We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a big, versatile pack of soft silicone earplugs you can use for sleep, swimming, concerts and loud workplaces, choose AXBUS Ear Plugs; if you need replacement soft silicone ear tips that keep a pair of AirPods Pro comfortable and secure for long listening sessions, choose TNSNK 4: Soft Silicone Sleep Earbuds.
• AXBUS Ear Plugs — biggest strength: an NRR 32 noise reduction rating in a soft, washable, reusable silicone plug, sold as a 16-pair pack in four colors with eight corded pairs and individual storage boxes.
• AXBUS Ear Plugs — biggest trade-off: it's a traditional earplug, not a listening device — there's no audio, no charging case and no sizing system, so fit relies on how you shape and seat the silicone.
• TNSNK 4 — biggest strength: four pairs of soft silicone replacement tips in XS/S/M/L with an integrated dust mesh screen, plus a dual-ended cleaning pen and a compact storage case.
• TNSNK 4 — biggest trade-off: it only fits official AirPods Pro 1st/2nd generation — it's an accessory for earbuds you already own, not a standalone sleep product.
• Who should pick AXBUS: anyone who wants to block noise — sleepers, swimmers, concert-goers, students and people in loud workplaces.
• Who should pick TNSNK 4: AirPods Pro owners who want a comfier, more secure seal for extended listening, including overnight.
AXBUS Ear Plugs are the classic "block the world out" answer. The headline number here is NRR 32 — a real noise reduction rating, which is the spec that actually matters when you're trying to sleep next to a snorer, sit through a loud concert, or concentrate in a noisy office. The plugs are made of soft silicone with a shape designed to adjust to your ear, and they're washable and reusable, so one pair isn't a one-night stand; you rinse them, let them dry, and they go back in the little plastic box.
The packaging is where AXBUS gets genuinely practical. You get 16 pairs in four colors, eight of them on cords. That cord detail matters more than it sounds — corded plugs are the ones you can drape around your neck on a plane or at a pool and not lose between uses. Each pair comes individually packed in a storage box, so you can keep one in a nightstand, one in a gym bag, one in a carry-on, and stop playing "where did my earplugs go" at 2 a.m.
Who should buy it: side sleepers who want a quiet room, swimmers and water-sports people (the silicone and waterproof design is explicitly aimed at that), frequent flyers, students in shared housing, and anyone around loud machinery or snoring. Who should skip it: if you want to listen to music, podcasts or white noise while you sleep, this isn't that product — it makes silence, not sound. And if you need a precision fit in specific sizes, note that AXBUS doesn't publish a size range; you get one soft silicone shape and you work it into your ear canal.
TNSNK 4 is a different animal entirely. These are replacement ear tips for the AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd generation (including the 2023 USB-C charging case model), and the brand is explicit that they're only compatible with official Apple devices. If that's your earbud, this set solves the two most common complaints about stock tips: comfort over long sessions and secure seating during movement.
Each tip has an integrated dust mesh screen. That's a small design choice with a big payoff — it keeps earwax and debris from clogging the speaker grill, which is exactly the kind of slow buildup that degrades sound over months. The tips are soft silicone, described as ultra-lightweight, with an ergonomic shape meant to conform to the ear canal for a secure seal. You get four pairs in XS, S, M and L, so you can actually dial in the size instead of guessing, and the set includes a dual-ended cleaning tool: a soft bristle brush on one end, a metal pick and lint loop on the other.
Everything arrives in a compact case, which keeps unused tips protected from loss, damage and dirt — a genuinely thoughtful touch given how easily spare tips vanish into junk drawers. The unit count is listed as 9, the color is white, and there's a one-year warranty description attached.
Who should buy it: AirPods Pro owners who wear their earbuds for hours — work calls, commuting, podcasts in bed — and want a softer, more stable fit with a cleaning kit thrown in. Who should skip it: anyone without AirPods Pro 1st or 2nd gen. It's not a universal tip, and it's not an earplug. If you don't already own those earbuds, this product does nothing for you.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actual noise blocking → AXBUS Ear Plugs. An NRR 32 rating is the whole point; TNSNK tips don't claim a noise reduction rating at all.
• Best for swimming and water sports → AXBUS Ear Plugs. Silicone, waterproof, and corded pairs are built for exactly this.
• Best for AirPods Pro comfort → TNSNK 4. Four sizes from XS to L let you find the seal your stock tips may not have given you.
• Best for hygiene and upkeep → TNSNK 4. The dust mesh screen plus the brush-and-pick cleaning pen is a maintenance kit, not just a pack of tips.
• Best for keeping spares on hand → AXBUS Ear Plugs. 16 pairs in individual boxes means you'll never be caught without a pair.
• Best for travel organization → a tie. AXBUS ships each pair in its own storage box; TNSNK 4 packs everything into a compact case.
• Best for value-per-use → AXBUS Ear Plugs, since one purchase covers sleep, work, travel and swimming rather than one specific earbud.
In my opinion, the honest answer is that these two products aren't really competing — they solve opposite problems. If you're shopping for silence, I'd buy AXBUS Ear Plugs: NRR 32, soft washable silicone, 16 pairs, corded options, and enough spares to keep one everywhere. If you already own AirPods Pro and the tips are the weak link, I'd buy TNSNK 4 instead — the four-size range, dust mesh screen and cleaning pen address comfort and longevity in a way a generic earplug never could. Decide which problem you actually have, then buy that one. And since both are inexpensive accessories where the deal changes often, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to put on silicone earbuds
Soft silicone plugs like AXBUS are meant to be shaped and seated by hand: roll or squeeze the plug slightly, pull your ear up and back to straighten the canal, insert, and hold for a moment while it expands. A proper seal is what delivers the rated noise reduction — a loose plug won't. TNSNK 4 tips work differently: you press the tip onto the AirPods Pro nozzle until it clicks into place, then twist the earbud gently into your ear.
what are the best earbuds to sleep in
There's no single answer, because "best" depends on whether you want silence or sound. For pure noise blocking, soft reusable silicone plugs like AXBUS — rated NRR 32 — are designed for exactly that. If you want to fall asleep to audio, you need earbuds that are comfortable enough to wear for hours, which is where a soft silicone tip upgrade like TNSNK 4 helps.
Yes, in two forms. Traditional sleep earplugs such as AXBUS Ear Plugs physically reduce noise and are the right pick if you want quiet. Listening earbuds are the other route — and if yours are AirPods Pro 1st or 2nd gen, TNSNK 4's soft silicone tips in XS through L are made for extended sessions and a secure overnight seal.
do the TNSNK 4 tips fit any earbuds?
No. TNSNK 4 is designed only for official AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd generation, including the 2023 USB-C charging case version. It won't fit other brands or standard earbuds. If you need general-purpose earplugs rather than tips, AXBUS Ear Plugs are the relevant product instead.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Raycon Fitness Open Ear vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Open, OneOdio A70 vs Black Shark Gaming Headset, Avoxins Ear Plugs vs NVXMANIYK Mini, VIFIGEN Samsung vs Owliwise Kids: Bluetooth Foldable