Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
This post reports on my experience with the active noise cancelling function (ANC) of the AirPods Pro 2 in daily life. We are also looking at measurements and tips/hacks on how you can improve the noise reduction performance. This article is from the perspective of a noise sensitive person. So far I have been using …
Read moreThe AirPods Pro 2 ANC, Strong when It Wants To: How to Improve It?
I have now used the QuietComfort II Earbuds for six weeks. I am always on the lookout for tools that can effectively reduce noise in a busy, hot city while staying comfortable and in touch with my surroundings. In the following review, I report on my noise reduction tests, fit and comfort, sound quality, call …
Read moreBose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review and Detailed ANC Test
Very few Bluetooth earmuffs allow you to take a phone call in a high noise (>90 dB) environment. Having now tested the 3M Pro-Comms (90546-SIOC) against a lawn mower, saw, and router, I can report that these do the trick: callers can hear me when it gets loud, and I can hear them. Until very …
Read more3M Pro-Comms Electronic Hearing Protector Test and Review: Finally a Good Mike
A few readers have contacted me because they were being kept awake by chirping and trilling crickets, so I have decided to look more closely into blocking out the night time songs of common crickets. I thoroughly enjoyed conducting the experiments described below. This is intended to be both a problem solving article for you …
Read moreHow to Block Out Cricket Noise so That You Can Sleep?
For nighttime use, I typically toss out foam earplugs when they don’t look or smell clean anymore or when their effectiveness starts deteriorating. Many manufacturers state something like: “Discard after several uses or as soon as dirt or wax accumulates…” (Macks) “Disposable foam earplugs” (Moldex) When using earplugs for hearing protection in a high-noise environment, …
In this post, I’d like to demonstrate how much of a difference noise masking, active noise cancelling, and noise isolation alone and in combination make when it comes to eliminating disturbing nighttime (and daytime) noises. We are going to listen to a “noisescape” containing large-truck noises and resonances, honking of smaller and larger vehicles, and …
Read moreNoise Masking or Active Noise Cancelling: Together or Alone?
I have been asked many times to comment on specific earplugs for noise sensitive people and sensory overload. As a regular user of earplugs at night, I used to give my ears a break during the day, resorting more to earmuffs, headphones, and earbuds to subdue the daily noise onslaught. A year or so ago, …
Read moreMy Favorite Earplugs for Noise Sensitivity and Sensory Overload
Are you looking for earplugs that don’t have to be inserted into the ear canal but rather sit at the canal entrance? Loop Quiet and Experience are among a select few reusable earplugs that are designed as a canal cap. Over a couple of weeks, I have tried both in a variety of scenarios where …
Read moreLoop Quiet vs Experience: Soft Silicone or Acoustic Filter?
In this post, I am outlining the steps for pairing and connecting the 3M Pro-Protect Electronic Hearing Protector. We are also looking at how you can simultaneously connect to two devices. This isn’t an “official function” and there are some limitations (see section connecting to two devices), but I wanted to give it a go …
Read moreHow to Connect the 3M Pro-Protect to One or Two Devices via Bluetooth
In this post I am reporting on my tests of the 3M Pro-Protect electronic hearing protection earmuffs. I got the version with gel cushions and a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 26 decibels. The Pro-Protect are level-dependent hearing protection earmuffs: They passively reduce noise via their ear cups like other earmuffs. In addition, they use …
Read more3M Pro-Protect Electronic Hearing Protector Test and Review: Awareness Mode and Bluetooth