Today, we will reveal the three Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Construction so that you can protect your hearing no matter the loud noises around site.
You would be shocked to know that nearly 1 in every 2 construction workers who are exposed to unsafe noise doesn’t use any hearing protection.
Take smart decisions with our hand-picked recommendations here (I’ll break the “OSHA approved earbuds” myth as well).
3 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Construction – A Preview
Sony WF-1000XM3
- Excellent sound quality
- Average noise cancellation
- Comfortable in-ears with the ergonomic three-point fit and non-slip rubber nozzle
- Not water-resistant
Elgin Ruckus Discord Bluetooth Earplug Earbuds
- Up to 14 hours of battery life.
- Medical-grade silicone earplug ear tips make them comfortable.
- Poor microphone quality
ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds
- ANSI-certified NRR of 22 decibels
- Good noise isolation and made to use in loud surroundings
- Ultra-lightweight and comfortable
- Bad microphone quality
- 3 Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Construction – A Preview
- Does OSHA Approve Headphones and Earbuds?
- Full Review Of Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Construction
- 🦺What are some alarming facts on sudden noise exposure at construction sites?
- 💫How can we solve the Noise Exposure Problem?
- 💡Frequently Asked Questions
What are noise-canceling earbuds?
As the name suggests, noise-canceling earbuds are in-ear headphones that use active noise cancellation to suppress background noise.
Also Read: Best Noise Cancelling Solution For Your Pet Dog [Top 3 Choices]
Does OSHA Approve Headphones and Earbuds?
OSHA, i.e., Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a substantial regulatory body within the United States Department of Labor that was established with federal visitorial powers to inspect and evaluate workplaces.
There are no such regulations by OSHA that do not allow headphones and earbuds at the workplace. It is up to the employer to permit music headphones or earbuds.
For construction sites, OSHA has set up some noise limits, and if the noise exceeds these limits, the employer is responsible for providing the workers with hearing protectors.
At 85 Decibels, hearing protectors which have been approved by OSHA are earmuffs and earbuds. OSHA makes it necessary for employees to provide comfortable hearing protection.
Although, many employers might not feel comfortable with these guidelines. In their defense, the construction workers should be able to hear when the machine shops or starts and when the alarm starts to ring.
At 90 Decibels, OSHA makes it necessary for the employers to get the machine fixed, making this much noise or completely changing that machine.
Or another alternative could be to reduce the amount of time spent by the worker being exposed to that unsafe noise.
The agency has further added that “Listening to music may produce a safety hazard by masking environmental sounds that need to be heard, especially on active construction sites where attention to moving equipment, heavy machinery, vehicle traffic, and safety warning signals may be compromised”.
Hence, according to OSHA, music headphones are not a substitute for in-ear protecting devices.
It has further added that the workers in the construction industry are prone to accidents, and many lose their lives while working on sites.
Listening to music can distract the worker. Precautions must be taken while implementing the use of such devices at the workplace.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THAT CLAIM TO BE “OSHA APPROVED”?
The products that claim to be “OSHA APPROVED” are misleading. OSHA has confirmed that they do not associate with these products. Hence, the manufacturers of these products are making false claims.
Also Read: 7 Reasons Why Your Earbuds Are Getting Quiet [And What You Can Do About It!]
Full Review Of Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Construction
1️⃣ Sony WF-1000MX3
Sony WF-1000MX3
- They come with seven ear tips, and you can find the tip that will fit you the best.
- Sony made these earbuds come with touch technology.
- Comfortable in-ears with the ergonomic three-point fit and non-slip rubber nozzle
- They could most certainly withstand many drops without any damage.
🔰Sony WF-1000MX3: Pros And Cons
Pros
- Looks classy and feels comfortable.
- Noise cancellation can be adjusted from the left and the audio from the right.
- On top of all this, their build is excellent and very sturdy.
- They could most certainly withstand many drops without any damage.
- The case is also of excellent quality and feels well-made.
- The battery lasts about 4 to 5 hours, which is good for truly wireless earbuds.
Cons
- Not for people with small ears.
- No volume controls.
- Not water or sweat-resistant.
I was very impressed with the wireless connectivity of these truly wireless earbuds. While using them, I did face any dropouts. So, these are great for construction as you would not have to go to your device again and again to reconnect them.
