Quiet Look Cool
The earplugs don’t just soften the city’s roar. They do it with serious style points
THE SOUND OF SILENCE IS HARD TO COME by. Hearing loss is a growing problem, especially in urban cities, where research shows that longterm exposure to loud noise can cause lasting damage. So, I began looking for ways to tune out
the chaos.
For months, I’d been contemplating a shift, moving beyond the usual suspects like white noise ASMR, calming piano, lo-fi playlists on Spotify, and other simulated sounds, to trying Loop earplugs. I finally decided to give them a shot. The Netherlands-based company has been making noise everywhere, from Formula 1 to Coachella to Tomorrowland. But is it really worth spending on a pair of earplugs that don’t exactly block out noise?
The Switch 2 earplugs from Loop filter noise and sound rather than blocking them. They come in three modes. Quiet mode is the maximum noise reduction, up to 26 decibels. This mode is great for focus time in workspaces or blocking out noise when you are travelling. Experience mode filters noise while preserving sound (perfect for a live concert, for instance) while engage mode clarifies speech and softens ambient noise (for when you want to be part of a conversation in social settings minus the unwanted ambient din).
You may also like
You switch between modes using a mechanical dial that makes the most satisfying tactile click—once you get used to it. This can be done without removing the device, which is convenient.
Inside the miniscule, but cool-looking wearables is a hollow channel, a mesh filter and membrane that make this acoustic resonance magic work. The earplugs basically mimic your ear’s function while keeping sound natural.
I tried them on a long train journey and my daily noisy commute. Loud noises and disturbances are reduced to gentle thuds.
Apart from Switch 2, there is also the Loop Dream, which is tailormade for better sleep. Side sleepers will love this version of the earplugs.
The other advantage is you do not need an app or secondary support device for Loop. You don’t need to charge them—there’s no power, batteries or extra tech required. For days when you don’t want to listen to music to drown out the chaos around you, these earplugs make for a snug fit.