Wearing Wax on Top of Foam Earplugs: ThermaFit Plus Ohropax

ThermaFit combined with Ohropax earplugs

Recently, a reader asked me whether adding wax or soft silicone earplugs to foam earplugs would provide a noise reduction benefit. I had considered this in the past, but never felt like putting it to the test. The main issue is that both foam and wax/silicone putty earplugs are disposable, so you would have to …

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Q30 with Imperfect Earplug Fit: Can the ANC Compensate?

Soundcore-Life Q30 plus Pretty in Pink earplugs performance

In this post, I am looking at the noise reduction performance of the combination Soundcore Q30 headphones and Hearos Pretty in Pink (PiP) earplugs. This is part 2 of a series. In part 1 reported on the Q30 together with Mack’s ThermaFit earplugs. The idea of this series is to devise ways to maximize noise …

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Life Q30 over Earplugs: Great Noise Reduction on the Cheap (Part 1)

Soundcore-Life-Q30-over-ThermaFIt-noise-reduction

I have been able to achieve excellent noise reduction results by combining the economical Life Q30 noise cancelling headphones with two types of foam earplugs. This is what this post and the next one are about. The Soundcore Life Q30 are budget ANC headphones (test and review) that punch way above their price when it …

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Noise Masking or Active Noise Cancelling: Together or Alone?

noise masking or noise cancelling or both

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 …

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Wearing Noise Cancelling Headphones Over Earplugs: How Effective Is This?

How effective is wearing noise cancelling headphones over earplugs?

In this post, I am reporting on my noise reduction test results for two top active noise cancelling headphones (ANC headphones) when worn over foam earplugs. If you are bothered by environmental noise but your headphones (or earplugs) alone don’t block enough noise, this post is for you. I often wear noise cancelling headphones together …

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How to Block Barking Noise?

How to block barking dog noise

Your neighbor’s dog barks at random times during the night. You’ve again gotten jolted out of your slumber by a barking concerto in the early morning hours and can’t fall back asleep. Lying there you wonder, “How the heck do I block this barking noise?” One pup starts barking for good reason, but shortly thereafter …

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