I have used these while operating a large variety of powertools right next to my face. They've spared my ears from gunshots, road noise, trains, airplanes, people on airplanes, people in coffee shops, and my family too. I enjoy being able to bring some of my sense of hearing back using the built-in amplifier. The amplifier isn't a spy gadget which can listen in across a busy street. However, it does make it so I'm not completely losing one of my five senses when I put these on. I'm able to hear with and without these headphones because of these headphones.I tried riding my bike while wearing these. The road noise is gone but more so than I want it to be gone. There's a sweet spot in the sensitivity settings where an approaching car can be heard from a comfortable distance without amplifying the sounds of what I'm riding over. I don't consider them safe for wearing while cycling with traffic. The road noise is worth hearing. This advice applies to all headphones.I didn't know about the amplification when I purchased these so I thought my pair was broken until I found the amplifier settings. If you're hearing pops and clicks regardless of activity, turn down the input sensitivity using the little green bar opposite the charging port.I'm not boarding another flight without these. Even when the battery is dead they keep out most of what I don't want to hear. The frequency response is great for such small drivers. This pair also has a good quality microphone for phone calls. The mic does pick up the sounds of clothing if it's too close. Sounds of clothing aren't as much of an issue when both earbuds are in because the mic won't hang as low.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]