A lot has changed this I wrote this post. I bought the Sony WH-1000XM5, tested them and compared them with my other devices that I use to combat noise. I made several posts with different strageties. It's about time that I bundle/link the most useful in one single post, the first post. I named this section Selene's strategies (updated: ...) which you can find at the bottom.
I use ear buds with Active Noise Canceling (these ones) and combine them with ear muffs if the noise is too strong. Sometimes I think of buying ANC headphones which you wear over your ears (for example the Sony WH-1000XM4). But I don't know if it offers better protection than my current strategy.
What do you do to protect yourself from noise?
Yesterday, my strategy was not enough to cancel out the music of one of my neighbors. I finally went downstairs to get help from the concierge to locate the source of the loud music. It turns out the noise came from the neighbor above me and not below me. We knocked at the door because the bell didn't work. A man, maybe her friend, opened the door. He thought that it's Saturday and that he's allowed to play loud music. But there's the rule for all tenants to stop any loud noise and play music in household noise level after 22 pm (nighttime peace). We told him to turn the music down and he did this indeed. It was a big relief for me. Next time I will get help earlier because I endured the noise far too long.
Selene's strategies (updated: April 2023)
- Strategy 1: Using sound masking videos in the background or over the headphones/buds
- Strategy 2: Noise cancelling ear buds + ear muffs + music/sound masking sounds from buds
- Strategy 3 (NEW): Ear plugs + noise cancelling over-ear headphones + optional: sound masking sounds from headphones (at the moment I use this strategy to combat nearby voices in the office)
Is ANC a must-have?
Ear muffs vs ANC headphones
Noise from neighbors
Useful resources