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Noise Cancelling headset

Emiliano Achaval

Emiliano Achaval

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Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
Our own fearless administrator @Bill Boehme ask me what are my thoughts about the noise canceling Bose QC30. I have been wearing them for a while now. They are simply amazing. If someone comes to the studio, I can hear their car door, I can hear my son opening the back door of the studio and closing it. It keeps the noise of the Airstream helmet at a decent distant hum. When I have visitors I can hear them, but, to have a decent conversation I have to turn off the Airstream. With the Airstream off, I can clearly hear them, well, if I turn off the music that is... I have a big screen TV in the shop, with a Samsung sound bar. I can hear the TV, not loud obviously, when I'm not turning, and , as an example, when walking over to get some sandpaper..
The tv is always on some National Geographic show, or the Smitsoninan channel, and to quote good friend Wayne Omura, we are becoming smarter by turning and watching tv, lol
When sanding it's when they really shine, you can hear music or a Podcast, and you don't have to have the volume loud at all, the dust extractor is also a distant and quiet hum, the drill a minor nuisance, and nobody can sneak up on me anymore, I can hear them!!
They have adjustable noise cancellation "degrees" I do it thru the app on my iPhone. You can also do it thru 2 buttons on the cable below the earpiece. I use it with about 70% noise cancellation when sanding and 50% when turning... You can chose thru the app how long before they disconnect when not listening to music , I have it at I think 4 hours, that way I can turn without music, maybe just tv or nothing on, and just turn. Even with music on, I can still hear the tool cut, I can hear if a crack makes the gouge knock, I'm still aware of all sounds related to the turning, something very important to me.... I have developed a sixth sense and I know instantly if something is wrong, or if something changed... Well, sorry, this is probably more info than what you really wanted to know.. Aloha
 
Wondering how they fit your ear? They must be somewhat flexible to accommodate different ear openings. I mention this because an elderly aunt of mine couldn't be fitted with hearing aids due to a small ear canal. Of course this was many years ago so maybe that would no longer be a problem.
 
Emiliano Achaval said:
Our own fearless administrator @Bill Boehme ask me what are my thoughts about the noise canceling Bose QC30. I have been wearing them for a while now. They are simply amazing. If someone comes to the studio, I can hear their car door, I can hear my son opening the back door of the studio and closing it. It keeps the noise of the Airstream helmet at a decent distant hum. When I have visitors I can hear them, but, to have a decent conversation I have to turn off the Airstream. With the Airstream off, I can clearly hear them, well, if I turn off the music that is... I have a big screen TV in the shop, with a Samsung sound bar. I can hear the TV, not loud obviously, when I'm not turning, and , as an example, when walking over to get some sandpaper..
The tv is always on some National Geographic show, or the Smitsoninan channel, and to quote good friend Wayne Omura, we are becoming smarter by turning and watching tv, lol
When sanding it's when they really shine, you can hear music or a Podcast, and you don't have to have the volume loud at all, the dust extractor is also a distant and quiet hum, the drill a minor nuisance, and nobody can sneak up on me anymore, I can hear them!!
They have adjustable noise cancellation "degrees" I do it thru the app on my iPhone. You can also do it thru 2 buttons on the cable below the earpiece. I use it with about 70% noise cancellation when sanding and 50% when turning... You can chose thru the app how long before they disconnect when not listening to music , I have it at I think 4 hours, that way I can turn without music, maybe just tv or nothing on, and just turn. Even with music on, I can still hear the tool cut, I can hear if a crack makes the gouge knock, I'm still aware of all sounds related to the turning, something very important to me.... I have developed a sixth sense and I know instantly if something is wrong, or if something changed... Well, sorry, this is probably more info than what you really wanted to know.. Aloha
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Emiliano Achaval said:
I can hear their car door,
Click to expand...
So, would this be good for cancelling noise such as shot-guns blast? That is not my intended application but a similair noise generated in a sports situation. (hockey puck hitting safety glass)
 
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Dave,

These do not fit into the ear canal. They are noise cancelling, not noise isolating earbuds.

They do come with a few sizes of ear tips, so they can be fitted to most ear shapes, and are VERY comfortable.

By the way, on the wired QC20 and QC20i versions, there is a separate "aware" button that turns on/off the pendant's microphone, allowing for very clear conversation and for hearing things like announcements at airports. The QC30's approach is a little different, it lets you dial in how much of the microphone you want to hear.
 
