Noise reduction - anyone use Loop earplugs?
I want to reduce or eliminate the sound of chips shuffling and table chat while being able to at least still hear the dealer. Ideally without hearing my own voice or that dull rumble sound from too much silence with regular earplugs.
I’ve heard of Loop earplugs. Has anyone used these? Would they accomplish what I’m trying to achieve?
5 Replies
I don't think it is a good idea to use anything that reduces hearing.
I am also a player who talks a lot at the table. And there are other players who wish I wouldn't. When I was playing 20/40 LHE at Foxwoods I almost decided to go into business selling headphones at the table for like $80 apiece. At the very least it would have been funny...
I will tell you a story as to why you should never wear ear plugs or headphones to reduce hearing.
I was in a big tournament at the Borgota pre Covid. Entry was like $550 with multi day 1's. The guaranteed prize pool was either $1, 000, 000 or $2, 000, 000 (I don't remember which).
There was a large pot that the player to my left in Seat 7 was in. On the river he made a huge raise and the guy in Seat 9 who had already put out a bet, tanked. They were HU. After about 5 minutes the clock was called and a Floor came over and told Seat 9 he had a minute and that with 10 seconds to go he would count down. If it got to zero it would be a fold. He started the clock and counted down and when he got to zero the dealer pushed the chips to Seat 7. Seat 9 guy took out his ear plugs and said "what is going on? the clock was called on Seat 7!!!" The Floor explained that Seat 7 had raised and the clock was called on him (Seat 9 guy). Seat 9 said he had a monster and would have called and won the pot (I forget what he said he had but it was a monster just not the nuts). Seat 7 never said what he had, so it seemed likely that Seat 9 would have won...
There have also been many times where hearing what has been said at the table can help in a ruling that you may very well be involved in.
If you are not in a hand then I get why you might want to put earplugs in, but for me it is critical to hear what people are saying and doing so I can get reads on them. Even when there is someone at the table being overtly hostile to me. I have found that when a bully tries to bully me that how I react can be very important for them to understand that their bullying isn't going to work (it won't change how I do things in the game).
I don't think it is a good idea to use anything that reduces hearing.I am also a player who talks a lot at the table. And there are other players who wish I wouldn't. When I was playing 20/40 LHE at Foxwoods I almost decided to go into business selling headphones at the table for like $80 apiece. At the very least it would have been funny...I will tell you a story as to why
Yeah, a fairly common occurrence but also the reason why I want to try the Loop ones. They are supposed to block out about 70% so I’d still be able to hear action but basically turn the volume down in the room to help me focus better.
I'm not sure about the loop ones specifically, but my earbuds have something called "transparency mode" that allows you to listen to music while still being able to hear the conversations around you.
It works but if someone says something very softly you might still miss what they said. I typically just wear an earbud in one ear, and that way I have no problem hearing what's going on around me.
I haven't tried Loops, but I have used musicians earplugs like Etymotic over the years. They bring the volume down a couple of notches without losing any clarity.
