I am quite sensitive to noise. Normally, in daily life (walking around, at work, at home) it is ok. But specially when flying or in the train I am very annoyed by the noise of chatting people behind me, the noise of the package of chips, when people listen (without headphones) to IG/FB feeds, kids playing games (also without headphones), people on the phone with loudspeakers on …
I used the Apple AirPods 3 Pro, I liked these a lot, but they had this fxxx noise pitches problem (e.g. here High pitched noise on AirPods Pro 3 - Apple Community), I returned the AirPods and got a refund. Now I use the AirPods 2 Pro again but they offer (far) less ANC (I am wondering if the newest firmware beta for the 3 Pro changed something?).
Any recommendations for an alternative? I prefer earplugs because of its size and easier to carry. But if the “normal” headphone works better then I would also use such one (but I read that headphones are not as good as earplugs in ANC). I want to use these mainly in the plane to reduce the noise around me - and listening to music (but here the sound quality is second).
I think Wirecutter has an excellent headphones reviewer. Here she discusses the types of noise ANC blocks the most effectively:
Personally, I used to live underneath noisy people. The most comprehensive blocking, covering a range of frequencies and both constant and irregular sounds, came from the type of protectors used at shooting ranges. Foam earplugs were the next best (and better for travel). I mainly use my ANC headphones when flying to counteract jet engine noise and to reduce the volume required to watch movies and listen to music.
The problem I have with foam earplugs is that I hear myself too much. Thats why I can not use these for sleeping. But e.g. for concerts or many talking people at one place (I have to work for events sometimes, then I also use foam earplugs).
May I ask you which ANC headphones you use during flights?
For an inexpensive test, you can try some comply replacement foam tips for the AirPods Pro 2. They may seal out some outside noise leakage better than the stock silicone tips. (The APP 3 have some foam in the tips and that helps with ANC.)
I have both APP 2 and APP 3 and use each most days and don’t notice much noise cancelation difference, though I do notice some leakage with the 2s sometimes.
I hope this isn’t off-topic, but I’ll post here in hopes that the thread has already attracted some experts who are very knowledgeable about earbuds and ANC. My problem (I think) is that my ear canals are of non-standard size. I was led to conclude this because foam earplugs — the kind that expand to fill your ear canal, in theory — don’t do squat for me to reduce noise. Swimmer’s silicone earplugs, which are supposed to cover the entrance to the canal, do much better, at least while the seal holds.
But like the OP, I am very sensitive to ambient noise and have always looked at AirPods Pro with great interest. I occasionally use 3rd-gen AirPods to watch TV, but they have no noise-reduction capability. The Anker Soundcore earbuds that I use for sleeping when I travel have ANC, but I can’t tell when it’s on, which I assume is because of an inadequate seal. (Another piece of data for my ear canal theory.)
I’d love to have AirPods Pro if I could be reassured that they would actually work for me. Should I just order some and be prepared to return them, as it seems likely I would have to do? Are there custom tips of unusual size that I could find without going to a specialist for a prescription? Is there anything else I don’t know? TIA.
I have Sennheisers that I bought around 15 years ago. While I own both ANC and non-ANC Sennheiser headphones, I don’t have any experience with their products made after the “consumer” side of the company was sold off.
Also, since we’re talking about hearing protection, I have a pair of specialized earplugs for live music events:
The Etymotics have a much more balanced sound than foam and are a lot more comfortable to wear.
Sounds like you would be much better served by over-the-ear headphones, whether Apple’s (too-expensive, IMO) AirPods Max or some third-party product. Not useful for use while sleeping, but it won’t depend on the particulars of your ear canal shape.
For years, I used to use a cheap device from Sharper Image. Definitely not the best, but it reduced enough noise for my purposes (working in a machine room with hundreds of servers and their fans, and occasional air travel).
The AirPod Pro 3 comes with 4 tip sizes per package, so you can experiment and find the right size for each ear. If you live near an Apple Store, you should be able to try them there to get an idea of whether they would work for you. The stores are noisy, so you can easily check the various noise-cancelling modes. Apple has a 2-week return policy with no questions asked; so, it would make sense to do a longer-term trial at home.
One additional feature of the AirPod Pros is their limited hearing aid compatibility. They include a hearing test and can use the resulting curve (or an audiologist-supplied curve) to adjust the earpods. For example, the test found that my hearing drops off in higher frequencies. By applying the results, I discovered I could more easily hear the full range of various instruments. So, I now use them when I really want to hear music, either recorded or live.
All the comments here, all the online reviews, all product descriptions, are about hearing music while blocking everything else. I want to block the music while hearing everything else.
The use case is the retail establishment (drugstore, supermarket, restaurant) that flogs customers with really loud, really bad music. For example, the manager in my local Walgreens gets to choose the playlist and turns it up to 11 all day. My supermarket (Safeway) features caterwauling vocals at a volume of 10, then interrupts them with in-store commercials turned up to 11.
While piloting a light plane, over-the-ear cans with boom microphone are really swell. When at work in a recording studio, cans are the only way to go. But while shopping or dining? I’ve tried a dozen brands and styles of foam plugs. They do nothing for me. And, yes, I own custom molded IFB-style inserts.
I happen to be flying in a couple of hours and have my trusty old Sony ANC in-ear headphones ready to use. They work very well, are comfortable and a single AAA battery lasts for days. Unfortunately it seems Sony no longer makes them - preferring to market much more expensive high-tech models.
Have you tried the Adaptive Transparency feature on AirPods with Noise Cancellation? It reduces background noise without completely cancelling it. You can adjust the degree to which it does this. There’s also a Conversational Awareness option that highlights the sounds of the folks you are speaking with. It is triggered by your own talking.
With regard to the OP, on film sets I’ve encountered the practice of wearing both AirPods Pro and over-ear headphones simultaneously. Generally when two sources of communication are active. A prolonged stay in hospital was made somewhat bearable when I turned on ANC for both and used my 2s with a Sony WH-1000XM5 set. Though the nature sounds from MyNoise certainly helped.
One (slightly off topic) comment: I bought the Air Pods Pro 3 partially for the advertised improved noise cancellation, I was not impressed - until I figured out to use the right sized ear plugs and then really jam them into my ears. That really works to eliminate car and truck noise on my morning walks.
Yes, I understand. They do seem to increase ear wax but I only use them on my morning walks (less than 90 minutes) so they don’t cause problems. They just need to be pushed firmly into place for effective noise reduction.
I also meant to comment that for all the engineering effort spent on developing earbuds and headphones, quality of fit has to be one of the biggest variables in real world usage. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if a thoroughly mediocre pair of earbuds that fits well sounds superior to a technically excellent pair with a poor fit.