Are they hot? I have sound dampening muffs and they are hot.

Edit: Oh wait they are EAR Buds.
 
It's not a matter of being a dinosaur. It's a matter of protecting one's hearing.
Hearing loss is cumulative and generally irreversible.
So taking steps to avoid hearing loss is a good investment.

I don't want to hear a loud compressor any more than I want to hear my dust collector's jet engine sound (and our dust collector and respirator helmets are on whenever our lathe is one). Hearing, vision, breathing... things I want to maintain for as long as possible.
 
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AlanZ said:
Dave,

These do not fit into the ear canal. They are noise cancelling, not noise isolating earbuds.

They do come with a few sizes of ear tips, so they can be fitted to most ear shapes, and are VERY comfortable.

By the way, on the wired QC20 and QC20i versions, there is a separate "aware" button that turns on/off the pendant's microphone, allowing for very clear conversation and for hearing things like announcements at airports. The QC30's approach is a little different, it lets you dial in how much of the microphone you want to hear.
Click to expand...

What's at the other end of the wired earpieces? A small amplifier/signal processor that fits in a pocket? A thirty pound vacuum tube amplifier? Something in between? I'm on the horns of a dilemma.
 
Bill, on the QC20 the DSP, battery and power switch are in a small package near the TRRS plug that goes into the phone or audio source. Buttons on the pendant control volume, phone calls and music transport.
qc20.jpg
 
Pete Blair said:
I like to hear the tool cut and the smooth running of the lathe.
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Me Too that's why I dopn't have music playing in the shop
But I suspect that if these $300.00 gizmoes are all they are cracked up to be you should be able to tune it so that you can hear those sounds you want. Or at least some of them.


Hey~!! What's blow paint? Paint sprayed from a straw?
 
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AlanZ said:
Bill, on the QC20 the DSP, battery and power switch are in a small package near the TRRS plug that goes into the phone or audio source. Buttons on the pendant control volume, phone calls and music transport.
qc20.jpg
Click to expand...
WHOA! I am very into PP (Personal Protection) But, QC20, QC20i, DSP, TRRS? Where can one get a translation and more thorough understanding?

And, Thanks for bringing this up. I already have a minor hearing loss, but I really want to save what I have left. My grandchildren will appreciate that.
 
AlanZ said:
It's not a matter of being a dinosaur. It's a matter of protecting one's hearing.
Hearing loss is cumulative and generally irreversible.
So taking steps to avoid hearing loss is a good investment.

I don't want to hear a loud compressor any more than I want to hear my dust collector's jet engine sound (and our dust collector and respirator helmets are on whenever our lathe is one). Hearing, vision, breathing... things I want to maintain for as long as possible.
Click to expand...

And, that’s why I put both of those outside my shop !
 
The reviews that I have read all have high praise for all of the Bose noise cancelling systems. However, there is also widespread complaining about the Bose app. People are saying that every time they try to fix a problem things just get worse. Of course, you don't need to use the app for most functions.
 
I have been following the discussion on noise cancelling headphones with considerable interest, as I first flunked a hearing test in elementary school. Over the last few years, the slow creep of hearing loss has finally gotten into the normal speech range. Hearing aids help, but still have problems in certain, usually social, situations. Hearing loss is very isolating--you just have to sit and smile and nod periodically, while everyone else engages in conversation and you have little idea what's being said. People also blame you and find you annoying. No reasonable person gets mad at a person in a crosswalk using a white cane, but if you ask someone to repeat themselves with a polite, "I'm sorry..." they get pissed.

The point of this rambling is to make sure all of you who still have intact hearing are properly motivated to protect it. You won't feel anything while it's getting damaged, but only when it's gotten bad enough that your spouse can't take the "What?"s any more. Alan is right--once it's gone, it's gone. And then life is not so rich and enjoyable.

Active noise cancellation works by generating a sound to combat a sound. As a result, a part of me has been skeptical about whether it really reduces the sound, or if it just reduces our perception of the sound. Yes, Bill, I understand the physics. In theory, it should reduce the volume of sound and therefore protect our hearing. To reassure myself of this, I researched the medical literature and found there is actually no significant research on this question. Most of what is available is 25 years old and none of it addresses the bottom line of long term hearing effects. The most persuasive commentary comes from OHSA which is very supportive of the technology and believes it should be protective. Again, however, there appear to be no studies to support their belief.

