Earplugs are like condoms:

They make a sensual pleasure less pleasurable, and they also protect against life-altering consequences.

You can get earplugs that only lower the sound quality a tiny bit these days. I bought some from the drum shop and they’re great. As you say, $20 or so to avoid lifetime ear damage is a very very good investment. I feel like concerts aren’t quite so loud these days too, maybe audio gear quality is better and the sound engineers don’t feel the need to turn it up quite so loud.

I’ve also noticed that younger people seem to wear earplugs at concerts a lot more often. I get the feeling there’s been a change in attitude towards hearing protection. My guess is that instagram ads for earplugs and AirPod hearing health features have had something to do with it

The last time I attended a concert, it was still very loud even with earplugs!

Earasers is one brand. Concerts are still pretty loud.

I wish I took better care of my ears as damage is pretty much irreversible.

Me too. My lifelong tinnitus is the result of standing too close to a monitor at a single loud concert. If I’d worn earplugs just that once I’d never have got it.

Ambient crowd noise before the music starts is ~85dB inside a venue (not to mention festivals), which is ~10dB above the acceptable limit for permanent hearing damage. The loudness, to some extent, is a necessity. That being said, I've noticed diminishing returns from a ~100dB show to a ~110-112dB show.

Street fests are the worst since you have a perfect combination of amateur sound engineers, outside sound shaping, and an amateur audience to boot. Sometimes I think bringing children to steet fests should be illegal if there's going to be that loud of music. I've seen some clock in at ~115dB! Ridiculous.

After wearing some to every show now, I prefer it.

Gotta get better about the condom usage though