- Highlights
- Features
- Specifications
- Cleaning
- What’s in the Box?
- Reviews
- Replacement parts
ER20XS High Fidelity Earplugs The ER20XS is the next generation high fidelity Etyplug, reengineered to fit in an eXtra small compact form factor.
The ER20XS is a great choice for those who wants to protect their hearing from loud sounds, while at the same time continue hearing surrounding music, speech, and other meaningful signals:
· Musicians.
· Rock concerts.
· Loud vehicles – bikes, scooters, motor boats, snowmobiles, etc.
· Motorsports.
· Travel.
· Power tools, machinery.
ER20XS Earplugs are reusable, low-profile, with a stem-less design that sits snugly in the outer ear without protruding. This makes it discreet and comfortable to wear under hats, helmets and other headgear.
Experience the pinnacle of hearing protection and clarity with the ER20XS Triple Flange Earplugs. Engineered with three points of contact, these earplugs form an exceptional seal in the ear canal, delivering superior noise reduction and sound fidelity compared to single dome silicone tips.
BENEFITS
· Reduce risk of hearing damage for many noisy occupations as well as noisy venues, such as airshows, parades, athletic events and motor sports.
· Enhance the music experience for audiences while protecting hearing.
· Let musicians hear their own instruments and their blend with others.
DESIGN & PERFORMANCE
The ER20XS earplugs boast a low-profile, stem-less design that fits snugly in the outer ear without protruding, making them discreet and ideal for use under hats, helmets, and other headgear. The ergonomic triple flange tips ensure a secure, comfortable fit for extended wear, while the small, flexible pull tab allows for easy removal. They also come with an easy-to-install neck cord and a convenient carrying case.
Performance-wise, the ER20XS matches Etymotic’s high-fidelity ER20 developed for musicians. With identical response through 4 kHz and enhanced high-frequency clarity above 4 kHz, these earplugs preserve the richness of music and clarity of speech—just quieter—with a 20-dB equal sound reduction across the spectrum of hearing.
Traditional foam earplugs do not compare with high fidelity ER20XS Earplugs. The well-known bright-colored red or orange foam plugs muffle sound by reduce mid-range and high frequencies resulting in muffled speech and music. On the opposite, while ER20XS Earplugs reduce noise levels evenly, they preserve clarity of speech, communication, and the richness of music.
ER20XS come with a small, flexible pull tab that allows for easy removal, an easy-to-install neck cord and a carrying case.
CHOOSING YOUR SIZE
All ears are different. It is impossible to predict the size of an ear canal by the appearance of the outer ear, or by a person’s physical size, age or gender. Two sizes of ER20 Plugs fit almost 100% of ear canals. Recent studies of both fit and seal, conducted at Etymotic Research and an independent lab, showed that the smaller of the two sizes fits the majority of ears and is now designated as standard fit.
ADJUSTING TO ETYMOTIC EARPLUGS
A little time may be required to acclimate to these earplugs. Many musicians report that they hear their own instruments better, as well as the balance with those around them. Insert the plug by grasping the end cap and inserting the eartip until the largest flange is sealed in the ear canal entrance. To ease insertion, moisten the plug and pull the ear outward and upward. Earplugs must be inserted correctly for optimal effectiveness. To remove, use a slow twisting motion.
WHEN TO REPLACE
ER20 Plugs are reusable, but with repeated use, the eartips may lose elasticity. For best performance and retention, if you use your constantly, replace them every 3-6 months.
|
Hearing protection type |
Passive |
|
Ear tips |
Three-flange silicone, Foam |
|
Noise isolation |
20 dB across hearing frequency range |
CLEANING
- Do not take earplugs apart.
- Clean after each use.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth as needed.
- Do not immerse earplugs in water.
- Do not clean with harsh chemicals.
- Alcohol is not recommended.
· 1 Pair ER20XS Standard Size Earplugs
· 1 Pir Large 3-Flange eartips
· 1 Pair Foam Eartips
· Neck cord
· Storage Case
· User Manual
What the users say about their experiences with ER20XS
Liv – 10/16/2025 ★★★★★
Metal and hardcore approved
I’ve been to a few loud shows since these arrived and they’re a total game changer. The difference from foam earplugs is night and day, and they stayed in place through a whole night of moshing. The show still sounds loud but it doesn’t make my head hurt and my ears aren’t ringing at all afterwards, and I can actually hear the instruments instead of just a mushy wall of sound. I’ve found that if I take them in and out during the show they tend to wiggle out later and need to be adjusted after a headbanging session, but if I leave them in all night the seal is stronger and I feel them less.
FABIAN MARTINEZ – 09/29/2025 ★★★★☆
Works great for outdoor music festivals
Used them for an outdoor music festival. Work out great. They reduce db enough to protect my ears but not so much I lost fidelity. They were in my ears for probably 5 hours and never felt uncomfortable. If I had one complaint it is they feel like they should go in deeper but when I do that it hurts a bit. They definitely reduce db when they are deeper, but it doesn’t feel right. I might need a bigger set. I might end up trying the two-plug next time instead of the three-plug I have.