According to the OSHA document, the best effect comes from muffs that provide active noise cancellation AND passive noise reduction (the effect of regular plugs and muffs). If the noise cancelling headset allows normal sounds, like male voices or the hum of the grinder, to get through, it may not be providing the passive protection. Those who are using the technology to listen to music or Rush Limbaugh while they turn would be well advised to keep the volume of the music on the low side.

This ends the soapbox edition of Mother's Public Health Advisory and we now return you to your normal programming.
 
What did you write.....you need to type in bold print my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. What is sound? Your ears pick up waves of energy causing the ear drum to vibrate then causing the hammer, anvil & stirrup to actuate, this mechanism applies forces to the Cochlea which is filled with a liquid and has hair cells along the surface of the Cochlea which converts these forces into signals that are sent to the brain. These "hair" cells are very sensitive and can be damaged over time from constant noise or damaged from higher levels of sound which impact and flatten the hairs causing hearing loss.

The noise cancelling technology creates an opposing sound which cancels the frequency and amplitude of the energy that is being sensed by the system. In theory if you can reduce or prevent the ear drum from vibrating you have reduced or canceled the noise.
 
Dean Center said:
I have been following the discussion on noise cancelling headphones with considerable interest, as I first flunked a hearing test in elementary school. Over the last few years, the slow creep of hearing loss has finally gotten into the normal speech range. Hearing aids help, but still have problems in certain, usually social, situations. Hearing loss is very isolating--you just have to sit and smile and nod periodically, while everyone else engages in conversation and you have little idea what's being said. People also blame you and find you annoying. No reasonable person gets mad at a person in a crosswalk using a white cane, but if you ask someone to repeat themselves with a polite, "I'm sorry..." they get pissed.

The point of this rambling is to make sure all of you who still have intact hearing are properly motivated to protect it. You won't feel anything while it's getting damaged, but only when it's gotten bad enough that your spouse can't take the "What?"s any more. Alan is right--once it's gone, it's gone. And then life is not so rich and enjoyable.

Active noise cancellation works by generating a sound to combat a sound. As a result, a part of me has been skeptical about whether it really reduces the sound, or if it just reduces our perception of the sound. Yes, Bill, I understand the physics. In theory, it should reduce the volume of sound and therefore protect our hearing. To reassure myself of this, I researched the medical literature and found there is actually no significant research on this question. Most of what is available is 25 years old and none of it addresses the bottom line of long term hearing effects. The most persuasive commentary comes from OHSA which is very supportive of the technology and believes it should be protective. Again, however, there appear to be no studies to support their belief.

According to the OSHA document, the best effect comes from muffs that provide active noise cancellation AND passive noise reduction (the effect of regular plugs and muffs). If the noise cancelling headset allows normal sounds, like male voices or the hum of the grinder, to get through, it may not be providing the passive protection. Those who are using the technology to listen to music or Rush Limbaugh while they turn would be well advised to keep the volume of the music on the low side.

This ends the soapbox edition of Mother's Public Health Advisory and we now return you to your normal programming.
Click to expand...

I can certainly identity with what you say about hearing loss. My dad had severe hearing loss and he told me that I was the only person that he could hear. He said, "I can hear you just fine, but I can't tell what you are saying ". :D

About fifteen years ago I had a sudden loss of hearing in my right ear. I lost low and middle frequencies, but I can still hear very high frequencies. This the opposite of normal hearing loss and the result was a loss in speech discrimination especially in a noisy environment such as at a restaurant. So, I wind up doing much like you where I nod by head and smile. In a quiet environment I can understand speech just fine, but I can't discern direction that a sound is coming from.

Like you and others who have had a significant loss of hearing, I am almost fanatic about preserving what hearing I still have because loss of hearing definitely has a detrimental effect on things that we enjoying doing.

For the benefit of those who aren't familiar with active noise reduction, the basic principle is phase cancellation. If you combine the noise that you hear with the same noise shifted in phase by 180°, the net result no sound. That's the principle which is easy to say, but not possible to perfectly implement. But, we can get close enough to make it worthwhile. As you mentioned, a combination of passive and active noise reduction is the best answer to noise reduction.
 
Dean Center said:
I have been following the discussion on noise cancelling headphones with considerable interest, as I first flunked a hearing test in elementary school. Over the last few years, the slow creep of hearing loss has finally gotten into the normal speech range. Hearing aids help, but still have problems in certain, usually social, situations. Hearing loss is very isolating--you just have to sit and smile and nod periodically, while everyone else engages in conversation and you have little idea what's being said. People also blame you and find you annoying. No reasonable person gets mad at a person in a crosswalk using a white cane, but if you ask someone to repeat themselves with a polite, "I'm sorry..." they get pissed.

