Best Noise canceling ear protection while driving

[ronsdream]

Here is a good one.
I have a MK4 Roadster with a Coyote and the Gas N side pipes. When my wife and I go for drives she wants to know why the noise can't be like a Miata:rolleyes: Funny thing though she doesn't complain when I go driving by myself. I use plain old ear plugs and that works for me so I can enjoy that beautiful rumble. The ear plugs don't work for her and my shooting ear protection head phones give her too much pressure and results in a headache. Can't get a new driving partner! Too expensive, we've been married for 45 years and my she shed is a tad small.

Has anyone found decent driving noise protection that really works well? My wife likes quiet and doesn't listen to music so earbuds don't do it.

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Ron

[egchewy79]

Consider getting musicians ear plugs from a music store or have a local audiologist make custom fit plugs.

[Jim1855]

I use these or similar. Easy to insert and comfortable.

https://www.surefire.com/earpro-education/

Also use these for music and books with an ipod. I often travel long distances.

https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/earphones/er2xr-extended-response.html

I seldom drive w/o some form of hearing protection. Both options shown have excellent noise reduction.

Jim

[CDXXVII]

I bought my wife a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones. They work great and also keep her ears warm when it's cool out. She links up to her iphone and listens to music. I even caught her dosing off once or twice.

[JohnK]

You said that ear plugs don't work for her. What about them specifically does she not like? Are they not quiet enough or not comfortable enough?

When I used to do a lot of motorcycle touring, I had a pair of custom-molded earbuds like these (https://www.plugup.com/custom_earplug_speakers_single_dual_driver_p/es22-3.5-4.5.htm) made. I'd plug them into a BT headset so I could have comms with other riders and get music and nav instructions. They're super-quiet and all-day comfortable even under a helmet.

If she doesn't want any comms or music, she could have a pair of custom-molded earplugs made. They make a solid version (https://www.plugup.com/solid_custom_reusable_earplugs_p/psolid.htm) that has roughly the same hearing protection as foam earplugs, or a filtered version (https://www.plugup.com/custom_filtered_earplugs_p/f%2020cust.htm) that allows you to hear a bit more but still bring the noise down to safe levels. The process for any of these is that they send you a kit and you make impressions of your ear canals at home and mail them back. They then make your earplugs. They keep your molds on file so if you ever need to re-order you can just call them up.

[Francky]

I drove my Daytona from Florida to Maryland with a pair of Airpod Pro.... It was amazing.
You get some quiet, music and GPS direction.
Felt like drive a Mercedes S-Class (I exaggerate a little bit :))

[RoadRacer]

I drove my Daytona from Florida to Maryland with a pair of Airpod Pro.... It was amazing.
You get some quiet, music and GPS direction.
Felt like drive a Mercedes S-Class (I exaggerate a little bit :))

And I read (but haven't tried myself) that you can share audio to two sets of airpods (https://www.howtogeek.com/440246/how-to-pair-two-sets-of-airpods-with-the-same-iphone/#:~:text=How%20to%20Pair%20Another%20Set,without%2 0any%20lag%20or%20stutter.&text=The%20AirPods%20will%20be%20connected,battery %20status%20on%20the%20screen.), which is my plan if we need to do this.

[JohnK]

I picked up a pair of AirPods Pro's to use when driving my '67 Mustang convertible on the freeway. The noise cancellation is pretty amazing, but for some reason they make me dizzy/nauseous after using them for a while. This is a reported symptom in some people of active noise cancelling headphones. I've never had a problem with my Bose over-ear noise cancelling headphones, so I have no idea why the AirPods Pro's bother me. I ended up giving them to my daughter and she loves them and they don't bother her at all. The other issue with the AirPods is that the mic is still pretty susceptible to wind noise so they were next to useless for taking phone calls in a convertible.

[chmhasy]

I think you can get side pipes inserts

[ronsdream]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will investigate and see which ones she goes with.

Good suggestion about going to an Audiologist. I may have her do that and see what they recommend.

Ron

[lewma]

Here is a good one.
I have a MK4 Roadster with a Coyote and the Gas N side pipes. When my wife and I go for drives she wants to know why the noise can't be like a Miata:rolleyes: Funny thing though she doesn't complain when I go driving by myself. I use plain old ear plugs and that works for me so I can enjoy that beautiful rumble. The ear plugs don't work for her and my shooting ear protection head phones give her too much pressure and results in a headache. Can't get a new driving partner! Too expensive, we've been married for 45 years and my she shed is a tad small.

Has anyone found decent driving noise protection that really works well? My wife likes quiet and doesn't listen to music so earbuds don't do it.

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Ron

5th Gear and easy on the gas. whisper mode. :)

[SerpantFL]

Maybe a 3.08 rear and a 6th Gear?

[NiceGuyEddie]

I have musicians earplugs with 40db filters from a Audiologist. Cost me $150. I wear them when I am NOT wearing a hoodie. Otherwise...

It's been 15 years and the best thing I found are the Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones. I use them when driving if I have a hoodie - it's not legal to drive them where I live. But you can still hear things such as honking horns. You can pair with phone and hear your navigation, and believe it or not, you can speak on the phone. You can answer the phone call by pressing a button on the left side, I've done it when wearing a hoodie. As long as you are not on the throttle and as long as you are below about 70mph wind-noise, they can hear you talking.

A passenger can wear them and listen to music no problem. So could you, but that's when you can no longer hear horns hoking for danger situations. You can also bluetooth two Bose headphones to the same music.

The BOSE headphones have been the ONLY thing keeping my ears from ringing even in the slightest after say a 2 hour drive.

[JohnK]

I think you can get side pipes inserts


5th Gear and easy on the gas. whisper mode. :)


Maybe a 3.08 rear and a 6th Gear?

Do not underestimate how loud wind noise can be. It's more than enough to cause permanent hearing damage at highway speeds, regardless of gearing and exhaust noise. I know plenty of motorcycle riders who don't wear earplugs because they think their bike is quiet and their full face helmet provides enough protection, and almost all of them have varying levels of hearing loss.

[Francky]

And I read (but haven't tried myself) that you can share audio to two sets of airpods (https://www.howtogeek.com/440246/how-to-pair-two-sets-of-airpods-with-the-same-iphone/#:~:text=How%20to%20Pair%20Another%20Set,without%2 0any%20lag%20or%20stutter.&text=The%20AirPods%20will%20be%20connected,battery %20status%20on%20the%20screen.), which is my plan if we need to do this.

I never tried but heard this is a good feature.
Wondering how Apple's Push to talk would work to talk to the passenger? (if he has his own iPhone/Airpods)



Do not underestimate how loud wind noise can be. It's more than enough to cause permanent hearing damage at highway speeds, regardless of gearing and exhaust noise. I know plenty of motorcycle riders who don't wear earplugs because they think their bike is quiet and their full face helmet provides enough protection, and almost all of them have varying levels of hearing loss.

Absolutely agree!
Wind noise/turbulence in the Roadster's cockpit is definitely the main problem, not the pipes (In my opinion).
I value my ears, and won't drive long hours on the interstate without any protection, same for my motorcycle...

[broddins]

+1 for using a noise-canceling headphone. Bose, Sony and Sennheiser are the popular brands.