Glenn Ritchie – 09/20/2025 ★★★★★
Big Band Rehearsals
I play lead trombone in a big band so I have screaming trumpets behind me pretty regularly in a tight space. The ER20XS provide the perfect balance between cutting out the sudden impact of those dangerous frequencies while still allowing me to hear the information I need to to match pitch and style!
Phil Gx – 09/16/2025 ★★★★★
Reliable Ear Protection for Concerts
I’ve been using the ER20XS for years while going to live concerts, and they’ve never let me down. The sound stays clear while keeping my ears protected every time. I trust these completely, which is why I bought another pair after losing my old one.
Jack Tompkins – 06/20/2025 ★★★★★
Great for playing music and going to concerts
I can actually hear what myself and others are playing now, unlike when I was using foam earplugs and could only hear bass and cymbals.
John KIRK – 06/19/2025 ★★★★★
Great for musicians
These are great for playing brass music and ear training. They’re also great for when you sit in front of the trombone section!
LownoteNB – 04/11/2022 ★★★★☆
Small, Affordable, Comfortable and Effective
I just bought several more pairs of these so that I can have a pair stashed just about everywhere, e.g., my car, my briefcase, my golf bag, my double bass bag, jacket pockets, etc. Having owned ER products since my first pair of custom Musician Plugs purchased probably 25 years ago, I've been impressed with the company and its products. Even though I've worked extensively as a bassist, I can still hear 16Khz at aged 73 which is a tribute to the quality of the products and the ever-increasing need to use hearing protection. Movies, airplanes, restaurants, clubs, etc. are all too loud and it pains me to see the number of people, particularly young people, doing permanent, irreversible damage to their ears out of total ignorance. These plugs would serve these people well since the sound is so natural and unmuffled.
K Anderson – 04/10/2022 ★★★★★
Working a small welding shop. They cancel the loud noises enough but allow the speech to still be heard clearly.
Greg – 03/28/2022 ★★★★★
Good Cost-Effective Option to Noise Cancelling Headphones
I wanted a means to reduce ambient noise. Noise cancelling headphones seemed like overkill, so I purchased these earplugs to try out first. I am quite happy with the results.
ScSing – 05/16/2022 ★★★★★
Significant noise suppression.
Today, rode my PanAmerica all morning with my Motorsport etymotic’s. After a break when I drove off w/o the ear plugs I was shocked how much louder the bike was.
Alex B – 02/24/2022 ★★★★★
Great Ear Plug for Musicians
This earplug mutes just enough sound level without sacrificing the sound details that musicians need. Great for use in enclosed areas to filter out echo, or while standing in front of a loud monitor. The size customization allows for a more comfortable fit than the original plugs.
Alastair Welles – 11/24/2021 ★★★★★
Great earplugs
Earplugs fit well and are consistent in their comfort. I love wearing these to movies, concerts, and bars. A good investment that's durable and reliable.
Marc DeHart – 11/22/2021 ★★★★☆
Use these earplugs while riding motorcycle. The road noise is almost completely gone which allows music to be understood and heard a lot better.
Marc Boxerman – 11/18/2021 ★★★★☆
Work very well
These work as described. They effectively attenuate sound while preserving musical dynamics. I wear them at all rock concerts I attend.
Calin – 11/18/2021 ★★★★★
Bought them for an electronic music show and they did not disappoint
Went to a club that was hosting one of my favorite djs. The room was super tiny but they had their systems nearly max volume. The plugs just made everything quieter, but not muffled. I took them out just to see if they were doing anything and the difference in loudness was so painful, so I knew they were doing their job. I def keep them on me at all times now and feel more confident attending more shows.
Kelly – 11/17/2021 ★★★★★
Work great for concerts
Got these to use for a concert. We were impressed with them as they blocked out the dangerously loud noise and made the music sound clearer. Bought another 4 sets for our kids. So far, I’ve seen Tool, Santana, Korn, and System of a Down using these earplugs and I didn’t leave any of the shows with ringing ears. Highly recommend.
Mike Thompson – 0/15/2021 ★★★★★
Great for Concerts – Sound is Amazing
The absolute best thing about these Earplugs is that everything still sounds the same, just at lower volume. I had started wearing hearing protection at concerts, I love live music, but the foam plugs always affected the sound. I would always find myself taking the plugs out after adjustments failed to improve the quality of sound and would always end up with familiar ringing in my ears, or I'd feel like I didn't get the full experience due to the muffling.
These Etymotic Earplugs have been a gamechanger. The music sounds the way its supposed to without any of the side effects after the fact. That, and they are super discreet, and portable, so I don't have to deal with larger overhead protection.
I absolutely recommend these plugs (I bought the 20Xs) to anyone who enjoys live music, especially at small venues, and would suggest you buy before you think you need them.
Fantastic product!!!
Foam Pairs: Standard
Triple Flange Silicone Pairs: Standard and Large

