Can the AirPods Pro Protect Your Hearing? We Put Them ...

When Apple introduced the second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds, one of the benefits the company touted was the hear-through mode, which Apple calls adaptive transparency (video).

For more information, please visit Active Noise Cancelling Hearing Protection.

While you’re wearing the earbuds, this mode lets in sounds from the outside world but limits volume levels to “minimize the intensity of loud noises like sirens or power tools,” according to Apple.

Some music fans concluded that this meant they could use the AirPods Pro earbuds for hearing protection at loud clubs and concerts. A few media outlets explicitly encouraged using the AirPods Pro instead of earplugs at concerts—with one suggesting that the adaptive transparency mode would bring “anything over 85dB [decibels] back down to that level.” The writer continues, “As a result, you hear music roughly as you would without them and can avoid potential hearing damage.”

This statement got us thinking: Could earbuds really be a better choice for hearing protection than earplugs, or are they more likely to allow hearing damage? We decided to put several popular earbuds to the test and find out.

It’s certainly an appealing idea. While concert earplugs are an inexpensive and effective option for hearing protection, even our favorites have downsides—voices can sound muffled, you may not like how the earplugs feel in your ears, and you have to remember to bring them with you. In contrast, many people carry earbuds with them everywhere they go, so they would always be ready with a form of hearing protection if the sound got too loud. And they’re already used to how the earbuds feel in their ears, so they would be more likely to wear the earbuds for hearing protection. Win-win, right? Let’s see.

How (and why) we tested

Noise-induced hearing loss is a growing concern, and everyone should take steps to limit the length and loudness of their noise exposure by wearing some form of hearing protection in loud environments. The louder the environment, the less time it takes for damage to occur. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides specific guidelines: “[You] can listen to sounds at 85 dBA for up to 8 hours. If the sound goes up to 88 dBA, it is safe to listen to those same sounds for 4 hours. And if the sound goes up to 91 dBA, your safe listening time is down to 2 hours.” A rock concert that registers at 110 dB could damage your hearing in just two minutes.

How to protect your hearing

• Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Kids Is a Growing Problem. Here’s How to Protect Little Ears.

  Noise-induced hearing loss is a growing problem for kids. It’s preventable, but you need to understand what causes it and take early preventive measures.

To test whether earbuds provide adequate hearing protection, we performed both objective and subjective evaluations. For the objective testing, we measured the level-limiting capabilities of three popular sets of earbuds: the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and the Soundcore Space A40. We also measured a variety of concert-oriented and generic earplugs for comparison. Assuming that a person has generally low daily noise exposure, if we could tell that a set of earbuds limited the sound to 91 dB, we would know that those earbuds would keep that person’s hearing reasonably safe over the course of a two-hour concert.

Fortunately, we have a device that can precisely measure how much sound gets past a set of earbuds or earplugs and onto the eardrum: a GRAS RA0402 ear simulator, which includes a conical, stainless steel coupler into which most earbuds and earplugs fit perfectly. This tool is based on an average ear. Any set of earphones or earplugs will fit differently in your ear canals, which, like your hands, have their own distinctive size and shape. Consider the results that we got in these measurements to be a best-case scenario—your results may not be as good.

To take the measurements, we simulated a loud concert experience by placing the RA0402 ear simulator between two Samson PA speakers spaced about 3 feet apart. We played a six-second clip of hip-hop music edited to repeat in a five-minute loop at 105 dB, a level similar to what you might hear at a loud concert or club. We then measured the sound level from the RA0402’s internal microphone to see how well the earbuds and earplugs reduced the noise level getting into the ear. We used A-weighting, which eliminates lower frequencies of sound (namely, bass) and focuses on the higher sound frequencies that are most likely to damage your hearing.

We measured the earbuds in a few different ways based on how people might use them for hearing protection. Where possible, we first measured how much sound the earbuds blocked just by being fitted in the ear. Second, we measured the difference in loudness when the earbuds were in hear-through mode. Finally, we measured how much reduction we got when the earbuds’ noise cancellation was activated. Then we did the same test with several earplugs for comparison. You can see the results in the table below.

