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Test in-ear headphones – good noise cancellation has its price – Kassenrutsch Espresso

26 March 2024

Contents

“Kassenrutsch” had eight in-ear headphones with noise-cancelling functions tested. Two models swing above.

Author:
Flurin Maissen, Rolf Muntwyler

On a loud train or tram or at work, put the plugs in your ears and the noise will be far away. Noise canceling makes it possible. What works with large over-ear headphones also works well with many small in-ear headphones.

“Kassenrutsch” had eight well-selling in-ear models with noise cancellation tested in the laboratory, with prices ranging from 60 to 230 francs. This shows that the best technology has its price. But if you make slight compromises, you can get suitable headphones for around 70 francs.

The specialized Müller-BBM laboratory in Planegg near Munich carried out the test for “Kassenrutsch”. Three trained test listeners assessed the sound quality of the headphones using subjective evaluations for rock, jazz, classical and spoken language. The group also evaluated the models’ handling: How easy are they to pair with a cell phone? How easy is it to change the attachments? How does it fit in the ear?

The quality of the noise reduction was determined using an artificial head. It was measured how much of a defined noise from a loudspeaker still reaches the ear when noise canceling is switched on. The test subjects also rated the subjective impression of the noise suppression.

The laboratory measured battery life between less than four and more than ten hours. If you want to use your headphones on long trips, you should pay attention to this criterion.

The lab also evaluated the quality of the built-in microphones in noisy environments. There were enormous differences. In the worst model, the conversation partner was practically impossible to understand. In the best case, the ambient noise was strongly filtered.

Simple silicone attachments make the difference

Amazing: It’s not high-tech, but the right attachments that have the decisive influence on noise reduction. This is what test leader Michael Kogel from the Müller-BBM test laboratory says: “If the receiver doesn’t sit properly in the ear, the best noise suppression isn’t of much use. Because the noise penetrates your ear from outside.” The sound also depends on a good fit in the ear. Kogel therefore recommends extensively trying out the attachments of different sizes supplied.

Noise canceling: Not everyone does it equally well

The laboratory measured how well the models attenuate ambient noise using an artificial head.

A gray dummy head for testing headphones with in-ear headphones in the ears.

The in-ear headphones are inserted into the artificial ears and a steady noise is played from a loudspeaker. A microphone in the ear measures how much of the noise still reaches the ear when noise canceling is switched on. The graphic below shows the best and worst models.

Two graphs show how well the best and worst headphones suppress noise.

Test winner Sony WF-1000 XM5 ahead of Apple Airpods 2nd generation

The model WF-1000 XM5 from Sony performed best with a grade of 5.4. It impresses with its sound quality, operation, battery life and offers the best noise reduction.

The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) follow closely behind. The sound is just as good as the Sony, and the noise reduction is almost as good. The battery life is only average at 6 hours 40 minutes.

Price-performance winner Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

For the best quality, you need to dig deep into your pocket: Sony and Apple both cost over 220 francs. In contrast, the price of just under 80 francs for the Galaxy Buds FE from Samsung almost seems like a bargain. The noise reduction receives a grade of 5.1, the sound 4.7.

Models from Renkforce, Marshall and Miostar “inadequate”

Renkforce RF-NCE-500, purchased for 60 francs from Conrad.ch, has a miserable sound (grade 2.7) and ends up in last place. Marshall Motif ANC for 150 francs also doesn’t achieve a “sufficient” grade in any of the four sound ratings (see table).

The Migros own brand Miostar is also just “unsatisfactory” in terms of sound and therefore in the overall rating. Supplier Conrad, manufacturer Marshall and M-Electronics (80 francs) just want to sell off their models. Marshall speaks of a discontinued model, but it is still widely available. M-Electronics writes that they want to add an improved model to their range in the future instead of the ANC S1.

One Japanese study from 2022 concludes that noise-cancelling technology can prevent hearing damage. The experiment: 23 test subjects listened to music with headphones in a noisy environment. One group used noise canceling (NC) headphones, the other did not. On average, this group heard 15 decibels quieter than the group that heard without NC. For Alexander Huber, director of the ORL Clinic at the University Hospital Zurich, 15 decibels make a lot of difference: “If you listen to music at 85 decibels, you can do so for eight hours without endangering your hearing. But anyone who listens at a volume of 100 decibels will endanger their hearing after just 15 minutes.”