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DJ Tech Reviews

Etymotic ER20XS

Low-profile triple-flange earplugs with an even cut of about 20 dB; the deep fit takes getting used to.

Etymotic ER20XS earplug with standard and large triple-flange tips and foam tips

Photos: Etymotic

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11 of 12 professional reviews recommend it
Best for
DJs and musicians who want one fixed, even cut in loud booths and clubs.
Skip it if
You want to change the level mid-set without taking them out.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 12 professional reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

Reviewers recommend them as an inexpensive musicians' earplug that turns sound down evenly and keeps music clear, rated by Etymotic at NRR 13 and SNR 17. The deep triple-flange fit takes some getting used to, and a few reviewers hear a slightly warmer or bassier balance than a flat filter.

11 recommend0 mixed1 avoid

What people praise

  • Turns music down evenly, so instruments and voices stay clear
  • Cheap next to custom or electronic earplugs
  • Neck cord and case make them easy to keep on you
Show 2 more
  • Comfortable for hours once the right tip size is found
  • The clear, low-profile body is hard to see in the ear

What to know first

  • The deep triple-flange fit takes getting used to, and some find it uncomfortable
  • Not perfectly flat: some hear a warmer or bassier balance
  • The pull tab spoils the low profile
See the 12 reviews behind this

12 professional reviews (11 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 avoid), seven of them YouTube videos; no owner reviews read (neither Thomann nor Guitar Center stocks it)Compiled 2026-10-14How this is compiled

Video reviews

  • ChonkyAudioOct 2024Recommends

    Etymotic ER20 XS - Concert Earplugs Review

  • I'm ErnestOct 2021Warns off

    Etymotic Earplugs from Amazon $14.88

Plays from YouTube when you press play. Picked from the reviews counted above, including one that disagrees where there is one.

Prices

Before you buy

Status
Current

Works with

  • Standard and large ear canalsThree tip sets

    The universal pack has standard (6 to 11 mm) and large (8 to 13 mm) triple-flange tips plus foam (14 mm) tips; Etymotic says the standard size fits most ears Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic), checked 2026-10-14

  • Hats and helmetsStemless, low profile

    The stemless body sits inside the outer ear without sticking out, which Etymotic says suits wearing under hats, helmets and other headgear Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic), checked 2026-10-14

  • Hearing protection rulesEN 352-2, NRR 13

    Complies with EN 352-2:2020 under PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 with an SNR of 17 dB; the US EPA label gives an NRR of 13 dB; CSA Class C Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic (user manual)), checked 2026-10-14

You’ll also need

  • Replacement ear tipsEvery 3 to 6 months

    Etymotic says the tips lose elasticity with repeated use and should be replaced every three to six months if you wear them constantly Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic), checked 2026-10-14

  • A proper sealInsert them correctly

    Push the earplug in until the largest flange seals the ear canal entrance; moistening the tip and pulling the ear up and out eases insertion, and Etymotic says earplugs must be inserted correctly to work Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic), checked 2026-10-14

  • Keep them dryWipe, don't soak

    Clean after each use with a damp cloth; don't take them apart, immerse them, or use harsh chemicals or alcohol Manufacturer spec sheet (Etymotic), checked 2026-10-14

Key specs

Type
Passive reusable musicians' earplugs: stemless filter body with triple-flange tips; no electronics or batteries
Attenuation
About 20 dB, close to equal across the spectrum of hearing (Etymotic's description)
Response
Same as the ER20 earplug up to 4 kHz, with more high-frequency clarity above 4 kHz
SNR
17 dB
HML
H 18 / M 15 / L 12 dB
NRR
13 dB (US EPA label)
All 12 specifications
Certification
EN 352-2:2020, PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425; notified body SATRA Technology Europe; CSA Class C
Ear tips
Universal pack: standard 3-flange (6 to 11 mm), large 3-flange (8 to 13 mm) and foam (14 mm)
In the box
Earplugs with standard tips, large 3-flange tips, foam tips, neck cord, storage case, user manual
Fit
Low profile, sits inside the outer ear; pull tab for removal
Tip life
Replace every 3 to 6 months with constant use
Care
Wipe with a damp cloth after use; don't take apart or immerse in water

12 of 12 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Rory TassellWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

Eleven of twelve professional reviews recommend them, mostly for an even cut that keeps music and voices clear at a low price. Etymotic rates them at NRR 13 and SNR 17. The deep triple-flange fit takes getting used to, and three reviewers hear a slightly warmer or bassier balance. No owner reviews were read. Buy them for one fixed level in booths and clubs; to change the level mid-set, an adjustable earplug suits better.

What it is

Status, October 2026: current. Etymotic still lists the ER20XS, though its own shop showed it sold out on 14 October.

What it is

The ER20XS is a reusable musicians' earplug from Etymotic, the Illinois maker of earphones and hearing protection whose products Lucid Hearing now distributes (Etymotic product page). It is a passive filter with no electronics: a small clear chamber behind a triple-flange silicone tip. Etymotic says it matches the response of its original ER20 musicians' earplug up to 4 kHz, with more clarity above that, and describes the reduction as about 20 dB, close to equal across the spectrum of hearing.

The rated figures are lower. The user manual gives an NRR of 13 dB on the US EPA label and an SNR of 17 dB, with H, M and L values of 18, 15 and 12 dB, and says the ER20XS complies with EN 352-2:2020 under the EU PPE Regulation 2016/425. NRR and SNR come from different tests, so compare SNR with SNR and NRR with NRR.

The stemless body sits inside the outer ear without sticking out, with a pull tab for removal, and Etymotic says it suits wearing under hats and helmets. The universal pack holds the earplugs fitted with standard triple-flange tips for ear canals of 6 to 11 mm, a pair of large triple-flange tips for 8 to 13 mm, a pair of foam tips, a neck cord, a storage case and the manual. Etymotic also sells a standard-fit pack and says the standard size fits most ears.

The tips lose elasticity with use, and Etymotic says to replace them every three to six months if you wear them constantly. Clean them after each use with a damp cloth, don't take them apart or immerse them, and keep them in the case.

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