Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
3M Worktunes Connect + AM/FM are hearing protection earmuffs with added Bluetooth connectivity for listening to audio and taking calls and an integrated AM/FM radio. I extensively tested the first edition. Now, with 3M’s release of an upgraded second edition, I’ve decided to test both versions side by side. In this review, I am detailing …
Read more3M Worktunes Connect + AM/FM Earmuffs Review (2nd edition)
3M Worktunes Connect are hearing protection earmuffs with Bluetooth capability for listening to music and making phone calls. I have had the first edition of these very popular Bluetooth earmuffs for more than four years. Now that 3M has come out with an upgraded, second edition, I decided to upgrade as well. In this in-depth …
Read more3M Worktunes Connect Bluetooth Earmuffs Review (2nd edition)
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 …
Read moreQ30 with Imperfect Earplug Fit: Can the ANC Compensate?
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 …
Read moreLife Q30 over Earplugs: Great Noise Reduction on the Cheap (Part 1)
Having used the Space One now on and off for about two months, I have found them to be comfortable, effective, and flexible budget noise cancelling headphones. They are good for reducing everyday noise and in particular for customizing how much noise reduction or transparency you want. In terms of sound quality, however, they have …
Read moreAnker Soundcore Space One Review: ANC Test and Q30 Comparison
I have owned the Soundcore Q30 for over a year now, but only recently have I done detailed tests of the active noise cancelling function. Compared to top-of-the line active noise cancelling headphones, they are very affordable. But are they good enough? Well, in my experience, if your main reason for getting ANC headphones is …
Read moreAnker Soundcore Q30 Review: ANC Test and Q20 Comparison
AirPods Pro 2 have an upgraded, powerful active noise cancelling function that can make a gas-powered lawn mower, many power tools and other machinery and even music bass appear a lot quieter. Sometimes the results are stunning. Perhaps you are wondering: “Why not get rid of earplugs and ear defenders and use my AirPods Pro …
Read moreWhy I Wouldn’t Use AirPods Pro for Hearing Protection
The objective of headphones with adaptive transparency mode / adaptive awareness mode is to allow you to hear your surroundings as you would without headphones while at the same time reducing loud noises. Wouldn’t that be great? Walking around town and being aware of traffic but not stressed out by excessive honking, sirens, loud motorbikes, …
Read moreHow Can Adaptive Transparency Help Noise Sensitive People?
More and more noise cancelling headphones and earbuds are being advertised as having adaptive noise cancellation. But is that just a sales pitch or are we getting some real benefits? I recently experienced several such adaptive noise cancelling headphones and earbuds. The results were sometimes stunningly good, but in other situations the same adaptive headphones …
Read moreAdaptive Noise Cancelling: Better Than Old-School, Fixed ANC?
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