(wireless) non-in-ear active noise cancelling earbuds. Do they exist?

February 10, 2023 12:42 PM

So, wireless active noise cancelling earbuds that look like the original iphone earbuds, that just sit in your ear but don't shove tips inside your ear. Bonus if they are black instead of white.

Currently I use fancy 2.5mm balanced wired non in-ear earbuds with a little wireless bluetooth amp (probably unnecessary) just for audio, no talking. If I found an active noise-cancelling version of these, I would take them, but that's probably even more of a stretch than my question title.

I realize that over-the-ear active noise cancelling is probably the best, but I'm looking for more portability. Ideas? All the earbuds that jam stuff inside your ear canal, for me, is a no go.

My google/Amazon fu is failing. Maybe neither of these exist. Thanks!

posted by bitterkitten to Technology (10 answers total)

Best answer: I suspect that the phase inversion process that noise-canceling earbuds/earphones use is much less effective if there isn't a seal somewhere, and the best places to try to accomplish a seal are either in your ear canal or around your ear.
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:12 PM on February 10, 2023 [8 favorites]

Best answer: I think AndrewinDC is right (I've never seen such an earbud), so, as a side suggestion, have you tried replacing the stock tips with Comply foam? I find the regular earbud tips almost intolerable, and the foam (you smush them down with your fingers before putting them in, and they gently expand in the canal) much better.
posted by praemunire at 1:52 PM on February 10, 2023

Best answer: I also suspect that "open" earphones are probably incompatible with active noise cancelling. FWIW, I did recently run across a very favorable review of these things.

I've been using the latest AirPods Pro and they're pretty amazing (if you're an Apple person). These have oval tips instead of round ones, and that makes a surprisingly big difference in comfort.
posted by adamrice at 1:59 PM on February 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: thx for the info all. Understood. Ya, my problem with the ear tips in the canal is that I have found none that fit good. I can get foam earplugs in there all right, but generally no workie with any size tips. Maybe I have weird ear canals. : )

I would check the ola site but multiple browsers tell me it has a security fail. I see them on Amazon tho so will check out.
posted by bitterkitten at 2:38 PM on February 10, 2023

+1 that in general I find in-ear earbuds unbearable to use but Airpods Pro have been great. Just see if anyone you know who has some will let you borrow them before you shell out for a pair.
posted by potrzebie at 5:40 PM on February 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'll chime in to echo that AirPods Pro 2 is much better for ; it is even better than AirPods Pro 1.
posted by applesurf at 2:18 AM on February 11, 2023

Best answer: Years ago I remember reading of a service for professional musicians for custom foam inserts for their ear canals (I guess multiple copies or washable or similar), that you'd get made for you by a ear medical professional type person, to fit your in-ear buds.

These had a hole through the middle for some sort of specialist on-stage ear bud headphones, although I imagine any of those tiny speaker tubes on some brands of earbuds would be similar. There must be bluetooth versions of them by now.

So the custom foam (instead of those rubber mushroom heads) would be a perfect fit, so
more comfortable and better sound blocking.

I think the purpose was mainly for stage musicians but I seem to remember reading about them in a biker magazine as they were great for loud bikes too.

I have tiny ear canals personally, so I know your pain in finding a good fit!
posted by many-things at 2:18 AM on February 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Just got some of those Oladance non-in-ear earphones to try. Pretty cool even without noise-cancelling! : )
posted by bitterkitten at 4:01 PM on February 11, 2023

bitterkitten, I'm in the market for something similar and would love to learn what you think of the Oladance (particularly if you wear glasses).
posted by tavegyl at 2:56 AM on February 12, 2023

I'm also curious to hear what you think. My wife has a very hard time finding earbuds she can get along with.
posted by adamrice at 10:19 AM on February 12, 2023