Can you hold a clear conversation while a vacuum cleaner roars beside you? Tech reviewer David Ampofo puts the Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2, a 31g open-ear headset, to the test. If you're looking for the best headphones for calls in a noisy environment, here's what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- Effective noise cancellation for calls: In David's vacuum-cleaner test, the AI noise-cancelling mic suppressed loud mechanical noise, keeping his voice clear for the call recipient.
- Ultra-lightweight comfort: At just 31g, the flexible frame caused no noticeable pressure points during extended wear.
- Minimal sound leakage: Directional anti-leakage speakers kept audio from being noticeably audible to people nearby.
- Long-lasting battery: Delivers up to 12 hours of call time or 15 hours of music playback.
A Noise-Cancelling Mic for Clear Calls
This is the section that matters most for anyone comparing bluetooth headsets for noisy environments — and where David ran his most dramatic test.
- The setup. A dual-mic system with AI voice enhancement, echo reduction, a 210° rotating boom arm, and a dedicated mute button.
- The test. He switched on a Dyson vacuum cleaner, held it running next to himself, and kept talking — a deliberate simulation of the loud mechanical noise that ruins real calls.
- The result. We can hear his voice clearly in the video, as if the vacuum cleaner wasn't even running.
No matter what I'm doing, it's just canceling out the noise and only focusing on my voice.
David reported.
- What it means for you. This makes the Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 a compelling bluetooth headset for loud environments, particularly for remote workers and anyone looking for the best headphones for meetings in noisy environments. The key benefit is for the person on the other end of the call: they can hear your voice more clearly, even when your surroundings are noisy.
A 31g Lightweight Comfort for All-Day Wear
The whole product hangs on one number: 31 grams of soft-touch, skin-friendly silicone. To demonstrate the difference, David compares them with conventional over-ear headphones, which can create pressure around the ears and add weight around the neck.
You just forget that it's there.
This is the verdict of David on the Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2.
The frame helps too. It bends, twists, and springs back into shape, which matters if you wear glasses, a hat, or both — a rigid frame fights all of that, while this one works around it.
An Open Ear Design for Quality Sound and Privacy
Air conduction, not bone conduction. Hear "open-ear" and most people think bone conduction — cheekbone vibrations that leave music sounding thin. The Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 uses air conduction instead: small speakers sit just in front of the ear canal and aim sound into it without blocking anything.
Sound quality. David confirmed the great sound quality after his listening test.
The audio is crisp… there's extra bass presence on certain tracks.
He even pushed the volume well past normal to find the breaking point and reported no distortion.
Less sound leakage. What about people nearby? The directional drivers aim audio toward your ears rather than broadcasting it across the room. David calls this the whisper effect：
The headset is whispering to you, not announcing to the room.
When choosing the best headphones for meetings in a noisy environment, this directional audio design offers another practical advantage: you can listen while still staying aware of your surroundings. For professionals seeking the best office headset, it also strikes a useful balance between focused audio and the flexibility of an open-ear design.
A Practical Look at Everyday Use
As you compare bluetooth headsets for noisy environments, battery life, connectivity, and build quality all matter in everyday use. Here's what David found during his review:
| Aspect | What David found |
|---|---|
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours of calls or 15 hours of music playback；charging takes two hours |
| Price | Around $130 vs. roughly $200 for the Shokz OpenComm 2 |
| Connectivity | Dual-device pairing; calls switch between laptop and phone without re-pairing |
| Dongle | Included USB-A dongle bypasses weak built-in laptop Bluetooth |
| Range | Rated up to 33 ft via dongle; his walk-away proved this |
| Build | Tactile, clicky buttons; USB-C flap feels soft |
And the structural limitation: open ears hear everything. The headset with noise cancelling mic protects your caller from your noisy environment; it does nothing for what reaches your own ears.
Is the Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 Worth Buying?
David's summary is direct:
This is a headset built for calls and meetings first.
For roughly $130, he argues it has no business working this well.
Choose it if you are:
- A remote or hybrid worker juggling laptop meetings and phone calls — multipoint plus the dongle is built for exactly this
- A commuter or coffee-shop caller who needs callers to hear you, not the background, while staying aware of your surroundings
- An open-plan office worker who can't have audio leaking to the desk two feet away
Skip it if you are:
- A focus-seeker in noisy spaces who needs ANC or sealed earbuds to block out surrounding noise.
- A serious athlete looking for a headset with outstanding sweat or water resistance.
- A frequent fast-charger who needs quick top-ups between back-to-back meetings.
FAQ
1. Does a headset with noise cancelling mic also block noise for the wearer?
Not on this one. The AI microphone cleans up what the call recipient hears, while the open-ear design leaves your ears fully exposed. Two different audio paths — don't conflate them.
2. Can people sitting nearby hear my audio?
In the creator's experience, no — even at elevated volume. This makes it a strong contender for the best wireless headset for work, especially among bluetooth headsets for noisy environments.
3. Is it good for running or the gym?
According to David's guess, walking, hiking, or a light jog — fine in his view. Intense training, long races, or swimming — no.
4. Can it stay connected to two devices at once?
Yes — laptop and phone simultaneously, with calls switching automatically. He considers multipoint something every work headset should have.
5. Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 vs. Shokz OpenComm 2: Which Is Better?
He positions it as fuller-sounding (air vs. bone conduction), cheaper (~$130 vs. ~$200 for the OpenComm 2), with newer Bluetooth — but slower to charge. No controlled side-by-side test was performed, and both prices should be verified before you buy.
