[mmahemoff]

I wish someone could solve the problem at the receiver end, i.e., invent noise-cancelling headphones/earplugs that actually cancel noise as effectively as eye-masks cancel light.

In addition to sleep needs, the world has gotten noisier now that people are habitually using speakerphones in public in the most obnoxious ways.

[hn_throw2025]

I used to use mouldable silicone ear plugs :

https://bioears.co.uk/products/bioears-ear-plugs

Very effective, but eventually they made me just focus on my tinnitus.

I now live in a quieter place and use some white noise from a speaker - ocean sounds.

[jks]

These are the most comfortable earplugs I've used:

https://www.elacin.com/your-perfect-fit/leisure/relax-sleep/

Currently I use Ozlo Sleepbuds which are not quite as comfortable and a little finicky to operate, but I like the masking noise.

[dmoy]

I mean....

https://westone.com/defendear-sleep

Gets you some pretty good quiet for sleep. It's not active noise cancelling, but they work pretty well.

Anecdotally if you wear a pair of westone solids, and then a pair of earmuffs on top of that, you are basically just hearing through your bones, which can't be avoided (with passive or active).