🎧How Does Sony WF-1000mx3 Sound?
After using them for a while to consume different types of music, I would like to attest that the Sony WF-1000MX3 has excellent sound quality.
As for using these earbuds for listening to music while doing construction work, they are great. Every instrument in the song can be heard distinctly, making the entire experience wonderful.
As for the soundstage is not that impressive but still quite remarkable for the price you are paying for them.
🔇Noise Cancellation With Sony’s Q1 Chip
The noise cancellation of the Sony WF-1000XM3 is good. Sony earbuds come with a Q1 chip.
There is a Sony Integrated Processor V1 in each of the earbuds, which makes the noise cancellation even better.
Sony has added another noise-canceling mic in each of the earbuds. It is one of the other reasons for the great noise cancellation provided.
I tested these earbuds in different settings like on a busy street, in metros, and even at a party. When the music is not playing, you can still hear everything happening around you.
Once the music is turned on, most of the surrounding noises disappear, but some are still audible.
Since the main purpose of using earbuds during construction is not being able to hear the background noises and protect hearing, I would say that the noise cancellation is average in these earbuds, and earbuds with better noise cancellation can be found in the marker.
📞Great Microphone for Attending Calls Amongst Loud Noises
The microphone of the Sony WF-1000XM3 is pretty good. There are two noise-sensing mics on each of the earbuds and the voice is relayed from both of them.
The other person on the call can clearly tell that you are using earbuds or some other headset.
Also Read: Sony WF-1000XM3 vs. Jabra Elite [Which Is Better In 2022?]
These earbuds would be perfect for attending calls while working on construction sites as other people can clearly listen to voices.
🔋8+ Hours of Battery With Noise Cancellation
The battery life of these earbuds is okay, but considering they are truly wireless earbuds, it is excellent.
Sony says that you will get up to 8 hours of battery life when noise cancellation is on and up to 10 hours when noise cancellation is off.
The battery life is better in comparison to other Sony products. The earbuds also come with a unique feature: you have to quick-charge them for 10 minutes and then use them for 90 minutes.
As for the charging case, it delivers three full charges on the go. However, the case is a bulky one which might be a downside for some.
You can work for long hours on construction sites, all thanks to its powerful battery. Also, these earbuds can be charged from the case.
MY TAKEAWAY
Overall, the SONY WF-1000XM3 is an excellent earbud and one of the greatest earbuds manufactured by Sony. However, for safe listening they are okay. Other products with better noise cancellation technology can be found in the market.
2️⃣ Elgin Ruckus Discord Bluetooth Earplug Earbuds
Elgin Ruckus Discord Earplug Earbuds
- Up to 14 hours of battery life
- medical-grade silicone earplug ear tips which make them comfortable
- Poor microphone quality
🔰Elgin Ruckus Discord Bluetooth Earplug Earbuds: Pros And Cons
Pros
- The earbuds are ANSI-certified Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 25 decibels.
- It helps in protecting the hearing while working in noisy surroundings.
- The medical-grade silicone ear tips used in the earbuds facilitate noise isolation, thereby reducing the harms of background noises.
- The earbuds are dustproof and sweatproof, which is a great plus point for construction workers.
Cons
- They kept slipping out, which started to irritate me.
- The microphone quality of the earbuds is not too excellent.
- The background noise is audible on the other end while on the phone call.
The Elgin Ruckus Discord Bluetooth Earplug Earbuds have been designed to be used by people working in places that have a lot of noise. The earbuds have been built especially keeping this in mind.
🎧Listen to Music Amid Loud Machines
The sound quality of the earbuds is excellent. The person using them can hear the audio being played over the loud noises of construction machines.
The sound can be heard over 80-90 decibels which becomes a major plus point for buying these earbuds in construction sites.
After using them in a loud environment, I can say that the sound quality exceeded my expectations. The earbuds have plenty of volumes that come out clear.
🔇Noise Isolation With Nrr of 25 Decibels
The Elgin Ruckus Discord earbuds are ANSI-certified Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 25 decibels, providing ear protection in loud, noisy environments.
They also have medical-grade silicone earplug ear tips, which helps in noise isolation and also in protecting hearing.
The noise isolation of these earbuds is excellent. The sound of the construction machines decreases. Another fantastic feature is that sounds such as people talking are still audible.
