Eli5: Why do earplugs max out at 33db of noise cancelling?

Question

Eli5: Why do earplugs max out at 33db of noise cancelling?

In: 3288

Answer 1

You hear about half through your ears and half directly through your skull. The bones in your inner ear increase sound by roughly 40 dB. When you put in ear plugs you’re basically blocking the extra sound your ear drums and those bones help produce.