You should not rely on Realme Buds Air 2 Neo to effectively and comfortably isolate yourself from the noise around you. First and foremost, headphones offer particularly low “passive” sound insulation. The use of active noise reduction is therefore necessary to disconnect yourself from the world as much as possible, which, unfortunately, is far from life-saving.
Insulation measurement: note (black), passive isolation (gray), active noise reduction (purple), transparency mode (orange)
In fact, it only operates on a relatively limited frequency band, which certainly filters out traffic noise and rolling noise, but inevitably fights at very low frequencies and in midrange / treble: audible at very low vibrations, contact sounds, metal sounds, keyboards (and clicks of keyboards). The voices are soft, but well audible and understandable), or like the sound coming out of your seat neighbor’s smartphone. To our greatest dissatisfaction. The active noise reduction provided by the headphones proved to be strangely unstable when confronted with slightly louder noise and sudden noise (subway train vibrating noise, encountering another train / subway), significant and sudden drop in performance. Especially unpleasant “holes”. Finally, keep in mind that microphones are very sensitive to air, which further spoils the experience. Awful.
The method of listening to the surrounding noise, on the other hand, is reliable, and the resulting minimal passive isolation of the headphones is ultimately not very surprising. On the other hand, this mode is more than ever about the sensitivity of microphones to air, which has a particularly unpleasant effect if a slight wind blows. Can disable active noise reduction.
Edward Langley is a contributor to Nintendo-power.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, business, technology, entertainment, lifestyle and current affairs. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced and accessible reporting that helps readers stay informed about important developments and emerging trends. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and useful insights, Edward aims to provide engaging stories and practical information that matter to audiences in the UK and beyond.