I’ve already looked at rtings.com and have tried XM5 which I didn’t like because the ANC wasn’t good enough.

Planning to get Bose Quietcomfort Ultra (the earbuds, not the headphones) very soon but unsure if there’s going to be any new and quality release by any brand of high-end ANC earbuds that would be worth waiting for.

What can you recommend?

In case it matters, my preference goes like this, in order of priority:

  1. Comfort of the earbuds within the ear (ideally something that won’t damage the ear canal while sleeping on the side).

  2. The quality of the noise cancellation. I need the strongest ANC because I live in an extremely noisy environment.

  3. The sound quality as well as battery life come third.

  • TheFriar@lemm.ee
    29·
    6 months ago

    READ THE QUIETCOMFORT PRIVACY POLICY SUPER DUPER CAREFULLY. I got the quiet comfort II and ran them back to the store because they wanted permission to passively listen to my environment, listen to anything that passed through my headphones, “map my head movements” whatever the fuck that means. Fuck that company for that. Be very careful. If that stuff matters to you, I guess. If not, knock yourself out.

      • TheFriar@lemm.ee
        13·
        6 months ago

        White noise? I mean, sure, I understand the local headphones having to be aware of sound, but this was all in connection with the app they try to get you to download. And then when I avoided that and went on their helpline, they were trying to get me to sign the same privacy policy, but it was buried in another privacy policy for the chat.

        Hey, call me paranoid, but there’s no reason for them to tell me they can if they want to turn my earbuds into bugs for their marketing purposes. Maybe that’s just me.

        • biscuitswalrus
          5·
          6 months ago

          The active, in active noise cancelling means listening by using microphones then playing the exact inverse of the heard sound to cancel the noise, actively. Opposed to passive, which tries to restrict noise like ear protection by enclosing an ear and adding insulation against noise from getting in.

          So no, not white noise, though that’ll sometimes be generated too. You’ll realise quickly most active noise cancelling headphones only listen on the microphones on specific frequencies which is why different settings can allow sound through.