We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to upgrade the earbuds you already own with a deeper, more isolating seal, choose BLLQ Memory Foam Ear; if you need standalone earplugs built for sleeping on your side, choose HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear. These two products sit in the same aisle but solve completely different problems, and picking the wrong one wastes your time. One is a replacement tip. The other is a sleep tool. Read on and you'll know which side of that line you're on.
• BLLQ Memory Foam Ear's biggest strength: slow-rebound memory foam tips that expand to fill your ear canal, which is exactly what passive noise isolation lives on — plus they stay on the earbud inside the charging case.
• BLLQ Memory Foam Ear's biggest trade-off: it is not a product on its own. You need compatible Soundcore earbuds for these tips to do anything at all.
• HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear's biggest strength: a one-piece silicone design aimed squarely at side sleepers, with four sizes (XS, S, M, L) in the box and a stated 50dB NRR.
• HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear's biggest trade-off: it blocks sound, not plays it. There is no audio, no charging case, no Bluetooth — just quiet.
• Pick BLLQ Memory Foam Ear if you already own Soundcore Life P3/P2/Liberty-series buds and want a better seal for sleep, focus or bass.
• Pick HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear if you want to sleep on your side in silence and don't want anything electronic in your ears.
This is a consumable, not a gadget. BLLQ sells a three-pair set of memory foam ear tips in small, medium and large, made to fit Soundcore Life P3, P2, Liberty 2 Pro, Liberty 2, Liberty 3 Pro and Liberty 3, plus other Soundcore true-wireless models. The whole pitch is the material: foam slowly rebounds and presses outward against the walls of your ear canal, and that outward pressure is what creates a real seal. A good seal is the difference between hearing your podcast and hearing a fan hum over it.
The second thing BLLQ gets right is a detail most people don't think about until they're annoyed by it. These tips are shaped so they fit straight into the charging case without removal. If you've ever owned foam tips that had to be peeled off every night before docking your buds, you know how quickly that ritual gets old. Here you just drop the earbuds in.
The foam also does double duty on sound. A tighter seal means less outside noise leaking in and more low-end staying in, so bass tends to hit harder with foam than with a loose silicone tip. That's the honest case for them: better isolation, better low end, better all-day comfort, less ear soreness from hard plastic pressing on cartilage.
Who should buy it? Anyone who already owns compatible Soundcore buds and finds the stock tips either too shallow, too slippery, or too leaky. Anyone who falls asleep with earbuds in and wants them to stay put. Anyone who works in a noisy room and wants to shave down the background without buying a whole new headset.
Who should skip it? If you don't own Soundcore earbuds, this product does literally nothing for you. If you want earplugs — something that works with zero electronics — this is the wrong purchase entirely. And if you've never gotten along with foam because it feels stuffed or itchy, silicone remains the safer bet.
HeyFir takes the opposite approach: no electronics, no batteries, no app. Just soft, lightweight silicone plugs shaped for people who sleep on their side. The one-piece construction is the detail that matters most here. There are no separate tips to work loose and stay behind in your ear canal, which is a genuinely unpleasant way to start a morning. The plug either comes out as one piece or it doesn't come out at all.
The stated noise reduction rating is 50dB NRR, and the marketing centers on the sounds that actually ruin sleep: a partner's snoring, traffic, roommates, general household noise. Realistically, no plug delivers lab numbers in a real bedroom, but the design intent is clear — reduce the everyday racket enough that you stop waking up. The plugs also let you stay aware of important sounds, which is the sensible middle ground between total silence and no protection at all.
Sizing is where HeyFir earns its keep. The set includes four pairs, one each in XS, S, M and L. That's not padding — fit is everything with earplugs. Too big and your ear aches by 2 a.m. Too small and there's no seal, so you've paid for nothing. Being able to test all four and settle on one is the single most useful thing a plug brand can offer a first-time buyer. XS in particular matters for smaller ear canals, which is a size most budget plugs simply don't stock.
The material is latex-free silicone, which is the right call for sensitive ears, and it's reusable — wash with mild soap and warm water after use and it keeps going. HeyFir is upfront that these are water-resistant but not for swimming or showering, so treat them as dry-land tools. A compact carry case is included, small enough for a pocket or carry-on, which makes them a natural fit for flights, hotels, camping and commutes.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for true noise isolation while sleeping → HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear. A dedicated plug with four sizes and a stated 50dB NRR is built for the job in a way an earbud tip isn't.
• Best if you already own Soundcore earbuds → BLLQ Memory Foam Ear. It upgrades gear you have instead of adding a second product to your nightstand.
• Best for side sleepers → HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear. The soft silicone and one-piece shape are designed around lying on your side; hard earbuds pressing into a pillow are not.
• Best for listening to something at night → BLLQ Memory Foam Ear. HeyFir produces no sound at all, so this isn't close.
• Best for bass and audio quality → BLLQ Memory Foam Ear. A foam seal keeps low frequencies in the ear where they belong.
• Best for fit options → HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear. Four pairs across XS, S, M and L versus BLLQ's S, M and L.
• Best for travel and portability → HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear. It ships with its own compact case and needs no charging.
• Best for replacing worn-out tips → BLLQ Memory Foam Ear. Three pairs means spares, and they stay mounted in the case.
If I had to pick one, I'd pick based on what's already in your drawer. If you own Soundcore Life P3, P2 or a Liberty-series pair, I'd buy the BLLQ Memory Foam Ear tips — they're the cheapest meaningful upgrade to sound and isolation you can make to earbuds you already like, and the case-friendly shape removes the one annoyance that makes people abandon foam. But if your actual problem is that you can't sleep because of noise and you don't want anything electronic in your ears, the HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear plugs are the honest answer. In my opinion, sleepers should start with HeyFir, and earbud owners should start with BLLQ. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit either way.
FAQ
are there earbuds for sleeping
what are the best noise cancelling earbuds for sleeping
It depends on whether you want to hear anything. For pure blocking, the HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear plugs are purpose-built for sleep with soft silicone, a one-piece design and four sizes. For audio plus isolation, BLLQ Memory Foam Ear tips paired with compatible Soundcore earbuds give you a tighter seal and stronger bass than stock tips.
can you sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
Many people do, but comfort is the limiting factor. Hard earbuds press into the pillow when you lie on your side, which is exactly the problem the HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear design targets with soft, lightweight silicone. If you're set on earbuds, foam tips like the BLLQ Memory Foam Ear set tend to be gentler on the ear canal than silicone tips.
is it bad to sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
There's no universal rule, but two practical points matter. Earbuds can cause soreness if they press on your ear during the night, and hygiene matters — the HeyFir Noise Cancelling Ear plugs are washable with mild soap and warm water, while BLLQ Memory Foam Ear tips should be kept clean and replaced when they lose their rebound.
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