The point of this rambling is to make sure all of you who still have intact hearing are properly motivated to protect it. You won't feel anything while it's getting damaged, but only when it's gotten bad enough that your spouse can't take the "What?"s any more. Alan is right--once it's gone, it's gone. And then life is not so rich and enjoyable.

Active noise cancellation works by generating a sound to combat a sound. As a result, a part of me has been skeptical about whether it really reduces the sound, or if it just reduces our perception of the sound. Yes, Bill, I understand the physics. In theory, it should reduce the volume of sound and therefore protect our hearing. To reassure myself of this, I researched the medical literature and found there is actually no significant research on this question. Most of what is available is 25 years old and none of it addresses the bottom line of long term hearing effects. The most persuasive commentary comes from OHSA which is very supportive of the technology and believes it should be protective. Again, however, there appear to be no studies to support their belief.

According to the OSHA document, the best effect comes from muffs that provide active noise cancellation AND passive noise reduction (the effect of regular plugs and muffs). If the noise cancelling headset allows normal sounds, like male voices or the hum of the grinder, to get through, it may not be providing the passive protection. Those who are using the technology to listen to music or Rush Limbaugh while they turn would be well advised to keep the volume of the music on the low side.

This ends the soapbox edition of Mother's Public Health Advisory and we now return you to your normal programming.
Click to expand...
You would be surprised as to how low I have the volume in my Bose QC30 and I can still hear whatever I chose to listen that day. Meanwhile the dust collector is roaring, the drill I use for sanding is turning... Often I do not listen to anything, but I still wear my QC30's, I have 30 % hearing loss on one ear due to a lifetime of hunting, I want to keep whatever hearing I have left... I have lost track of how many turners have told me their lathe is quiet. Well, my Stubby is super quiet, but try to put a noise meter next to a Lyle Jamieson hollowing system! Even lots of cuts are noisy, a day of hollowing will leave your ears ringing, a sign that some hearing loss was done... Aloha
 
Help me understand something about these Bose things. Do I understand correctly that in order to use these as "hearing protectors" in the shop, that they have to be connected to a phone or other music device?

Can you simply use them for noise cancellation and have the ability to hear conversations?
 
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Tom Albrecht said:
Can you simply use them for noise cancellation and have the ability to hear conversations?
Click to expand...

You don't have to connect them to a phone or listen to music while using them to reduce noise. Some devices use multiple microphones to discriminate between omnidirectional sounds (background noise) and nearby directional sound from someone speaking ... at least that is the alleged intent of some high dollar hearing aids that I have wasted good money on. So, I would guess that reducing the level of loud background noise might make it easier to hear conversation even if it is also reduced.
 
Bill Boehme said:
The reviews that I have read all have high praise for all of the Bose noise cancelling systems. However, there is also widespread complaining about the Bose app. People are saying that every time they try to fix a problem things just get worse. Of course, you don't need to use the app for most functions.
Click to expand...
I have been using the app daily. The only problem is that quite often, when I try to open the app, the app can't find the headset. But, I try again right away and works... Works good for the updates, so far there was one, its almost automatic... You can control the noise cancelling level with buttons on the headset, so in theory you dont need the app, except for the updates, I guess...
 
Bill Boehme said:
You don't have to connect them to a phone or listen to music while using them to reduce noise. Some devices use multiple microphones to discriminate between omnidirectional sounds (background noise) and nearby directional sound from someone speaking ... at least that is the alleged intent of some high dollar hearing aids that I have wasted good money on. So, I would guess that reducing the level of loud background noise might make it easier to hear conversation even if it is also reduced.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what the default is, but in theory the QC 30's turn off after a while to conserve battery. The app gives the option to choose and I have mine set at 4 hours. I do not always listen to music, if I have a soccer game on the TV I want to hear when Messi scores a goal, lol, then I stop and watch it. @AlanZ is testing a noise cancelling set that costs a fraction of the Bose. I'm looking forward to his report. I know in the shooting sports they have noise cancelling headsets that do not connect to the phone, maybe newer models do, and the battery lasts for ever. They are very expensive... When Betty Scarpino was here, every time she turn on the lathe, she put on noise isolating foam plugs. She told us she has some hearing loss due to a lifetime of working on the lathe. I then knew I'm not over reacting when I say some cuts the tool makes a lot of noise, it's not the lathe, or my lathe, some lathes are super noisy, but the tool cutting that makes the noise...
 