Model nameAmount of noise reduction (dB), from 105 dBAApple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)Adaptive transparency (hear-through) mode-10ANC on-23ANC off-8Bose QuietComfort Earbuds IIAware (hear-through) mode-14Quiet (maximum ANC) mode-18Soundcore Space A40Hear-through mode-3ANC on-21ANC off-9Earpeace NPR earplugs-18Etymotic ETYplugs earplugs-16Hearos High Fidelity earplugs-4Loop Experience earplugs-203M foam earplugs-19Kroger foam earplugs-26

As you can see in the results above, any claim that the AirPods Pro’s adaptive transparency (hear-through) mode limits sound to 85 dB did not prove true in our testing. The earbuds did bring the 105 dB sound down to 95 dB, which is a big improvement over using no hearing protection at all. But that’s adequate for only about 45 minutes of exposure under our simulated conditions. Keep in mind that noise guidelines are designed with the assumption that a person has no other loud noise exposure throughout the day. If you were previously exposed to loud noise levels through your work or hobbies, you would likely want to be even more careful when attending a concert on the same day.

The hear-through mode in the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II (which Bose calls the Aware mode) did a little better in our test, limiting the sound to 91 dB, a level of volume reduction that might be adequate for a two-hour concert. The hear-through mode in the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds dropped the level by only 3 dB, to 102 dB, which is great if you’re trying to have a conversation on an airplane but isn’t a useful amount of noise reduction for a concert setting.

We also measured how the earbuds and earplugs affected specific frequencies of sound relative to others. Ideally, these devices would reduce all frequencies of sound by similar amounts, but earplugs are notorious for squashing the midrange and treble frequencies that help wearers comprehend voices and appreciate snare-drum whacks and saxophone solos. We noticed in our measurements that the noise-cancelling modes of the Apple and Soundcore earbuds, in particular, did a pretty good job of reducing audio frequencies fairly equally; they also reduced overall sound levels even more than the Loop earplugs, which we recommend for concerts.

Real-world testing

Of course, measurements don’t tell the whole story of how earbuds and earplugs affect the concert experience. For the subjective part of our testing, we took the Apple and Soundcore earbuds and the Loop earplugs to Tony V’s Garage in Everett, Washington, which was hosting a concert featuring students from the local School of Rock. During their surprisingly deft rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles Last Stand” (video), the sound-pressure level from our seat at the end of the bar closest to the stage averaged 105 dBA, the same as in our measurements. It wasn’t the loudest live music setting we’ve experienced, but it was loud enough that we felt uncomfortable listening for more than a minute or two without earplugs.

As we swapped the earbuds for the earplugs and switched back and forth between the earbuds’ hear-through and noise-cancelling modes, we were surprised to hear how much more enjoyable the show was when we used the AirPods Pro earbuds as hearing protection. Using the AirPods Pro’s adaptive transparency mode gave us, in essence, a quieter version of the unattenuated live sound. The guitars, drums, and vocals all sounded surprisingly clear, and our enjoyment of the sound wasn’t lessened at all. However, as our measurements predicted, it was still too loud: After about 10 minutes of listening, our ears grew fatigued. Switching to the AirPods Pro’s noise-cancelling mode made the sound shockingly quiet—even quieter, we thought, than music we’ve heard playing through volume-limited kids headphones, although the bass sounded a bit boosted. We were left wishing for an option that was quieter than the hear-through mode but louder than the noise-cancelling mode.

For reasons we haven’t yet figured out, the sound was always too loud with the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds, whether we put them in hear-through or noise-cancelling mode—a surprise, considering that our measurements suggested that the Space A40’s noise-cancelling performance was similar to that of the AirPods Pro.

Even though we’ve found the Loop Experience earplugs to be the best of all the low-cost concert earplugs we’ve tried, the sound they delivered to our ears was less clear than what we heard with the AirPods Pro earbuds in either mode. The music sounded somewhat muffled, so it was more difficult for us to understand the vocals.

