Active Noise Cancellation Earbuds pressure, pain, nausia

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mi3ka

Beginner
I recently tried wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation for the first time. The earbuds were from Bose worth ₹27000. The sound was amazing, tried everything, dolby atmos, spatial audio, ANC from low to full, etc.

But within 10 minutes i noticed subtle sharp pressure in ears because earbud ANC was putting pressure in the ear canal. The subtle pain started to turn in pain, and then nausia and headache within 15 minutes. I had to take them off as it was even dizzing my eyes.

Later i tries the earbuds without the ANC mode and it was fine, the passive noice cancellation was fine enough. +the amazing sound.

Cannot imagine the 8 hour usage like this?? Is this a problem with all ANC ear buds? All my friends who tried ANC earbuds had this issue.

Given the hype and cost, why does no one talk about this online?
 
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mi3ka said:
All my friends who tried ANC earbuds had this issue.
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Did your friends try your set of bose earbuds or their own buds ?

If you have access to a different brand with ANC like airpods, can you borrow and try them on ? If you still have issues with other brands, its worth a visit to an ENT like others suggested.

With my own set of soundcore anc earbuds I sometimes feel itching in one ear after 30 mins of usage. While using a borrowed set of airpods, I didn't have the issue.
 
mi3ka said:
I recently tried wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation for the first time. The earbuds were from Bose worth ₹27000. The sound was amazing, tried everything, dolby atmos, spatial audio, ANC from low to full, etc.

But within 10 minutes i noticed subtle sharp pressure in ears because earbud ANC was putting pressure in the ear canal. The subtle pain started to turn in pain, and then nausia and headache within 15 minutes. I had to take them off as it was even dizzing my eyes.

Later i tries the earbuds without the ANC mode and it was fine, the passive noice cancellation was fine enough. +the amazing sound.

Cannot imagine the 8 hour usage like this?? Is this a problem with all ANC ear buds? All my friends who tried ANC earbuds had this issue.

Given the hype and cost, why does no one talk about this online?
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I have a lot of discomfort using ANC earbuds (tried apple and Jabra ones) but the symptoms which you've described appear to be quite extreme.
 
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Yes i have hear this is a popular problem. A lot of my friends have good earbuds, but use ANC only for short amount of time.
Some have similar symptoms. Some mention the feeling resembling ear pressure during airplane flights or height air pressure change. Some feel a subtle sharp pain.
Maybe the symptoms were this extreme because this was the first time i tried them? Cannot imagine getting used to it in time.
 
I made a thread here long time back ...warning people using headphones and earphones for long term use

S

Thread 'Headphones causing Health issues (Hearing problems)'

awestorr said:
@tr27 @imran_chennai
can i use this while showering?
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solo_wing said:
Say Ip54.
That means only limited protection against dust and water sprayed not for showering.

avoid these things even if says good for shower also You may not only cause it damage but to your ears also.

I suffer from hearing thanks to all those years of using headphones and in ear ones specially. .. I even keep advising people not to go for in-ear headphones or tws etc but in the end it is their call.

Safest is bone conducting one. I will buy it once my relative goes to USA and I find the particular one on...
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Having already suffered hearing issues ...I have stopped in-ear headphone uses these days and moved back to over the ear headphone and that too avoid it as much as possible,. just sometimes or when travelling.
 
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What you are experiencing is not uncommon. I felt the same when I first used noise cancelling headphones. I think it was a Bose QC25. It goes away once you get used to it. If your Headphone/Earphone allows you to adjust the level of NC, go to the lowest setting and increase gradually till you find a sweet spot. Or consider getting one which has less potent active NC or just get one with good passive isolation.

I myself don't like excessively high noise cancellation. Just enough to minimize noises from engines, construction equipment, fans, ACs, flights etc. I chose the Sony CH720N as my daily use pair because the level of NC it provided was just right. Any more and I start to feel mild nausea.

It does not necessarily mean you have ear issues. You are simply more sensitive than others.

Still, don't use in-ear buds for extended periods of time. You are increasing the likelihood of ear infections and hearing loss. Get over-ear headphones for prolonged use.
 
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I remember feeling a lot of pressure and a vacuum-like feeling when I first tried my WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones. I think I felt mild nausea as well. It used to feel uncomfortable, but that went away after a few uses. I feel perfectly fine when I use them now, but if someone else wears them for the first time, they feel the same way I did. I assume the feeling might be more intense in your case as the earphones go inside the ear canal.
 
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mi3ka said:
Some mention the feeling resembling ear pressure during airplane flights or height air pressure change. Some feel a subtle sharp pain.
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I remember hearing how the Galaxy Buds Pro had been engineered with ventilation for exactly this reason. The first version I'm referring to

Can't remember the term they used for this condition
mi3ka said:
Maybe the symptoms were this extreme because this was the first time i tried them? Cannot imagine getting used to it in time.
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Bose is the leader with sound cancelling. Their technique must be quite powerful and may not suit everyone.
 
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