🎙️Microphone for Attending Calls During Work
The microphone works pretty well in places with not many background noises. However, in noisy areas, the microphone works just okay.
🔋Enjoy 14+ Hours of Battery Life
The company claims that the earbuds have a battery life of up to 14 hours, which sounds excellent for wireless earbuds.
The earbuds can last you for 1.5 working days without worrying about a battery running out.
MY TAKEAWAY
The Elgin Ruckus Discord Bluetooth Earplug Earbuds are great earbuds for construction workers. You can’t go wrong with more pros as against cons in favor of these Elgin earbuds.
3️⃣ ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds
ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds
- They are excellent hearing protectors.
- Good noise isolation and made to use in loud surroundings
- Ultra-lightweight and comfortable
- Bad microphone quality
🔰ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds: Pros And Cons
Pros
- ISOtunes free has an ANSI-certified 22-decibel Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) in its proprietary TRILOGY memory foam ear tips.
- It makes them great hearing protectors.
- The earbuds are entirely dust, water, and sweat resistant.
- It makes them perfect for use at construction sites.
- The product has up to 7 hours of battery life, and hence, it can be used the entire day.
- The case has up to 14 hours of battery and can be charged once the battery runs out.
- They are very lightweight and comfortable in the ears.
Cons
- The noticeable con of these earbuds is the poor microphone quality.
ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds are specially designed to be used by people who work in loud environments. It can include construction workers, woodworkers, etc. These earbuds are made to last the workday and make work more pleasurable.
🎧South With Safemax Volume Limiter
ISOtunes free has an ANSI-certified 22-decibel Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) with an 85 decibel SafeMax Volume Limiter. The sound quality of these earbuds is excellent.
The music is audible even over loud construction machines. Although, the earbuds are not made to blast your music for hearing protection. So for construction workers, they perform well enough.
Here’s something you should take note of:
If you buy these earbuds solely to listen to music, you would be leading yourself to disappointment (Most critical customer reviews I found suggest they purchased ISOtunes for all wrong reasons).
🔇Protect Hearing With Noise Isolation
These earbuds have excellent foam ear tips, which help achieve the superb noise cancellation technology you need amidst construction noise.
🎙️Talk on Calls With Noise Cancellation Microphone
The ISOtunes Free comes with noise cancellation microphone technology.
Although the sound of the loud construction machines is audible to the other person on the call, you would not be able to hear the other person as well.
So, if you need to make calls with these earbuds in, you would have to either turn off the machines or go a little far from the loud machine noises.
🔋Battery Life That Will Last 7+ Hours
The ISOtunes Free comes with a battery life of up to 7 hours. The charging case can have three charges with 21 hours of extra use.
The earbuds can last the entire workday without any problem. They are made to make the work more enjoyable while protecting from loud noises.
Although, if your workday is longer than 7-8 hours, you might face battery life problems. You can, however, charge them directly from the charging case.
MY TAKEAWAY
Overall, the ISOtunes Free True Earplug Earbuds are excellent for use on construction sites. Their only downside is the microphone but other than everything from noise isolation to battery life is amazing.
🦺What are some alarming facts on sudden noise exposure at construction sites?
💫How can we solve the Noise Exposure Problem?
There are many ways in which the problem of noise exposure can be solved:
The machines that make a lot of noise can be kept in a room with insulated walls.
Making a barrier between the worker and the machine can help the worker protect their ears.
💡Frequently Asked Questions
Does ANC cancel voices?
Yes, Active noise cancellation (ANC) works. It eliminates undesired background noise by using noise-canceling speakers
How do you block out construction noise?
Construction noise can be blocked out by using noise-canceling or noise isolation earbuds or headphones. Earmuffs can also be worn even on these devices.
What is the OSHA limit for noise exposure?
OSHA allows workers to be exposed to 85 decibels for up to 16 hours per day and 105 decibels for up to one hour per day.
What are the bad health effects of constant workplace noise exposure?
The harmful health effects of constant workplace noise exposure are hearing difficulty, tinnitus, and hearing impairment.
About the Author
Rach Wellard
Rach Wellard is the driving force behind Sound & Solitude. Her mission is to help you discover the profound impact of sound in your daily life and to explore the beauty of solitude. With a deep passion for the connection between soundscapes and emotions, she brings a unique blend of expertise and personal dedication to our platform.
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