Does anybody have any thoughts on the bone induction headphones that are available? It seems like a way to have hearing protection when you want it and have hearing when you don’t. I recently tried this one out. https://racingelectronics.com/colle...z-trekz-air-open-ear-wireless-bone-conduction

It was interesting because you could put in regular ear plugs, but still hear the music. The engineer also said that some people with hearing loss due to damage could hear this type of headphone better because it doesn’t rely on the way we typically hear things.
 
Guy Scronce said:
Does anybody have any thoughts on the bone induction headphones that are available? It seems like a way to have hearing protection when you want it and have hearing when you don’t. I recently tried this one out. https://racingelectronics.com/colle...z-trekz-air-open-ear-wireless-bone-conduction

It was interesting because you could put in regular ear plugs, but still hear the music. The engineer also said that some people with hearing loss due to damage could hear this type of headphone better because it doesn’t rely on the way we typically hear things.
Click to expand...

The audio quality wouldn't be very good because your body dampens the mid and higher frequencies. The result is a somewhat muffled sound.

My guess about the claim of helping someone with hearing loss would very specific to damage to the eardrum or to the hammer, anvil,or stirrup bones. Most hearing loss is related to damage to the vestibulocochlear nerve.

Many years ago I got to experience big time body conduction of sound while conducting aircraft engine ground testing with full afterburner. I had earplugs,earmuffs, and was in a sound isolation booth, but even with all that the overwhelming bone conduction of sound was something that I felt as well as heard. Feeling sound pressure waves was a strange experience.
 
Feeling the sound was definitely a weird experience. I can’t imagine full body sound waves.

The music they provided sounded clear, but they could have selected pieces that downplayed the limits of the vibrations. This particular product seemed to be somewhat of a quirk of their lineup. The engineer I spoke with really wanted to sell me custom molded earpieces that they primarily sell to nascar teams. They would take a mold of your ear canal to create perfectly fit hearing protection ear buds.
 
Hi folks

I am fairly new to the forum, and to turning. I usually don't feel that I have anything to contribute to the various discussions, however, this one is different. I have been using a pair of these http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,42207&p=76271 since January. They are a pleasure to wear, and to use. I also have to comment on the company's customer service. After using a pair of these for a couple of weeks, the left ear stopped playing music. I contacted Isotunes about the problem, and within 48 hours I had a replacement pair, and a few days later received a follow-up to make sure that they were working to my satisfaction.
 
Just curious, do the Bose QC30 (or any Bose noise cancelling headphones for that matter) have a "noise reduction rating"? For me, that would be the only issue. Most foam in-ear plugs, for example, have a NRR of 29 or 30 which really cuts the noise level to close to nothing. I have had a couple of pairs of Bose headphones over the years, but only over-ear models. I have never used Bose headphones for noise reduction in my shop because, as far as I can tell, they aren't tested or rated for that purpose. Plus, is it a good idea to listen to music, podcasts, or audio books when you need your full focus on the machines you are using?
 
Randy Heinemann said:
Just curious, do the Bose QC30 (or any Bose noise cancelling headphones for that matter) have a "noise reduction rating"? For me, that would be the only issue. Most foam in-ear plugs, for example, have a NRR of 29 or 30 which really cuts the noise level to close to nothing. I have had a couple of pairs of Bose headphones over the years, but only over-ear models. I have never used Bose headphones for noise reduction in my shop because, as far as I can tell, they aren't tested or rated for that purpose. Plus, is it a good idea to listen to music, podcasts, or audio books when you need your full focus on the machines you are using?
Click to expand...

It is my understanding that Bose is noise cancelling not noise reduction. Noise canceling produces a counter sound to cancel out ambient sound. NRR ratings I think are baseball on how much sharp sound is reduced, such as gunshot or a planer. Two different ways to arrive at the same thing. Maybe someone better versed in this will chime in and tell me yes or no on my understanding.
 
Gerald Lawrence said:
It is my understanding that Bose is noise cancelling not noise reduction. Noise canceling produces a counter sound to cancel out ambient sound. NRR ratings I think are baseball on how much sharp sound is reduced, such as gunshot or a planer. Two different ways to arrive at the same thing. Maybe someone better versed in this will chime in and tell me yes or no on my understanding.
Click to expand...

