Keeping Out the Noise, Letting In the Sound
Many readers have asked me for suggestions for true wireless earbuds and noise reduction earmuffs that work well together. Others already own a specific earbud model (e.g., Soundcore A40, AirPods Pro) and are wondering which earmuffs would be compatible, if any at all. In this post I’d like to point you in the right direction …
Read moreWhich True Wireless Earbuds Work Well Under Which Earmuffs?
Several readers have asked me how the Howard Leight Verishield VS130 earmuffs compare to their still widely available predecessor, the Leightning L3, so here is my review. I haven’t used the L3 much recently because the headband had deteriorated to the point where I was constantly getting black flakes in my hair. The L3 are …
Read moreHoneywell Howard Leight Verishield VS130 Review: Better Than the L3?
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, …
Read moreEarplugs or ANC Earbuds for Noise Sensitivity? A Big City Report
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
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?
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
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
For nighttime use, I typically toss out foam earplugs when they don’t look or smell clean anymore or when their effectiveness starts deteriorating. Many manufacturers state something like: “Discard after several uses or as soon as dirt or wax accumulates…” (Macks) “Disposable foam earplugs” (Moldex) When using earplugs for hearing protection in a high-noise environment, …
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 …
Read moreNoise Masking or Active Noise Cancelling: Together or Alone?
