Tested several ANC earbuds today, here's my data
JBL Everest Elite 100.
Earbuds with that stupid around-the-neck thing are a bad design for a motorcycle rider. The only earbud without the neck thing is the QC20.
The most comfortable and least popping earbud was the $250 QC30. However, for that price, I'd rather just buy the Sena INC helmet for $700
Therefore, out of these earbuds tested, my favorite choice would be the $25 JBL Everest Elite 100. For $25 you can't go wrong. Similiar wind reduction as the QC20. The popping is more frequent at high speeds, but it's a lot less hurtful. It also fits closely to your ear, and has very little that comes out.
I'm going to be hunting for more earbuds to test on Amazon.
- Flush against ear: How far the earbuds stick out of your ear, for comfort reasons wearing a helmet
- Wind Reduction: Basically how effective at reducing noise
- Popping Reduction: Earbuds typically have some kind of popping noise in high wind pressure / speeds
- Comfort: How comfortable they fit in the ear
- Motorcycle: Supersport
- Gear: Full face helmet
- Weather: 15mph winds, 78°F
- Speeds tested: 0-120mph
$25 - Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23
- Flush against ear: 3/10
- Wind reduction: 2/10 barely removes any wind, just the harshness of it
- Popping reduction: 7/10 no popping, just mild pressure changes, ignorable
- Comfort: 4/10
Notes:
- Very difficult to put helmet on with these in
- Foam tips come off easily when taking helmet off. Falls on the floor and collects nasty dust
$140 - Bose QC20
- Flush against ear: 5/10
- Wind reduction: 9/10
- Popping reduction: 0/10 loud popping above 50mph, not easily ignored
- Comfort: 9/10
Notes:
- Very comfortable, not deep in ear
- Doesn't cause noise on bumpy roads
$250 - Bose QC30
- Flush against ear: 6/10
- Wind reduction: 8/10
- Popping reduction: 10/10
- Comfort: 8/10
Notes:
- Very comfortable, not deep in ear
- Doesn't cause noise on bumpy roads
$290 - Sony WI-1000X
- Flush against ear: 0/10
- Wind reduction: 8/10
- Popping reduction: 10/10
- Comfort: 3/10
Notes:
- Accidentally hits power off button while riding multiple times
- Too deep in ear, creates bad sounds on any bumpiness of the road
$25 - JBL Everest Elite 100
- Flush against ear: 10/10
- Wind reduction: 7/10
- Popping reduction: 7/10 bit of popping above 50mph, easily ignored. Tons of tiny ignorable popping above 80mph, 5 per second
- Comfort: 6/10