Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
Recently I tested a pair of basic wired ISOtunes and was impressed by their noise isolation and selection of ear tips. The ISOtunes XTRA 2.0 (NRR 27) are the wireless upgrade: they have Bluetooth 5, a rugged design and a high dust-and-water resistance rating (IP67), and they can be connected to two devices at the …
Read moreISOtunes XTRA 2.0 Earplug Headphones Review (plus Tweaks)
Against low-frequency noise, active noise cancelling headphones (ANC headphones) reign, but against everything else, foam earplugs are more effective. That’s what I used to think, having used both for years now. But ANC headphones and ANC earbuds have become better and better, so I wondered, “Is this still true?” Besides, maximum noise reduction and isolation …
Read moreNoise Cancelling Headphones vs Earplugs: Who is Boss?
ISOtunes Wired and Plugfones Guardian both are wired work earplug headphones with a noise reduction rating of 29. They combine hearing protection earplugs with the ability to listen to music and audio books. I have decided to test and compare these particular models because they offer pretty much the same ear tips as the more …
Read moreISOtunes Wired vs Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones
Do you have a hard time wearing your earmuffs or headsets for longer periods of time? Perhaps the ear pads are pinching your ears, your glasses are digging into your temples, and the headband is a vise. You find yourself readjusting your muffs to alleviate pressure points all the time. In this article, I am …
Read moreHow to Make Noise Reduction Earmuffs and Headsets More Comfortable
Worktunes and Bluetooth safety earmuffs in general are designed to protect your hearing from loud noise (e.g., power tools, gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.) while at the same time allowing you to listen to audio. Unlike standard headphones, Bluetooth earmuffs are first and foremost hearing protectors. Most of them attempt to limit the maximum …
Read moreHow to Make Quiet Recordings Louder on 3M Worktunes and Other Earmuffs
You are sitting in an office, a coffee shop, or your home office and can’t focus because you have to listen to your coworkers or the folks at the next table. Or you are in your bedroom or a hotel room, having to listen to your neighbors having a good laugh and cranking up the …
The MPow HP102A earmuffs are advertised with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 29 decibels. This is among the highest I have so far seen for Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs, so I had to get a pair and try them out. Summary I compared the noise reduction of the Mpow HP102A to that of three …
This review is based on in-depth tests of (so far) 10 white noise machines, all acquired at standard retailers. The 10 candidates were shortlisted over time from a much larger selection of machines (through experience, reading, and listening to samples). I have used each of them until I was confident I had figured out most …
Read moreThe 5 Best White Noise Machines (with Sound Samples)
I have now used the Sound+Sleep SE for a couple of months and want to share my review. Most nature sound machines work like a simple MP3 player on repeat. You choose a sound like “ocean surf,” the machine plays a recorded sound, and having reached the end, it starts over and repeats the recording. …
Read moreSound+Sleep SE Sound Machine Review: No Loops Please
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