Review: MIXX Assistive Earplugs offer noise isolation at a low price

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If you are anything like me you’ll know all too well the pain of being a light sleeper. With every miniscule rustle within a 60-mile radius capable of waking you up with a start, you need something to keep that sound at bay. 

Likewise, if you struggle to get some shuteye on a redeye, then some quality earplugs are probably what you need. And not them horrific ear-parching foam monstrosities.

Step in MIXX with its $20 Assistive Audio Noise Protection Earplugs. Let’s have a nose at those.

There are earplugs in the box

Do we need to do an unboxing section? Jeez. Alright then. No surprises for guessing that the box contains:

• 1 x large pair of MIXX earplugs
• 1 x medium pair of MIXX earplugs
• 1 x small pair of MIXX earplugs
• 1 x carry case
• 1 x carrycase wire loop (for connecting the case to key chains or whatnot).

That’s your lot!

They look like… earplugs

So, do you know what earplugs look like? Well, aside from a few very subtle (and also actually rather important) differences, the MIXX Assistive Audio Noise Protection Earplugs (hereon referred to as just MIXX earplugs) look like a lot of other silicone in-ear protectors.

So, as a quick tour round them…

They weigh VERY little, and they come in different colors depending on which model you’re using. We tested the Sleep and Flight models, which come in white and blue respectively.

In terms of construction appearance, they’re likely to remind you of three pairs of silicone earbud tips stacked on top of each other. 

They taper towards the ‘front’, which for the sake of argument is the end that goes into your ear canal. At the ‘back’, attached to the widest of the silicone skirts, is a small silicone tab that extends from the plug, which enables easy removal of the earplug.

The recess in the center of the earplug, if you observe it from the back, will also differ depending on the model.

It is a deeper recess in the Sleep model earplugs, with no acoustic nodule in the center, unlike the Flight model (the image above will illustrate this).

So, pretty straightforward!

They work… like earplugs, only BETTER

OK, enough of what an earplug looks like.

You’ll likely know the MIXX brand by now; we reviewed their 3D spatial audio cans and TV transmitter, but now MIXX wants you to stop listening and give your ears (and also potentially your brain, depending on the earplug model) a break. Or at least they want to try and help you do so.

Now, while they might seem basic, noise-reducing silicone earplugs are still a clever bit of tech. Their design, shape, and materials are all precisely engineered to reduce or filter specific sound frequencies—making them a super low-fi but effective piece of audio technology.

And this is exactly what both of these pairs of earplugs do exceptionally well. Reduce noise.

I recently went on a trip from Liverpool to Prague. I took both pairs of earplugs with me and, having used them, I am mightily impressed.

The flight earplugs have a Noise Reduction Rating of 22 dB. This means that any sound with an intensity greater than 22 dB won’t make it past the silicone barrier.

Goodbye irritating, screaming child! See you later, snoring buffoon! Sorry, can’t hear you, loud drunk couple! My flight to Prague was actually peaceful, which is exactly what I wanted.

The first night in Prague would have been hellish without the sleep earplugs. These filter out any sounds with intensity above 17 dB.

The traffic in the street below my hotel was loud throughout the night according to my partner, but with the sleep earplugs in place, I slept soundly!

So, your neighbor’s barking dog/crying child/door slamming teenager isn’t going to be ruining a single one of those zees you’re throwing out.

Likewise, snoring partners can be phased into non-existence for the six hours you spend with your eyes shut.

In general, despite not physically doing anything, the MIXX earplugs do a LOT, both for your sleep health and—resultantly—your mental health.

Throw a few more tech-savvy sleep aids into the mixer and you’ll be getting more shut-eye than Smaug.

I 100% recommend the MIXX earplugs over any others

I have tried numerous sleep earplugs, earbuds, headphones, and the like, but nothing comes close to the comfort, simplicity, and effectiveness of MIXX’s efforts here. 

If you struggle with light sleeping, want peace while you travel, or need to protect your ears at work, then there’s a pair of MIXX Assistive Audio Noise Protection Earplugs for you. Get some.

Are you constantly disturbed by noisy neighbors, snoring partners, or screaming children on flights? Have you experienced the frustration of losing sleep due to sounds you can’t control? The MIXX Assistive Audio Noise Protection Earplugs could be your solution. Share your sleep struggles in the comments below or tell us via our Twitter or Facebook.