Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
The best over-ear active noise cancelling headphones (ANC headphones) feature impressive noise reducing performance and sound great. But, they take up a lot more space than active noise cancelling earbuds (ANC earbuds). ANC earbuds also use electronics to reduce noise, so perhaps they could do just as well? They fit in a handbag or even …
Read moreNoise Cancelling Headphones or Earbuds? It Depends on Where and When
You may have just gotten a white noise machine for your bedroom and are unsure how loud you should set it. Or you have tried to use it for a while but it doesn’t seem to be soothing enough or block enough noise. Now you are wondering how loud you should play white noise to …
I have lived in quite a few apartments and stayed in countless hotel rooms where traffic noise was waking me up several times a night. Over time, I have developed a good understanding of what works to block out enough noise to help me fall and stay asleep. Whether you have traffic noise keeping you …
My first white noise machine was a pedestal fan. It was very soothing and easy to fall asleep with. Over time though, when the traffic outside got louder, that fan wasn’t loud enough anymore. I am not sure whether consumer white noise machines even existed at that time. My friend had a marvelous trick to …
Read moreWhite Noise Machine vs Fan: Which Is Better for Sleep?
This is the next installment in my white noise machine test and review series. The Sleepbox is a budget sound machine and one of the few white noise machines with a removable (!) rechargeable battery. With a weight of only 5.4 oz (152 g) and a small housing (4.3×4.3×1.4 inches) it is very portable indeed. …
What attracted me to the Dreamegg D3 Pro is that in addition to white noises (7) and fans (7), it has 15 nature sounds, including plenty of water sounds. It is also compact and light and has a built-in battery, and it is not too small to house a good speaker. I have now used …
Do you have a small ear canal and find most earplugs impossible to put in and be comfortable? I have been asked quite a few times to recommend earplugs that suit people with small and/or short ear canals, so I have decided to take out my calipers and start measuring them. In this review, I …
In recent years, the two most popular white noise machines have been the Marpac Dohm and the Lectrofan, now called the Lectrofan Classic. The Dohm has been made since 1962—and is still being made. While similar in popularity, these two are very different sound conditioners, appealing to different people and uses. I have tested the …
Read moreMarpac Dohm vs Lectrofan: Is the Original Better than Digital Sound?
To our neighbor the music might sound perfectly balanced, but for us “it’s all about the bass.” Or, suppose the bass is coming from a party across the street or a dance club. You live pretty far away, but still, the rhythm of the drums coming through your windows and door is inviting you to …
The purpose of this post is to provide an overview of different types of earplugs, prime use cases, and some peculiarities you need to know when using them. Common uses of earplugs include: Hearing protection at work and at the range Hearing protection at concerts and other entertainment venues while maintaining sound fidelity Noise reduction …
Read more7 Different Types of Earplugs and What They Are Used For