What we learned

If you’re attending a loud concert, using earbuds in hear-through mode isn’t the safest choice. Although the AirPods Pro’s adaptive transparency mode should provide a reasonably safe listening experience in moderately loud environments (95 dBA or less, such as you’d experience using typical power tools), it doesn’t adequately reduce concert-level sound. So it does live up to Apple’s vague claims, but it doesn’t live up to the hopes that some concertgoers had. Our testing shows that the AirPods Pro’s noise-cancelling mode is a better option for hearing protection at concerts, but for us it reduced the sound level so much that we lost most of the visceral kick that makes concerts so much fun to attend.

While the most effective and well-fitting noise-cancelling earbuds can reduce some loud sounds to less dangerous levels, a set of good, inexpensive concert earplugs is likely to give you a more dependably safe experience when you attend live music events. The measurements we do for our noise-cancelling headphones guide consistently show that the ANC capability of earbuds varies wildly, so you can’t be sure that your particular earbuds are providing adequate hearing protection in noise-cancelling mode.

Of course, some hearing protection is always better than none. If you find yourself in an unexpectedly loud environment, and all you have on hand are earbuds, they’re worth popping into your ears, especially if they offer noise cancellation. Our measurements suggest that all of these earbuds will reduce the sound level by at least a few decibels, which is probably better than stuffing your ears with wadded-up cocktail napkins. But until companies specifically design their earbuds to double as hearing protection—a development that may not be too far off, considering the results of this testing—we’d say that your safest bet at the next festival is to keep a pair of concert earplugs on your keychain.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Best Electronic Ear Protection for Shooting. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

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This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.

When choosing noise-cancelling earphones, it's crucial to consider how they affect our hearing. These headphones can offer more than just a way to enjoy music; they can also help protect our ears from harmful noise levels.

In selecting headphones that safeguard our hearing, we need to look at factors like the quality of noise cancellation, volume control, and comfort. It's important to find a balance between enjoying our audio and keeping our ears safe. Ear protection noise cancelling headphones have emerged as a popular solution for those seeking refuge from the cacophony.

In this article, we'll dive into do noise cancelling headphones protect hearing? We'll explore how they work, what to look for in a pair that offers protection, and tips for using them safely.

Basics of Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are a technological marvel designed to reduce unwanted ambient sounds using active noise control. This is achieved through a process called active noise cancelling (ANC), where the headphones generate a sound wave that is the exact opposite of the ambient noise, effectively cancelling it out. This technology allows users to enjoy their music or silence without being disturbed by external noises.

While active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones are adept at diminishing ambient noise through sophisticated technology, there exists another method known as passive noise cancelling. This technique relies on the physical design and materials of the headphones to block out sound. Through the use of high-density foam, snug earcups, and other sound-absorbing materials, passive noise cancelling headphones create a barrier against external noise, offering a different yet effective approach to achieving quieter listening environments.

Are Noise Cancelling Headphones Good for Hearing Protection?

Best noise cancelling headphones for hearing protection can be beneficial for hearing protection in several ways:

• Reduced Exposure to Loud Noises: By cancelling out background noise, these headphones allow users to listen to music at lower volumes, reducing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
• Protection in Noisy Environments: They can be particularly useful in environments with constant noise, such as airplanes or busy offices, providing a quieter listening experience and potentially protecting ears from prolonged exposure to loud sounds.
• Stress Reduction: Constant exposure to noise can increase stress levels, which can indirectly affect hearing health. By providing a quieter environment, noise cancelling headphones can help reduce stress.

However, it's important to note that while ear protection noise cancelling headphones can reduce the impact of external noise, they do not completely eliminate it. Therefore, they should be used as part of a broader approach to hearing protection.

Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Damage Hearing?

The question of whether do noise cancelling headphones protect hearing is complex. On one hand, by allowing users to listen to audio at lower volumes, they can potentially reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. On the other hand, if used improperly, they can contribute to hearing damage:

• Listening at High Volumes: If users increase the volume to extremely high levels to drown out any residual noise, this can lead to hearing damage over time.
• Overuse: Wearing headphones for extended periods can put pressure on the ears and lead to fatigue, potentially affecting hearing health.
• Quality of Headphones: Low-quality noise cancelling headphones may not effectively reduce noise, leading users to increase the volume, which can be harmful to hearing.

