Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
To understand how well and consistently the Space A40 reduce noise and how useful they are in everyday life, I have made them my main earbuds for about a month in loud city environments. I have also conducted systematic noise reduction tests and compared them to the best of the best as well as to …
Read moreSoundcore Space A40 Practical Review and Noise Reduction Test
I have now used the QuietComfort II Earbuds for six weeks. I am always on the lookout for tools that can effectively reduce noise in a busy, hot city while staying comfortable and in touch with my surroundings. In the following review, I report on my noise reduction tests, fit and comfort, sound quality, call …
Read moreBose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review and Detailed ANC Test
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 …
Read moreWearing Noise Cancelling Headphones Over Earplugs: How Effective Is This?
Getting a consistent, deep fit with your earplugs is crucial if you want to effectively reduce lower pitched impact sounds such as door slams, stomping noise, etc. But how do you know you are getting a good, deep seal? Judging your earplug fit by listening to everyday noises can be deceiving. Your earplugs might muffle …
Read moreSlamming Your Fridge Door: A Simple and Effective Earplug Test
In this post, I am sharing my favorite earplugs for blocking low frequency noise. I have systematically tested the earplugs mentioned here. In addition, I have used them in a variety of bass-noise heavy environments. To work well against low frequency noise, earplugs have to plug the ear deep inside the canal. It is the …
Read moreWhat Are the Best Earplugs for Low Frequency Noise?
Many people feel that their earplugs don’t help against low frequency noise that is bothering them. This could be traffic noise, hums from appliances and HVAC systems, stomping upstairs neighbors, and bass noise from music, to name a few. I too used to believe that earplugs don’t do well against this type of noise. However, …
Read moreHow to Make Your Earplugs Block More Low Frequency Noise
Invented in Germany in 1907, Ohropax Classic wax are one of the first modern earplugs. They are made of a mix of cotton, Vaseline, and paraffin wax. Not surprisingly, these wax earplugs are a bit sticky, stickier, in fact, than pure wax and silicone putty earplugs. I have found this stickiness to be an advantage: …
Read moreOhropax Classic Wax Earplugs Review (plus Tips & Tricks)
You have been running your white noise machine at maximum volume to drown out the stomping from above, the neighbor’s bass-heavy music, or the rumbling of the trucks passing by. Or perhaps you tried to cover an obnoxious hum permeating your room. Alas, the white noise machine didn’t help all that much. Now you are …
Read moreWhy Most White Noise Machines Don’t Block Low-Frequency Noise
Quality active noise cancelling headphones work great against low-frequency noise, OK against mid frequency noise (speech, office noise, etc.) and well against high frequency noise. Then we have noise cancelling earbuds. They can be nearly as good as over-ear ANC headphones for low-frequency noise, but are substantially weaker against mid and high frequencies. Good hearing …
Read moreCombining ANC Earbuds and Earmuffs: Ultimate Noise Cancellers?
My search for effective earbuds to cancel low frequency noise has led me to a real gem, 1More‘s Dual Driver ANC Pro. Having put them through an in-depth test, I can report that these are very effective noise cancellers. In fact, they are substantially more effective than my current ANC earbuds reference, the Bose QC20. …
