Etymotic ER2XR Review: Great Noise Isolation and Good Bass

Etymotic ER2XR Noise Isolating Earphones Review

The Etymotic Research ER2XR earphones are excellent at reducing noise, and they can drive a good beat. I am getting 30+ decibels noise reduction with these virtually across the whole tested frequency range. A while ago, I tested the Etymotic MK5 Isolator, neutral sounding budget earphones with great noise isolation. I like the MK5 but …

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Etymotic Mk5 Review: Great Noise Isolation on a Budget

Etymotic MK5 review and noise isolation test

Do you want earphones with excellent noise isolation and save some coin? The Etymotic MK5 in-ears don’t have active noise cancellation, but chances are you won’t miss it with these earphones, if you don’t mind deep-insertion ear tips. I am sitting on my balcony listening to some coffeehouse music: basically piano and acoustic guitar to …

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AGPTEK Sleep Earbuds Review (Isolation and Durability Tips)

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AGPTEK sleep earbuds are wired micro earphones with interchangeable ear tips. They are so small that I can insert them almost completely in my ear, allowing me to sleep comfortably on the side without ear pressure. Also, the sound of the earbuds doesn’t change when I hit the pillow. Apart from sleeping, these are also …

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ISOtunes XTRA 2.0 vs Plugfones Liberate 2.0

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I have recently tested both the XTRA 2.0 and Liberate 2.0 Bluetooth earplug headphones and posted detailed reviews. In this post, I am contrasting their main strengths and weaknesses to help you decide between the two. For more information and tips & tricks for the XTRA 2.0 and Liberate 2.0, here are links to the …

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Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Review: Earplugs with Bluetooth

Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Review

A couple of months ago, I tested the wired Plugfones Guardian: I liked their nice balanced sound. I also found out that the silicone tips fit my ear while the foam tips were too small. Many users like silicone tips for their ease of use and durability, so I decided to also test the Bluetooth …

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ISOtunes XTRA 2.0 Earplug Headphones Review (plus Tweaks)

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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 …

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Noise Cancelling Headphones vs Earplugs: Who is Boss?

noise cancelling headphones vs earplugs

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 …

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ISOtunes Wired vs Plugfones Guardian Earplug Headphones

isotunes-wired-vs-plugfones-guardian-review

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 …

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How to Make Quiet Recordings Louder on 3M Worktunes and Other Earmuffs

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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 …

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Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Block Out Firework Noise?

Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Block Out Firework Noise

During celebrations like New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year, and 4th of July, it is almost impossible to escape firework shows. Besides, most people, including myself, enjoy the spectacle. Fireworks are beautiful, but they can get really loud. You may have heard that active noise cancelling headphones are particularly good against low-frequency noise, and the …

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