To maximize the benefits of noise cancelling headphones for hearing protection and minimize any potential risks, it's important to use them responsibly. This includes keeping the volume at a safe level, taking regular breaks, and investing in high-quality headphones that provide effective noise cancellation.

Recommended Noise Cancelling Headphones for Hearing Protection

When it comes to choosing the right noise canceling headphones for hearing protection, two models from soundcore stand out for their exceptional performance as best noise cancelling headphones for hearing protection.

soundcore Space One

The soundcore Space One headphones are great for hearing protection with their strong noise reduction. They cut down noise by up to 98%, thanks to their advanced noise cancelling tech. This means you can enjoy your music in peace, without cranking up the volume and risking your hearing.

With 40mm drivers, the sound quality is top-notch, giving you clear and crisp audio. The battery life is impressive too, with 40 hours of playtime when noise cancelling is on, and 55 hours when it's off. They're comfy to wear all day, with rotating ear cups and a soft headband.

Plus, they have an adjustable transparency feature, so you can still hear important sounds around you without taking off the headphones. And they're eco-friendly, with a TCO Certification for sustainability.

soundcore Life Q30

The soundcore Life Q30 headphones stand out for hearing protection with their Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation technology. This feature uses two microphones to block out up to 95% of low-frequency noise, letting you focus on your music without distractions. They have three noise cancellation modes—Transport, Outdoor, and Indoor—to suit different environments, like planes, outside, or busy offices.

These ANC headphones also offer great sound quality with 40mm drivers and flexible silk diaphragms, providing deep bass and clear treble. They have a long battery life of up to 40 hours with noise cancellation on and 60 hours in standard mode. A quick 5-minute charge gives you 4 hours of listening time.

For comfort, the Life Q30 has soft protein leather earcups and memory foam padding for a snug fit, making them comfortable for long periods. Plus, they are TCO Certified, making them a more sustainable choice.

FAQs

Here are some common questions and detailed answers to help clarify any concerns:

Does Active Noise Cancelling Protect Hearing?

Yes, active noise cancelling (ANC) can protect hearing to some extent. By reducing the amount of ambient noise that reaches the ears, ANC headphones allow users to listen to audio content at lower volumes, which can reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, it's important to note that ANC headphones do not block out all noise, and listening at high volumes for extended periods can still be harmful to hearing.

Can Noise Cancelling Headphones Cause Hearing Loss?

No, noise cancelling headphones themselves do not cause hearing loss. However, like any headphones, if they are used improperly, such as listening at excessively high volumes for prolonged periods, they can contribute to hearing damage. It's crucial to use noise cancelling headphones responsibly, keeping the volume at a safe level and taking regular breaks to prevent hearing loss.

Why Do My Ears Feel Weird with Noise-Cancelling Headphones?

The sensation of feeling weird in your ears when using noise-cancelling headphones is often due to the pressure changes created by active noise cancellation. ANC technology works by creating sound waves that are the exact opposite of ambient noise, effectively cancelling it out. This process can sometimes create a sensation of pressure or a vacuum-like feeling in the ears, which some users may find uncomfortable or disorienting. Additionally, if the headphones are not properly fitted or if there is a sudden change in noise levels, this can also contribute to the strange sensation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, noise cancelling headphones not only offer an immersive audio experience but also play a crucial role in hearing protection. By significantly reducing ambient noise, they help listeners enjoy music at lower volumes, thereby mitigating the risk of hearing damage. However, it's essential to choose quality headphones and use them responsibly to ensure they do not inadvertently harm your hearing. For those prioritizing hearing health, models recommended by soundcore are an excellent starting point, as they are specifically designed with hearing protection in mind. So, do noise cancelling headphones protect hearing? Absolutely, when used correctly and wisely.

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