Looks like your autocorrect app is a basketball fan. :D

I was going to post the same thing that you said so obviously it has to be correct. :D The active noise cancelling devices perform best on lower and middle frequency continuous sounds primarily because of the inherent phase lag between source sound and noise cancelling response. Digital filtering can minimize the phase lag in that type of signal, but not in high frequency impulse sounds that are of very short duration ... rifle shot, etc.

The testing standards for determining the NRR of a device is somewhat biased towards the intended purpose which for passive earmuffs and earplug devices is mainly impulse type noises. While active noise cancelling devices might not be so great in that environment they are very good at typical everyday background noise. So my impression is that it is somewhat of an apples and oranges comparison where a simple numerical rating can't give a reasonably complete picture.
 
You can go sort of belt and suspenders on this. I replaced the ear pieces on my Bose earbuds with Comply foam ear pieces (about 20 bucks). These give a significant noise reduction on their own. Switch on the Bose and there is a further significant noise reduction.

I don't have any numbers for you, but I am sure that every device is tested under ideal lab conditions.

The efficacy of foam noise isolating ear plugs depend strongly on having a good fit in the ear canal. You can observe the effect by comparing noise reduction with the foam plugs gently pressed into your ears and with the plugs just held in of their own accord. There is still noise reduction, but good fit is important.

Personally I have never been able to achieve a really good fit with any foam plugs (or similar device) I've tried (and that's true of the Comply tips).

The efficacy of noise cancelling devices is much less dependent on fit. By combinig the two I have the best of both.

As to the cost and benefit of listening to music while you work, that is an individual decision. I am not a believer in multitasking. I make enough mistakes while fully focused on one task. So I have my Bose "plugged in" to room air. That allows me to keep the Bose electronic module inside a Ziploc out of the dust.
 
I got a pair of the Lee Valley earbuds as a Christmas gift. Sadly they wouldn't stay on my head. I found it hard to reach up and across my body to put them on and even then the ear buds would not be tight in my ear. The sounds of the air compressor and dust extraction were about as loud as not having anything on. Also the controls were around in back of my head so to access them I had to actually remove the earbud, then struggle to get it back on my head. I suppose had I worked with them longer they might have been ok but knowing what my 3M ear muffs do and the ease at which they go on and off I wasn't willing to struggle with them. There are better things to work on IMO. The return policy from Lee Valley seems very good. The pdf return label they provide is for Canadian postage so sending from the US requires more paperwork. According to their statement they will reimburse the US postage. Time will tell, they'll go off in the mail today. This is just my opinion, as stated there are others that really like them.
 
I've been using Bose noise canceling earphones in the woodshop for a couple of years. Both QC-25 (over ear) and QC-20 (in-ear, wired but I use with a bluetooth adapter). I prefer the over-ear muffs and have the impression that they have more passive isolation, but have no actual evidence for that. However the QC-25's aren't compatible with my (Uvex) facemask.

I wish that they had a certification, but since Bose aviation headphones are FAA certified and since you can buy microphone adapter kits for the consumer units to use them for aviation I have personally decided that they are OK. This is an issue that everyone will have to come to their own conclusion on. It would be nice to find actual measurements of the frequency response of the passive and active isolation (I spent some time googling for this a couple of years ago and couldn't find anything).

They certainly seem to significantly cut down the sound (comparable or more than my actual certified muffs). In practice my main safety concern in fact is that without the sound clues you can forget that a machine is actually running.

Since the QC-30s are wireless they should be more convenient than the QC-20's. However the early reports were that the QC-20's had significantly better active cancellation. I don't know if this has changed (I can imagine it would only take a firmware update).
 
Regarding ear buds, everyone's ear canal anatomy is different. Moreover, the anatomy of your left and right ear canals will also differ. So finding a well fitting ear bud/plug isn't just an individual thing, but an individual ear thing.

If you are using these Comply memory foam ear tips or simple ear plugs in your ears I have found out that it pays to take your time. You need to compress the foam and warm it up, so hold it between your fingers for 20 or 30 seconds. Then when placing it in your ear reach behind your head with one arm and gently tug backward on your ear to straighten the cannal while placing the plug with your other hand. Then hold the the plug in your ear cannal for another 20 or 30 seconds to let the foam conform to your cannal.

I find that while sound is definitely muffled, but I can still hear sound cues.
 
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