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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Anker Soundcore Space One Review: ANC Test and Q30 Comparison

Anker Soundcore Space One Practical Review and ANC Test

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 …

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Soundcore Life A3i Review and Noise Reduction Test: Good ANC on a Budget

Soundcore Life A3i ANC Test and Review

I have now used the Soundcore Life A3i ANC earbuds for about 3 months in various environments, including on planes and trains, in city traffic, and in coffee shops. They have a punchy bass and good bass extension. For the price, the A3i sound very good. Active noise cancelling function and passive noise reduction are …

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Anker Soundcore Q30 Review: ANC Test and Q20 Comparison

Anker-Soundcore-Q30-Review-and-ANC-Test

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 …

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Earplugs or ANC Earbuds for Noise Sensitivity? A Big City Report

ANC-earbuds-and-earplugs-for-noise-sensitivity-comparison

In recent months, I have focused on using noise cancelling earbuds as my go-to noise reduction tool during the day. My ears are already itching. Before that, I tested an almost excessive amount of inexpensive, reusable push-in earplugs, including many moderate-noise reduction earplugs (Hi-Fi earplugs) for dampening irritating noises while commuting, exercising, walking around town, …

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Soundcore Space A40 Practical Review and Noise Reduction Test

Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds test

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 …

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Adaptive Noise Cancelling: Better Than Old-School, Fixed ANC?

Adaptive vs fixed ANC performance

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 …

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The AirPods Pro 2 ANC, Strong when It Wants To: How to Improve It?

AirPods Pro 2 ANC Experience Report and Improvement Tips

This post reports on my experience with the active noise cancelling function (ANC) of the AirPods Pro 2 in daily life. We are also looking at measurements and tips/hacks on how you can improve the noise reduction performance. This article is from the perspective of a noise sensitive person. So far I have been using …

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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review and Detailed ANC Test

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review and ANC 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 …

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