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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• COMPLY 100 — biggest strength: body-heat-activated memory foam that molds to your ear canal for a superior in-ear seal, which improves noise isolation and lets you hear more bass and clarity at lower volumes.
• COMPLY 100 — biggest trade-off: it is not a product on its own. These are replacement ear tips for compatible Etymotic, Westone, Klipsch, ISOtunes Pro and Jays models, so if you do not already own matching earbuds, they do nothing for you.
• Hurdilen 20 — biggest strength: a 32 dB NRR silicone earplug with a trimmable stem and a multi-layer seal — a complete, ready-to-use noise blocker that works for side sleepers, swimmers and travelers.
• Hurdilen 20 — biggest trade-off: it is a passive earplug, not an audio device. There is no music, no mic, no cable — just quiet.
• Who COMPLY 100 is for: someone who already loves their wired IEMs and wants a better fit, less pressure and stronger isolation from them.
• Who Hurdilen 20 is for: someone who wants silence itself — for sleep, swimming, studying or travel — and does not need to listen to anything.
Think of the COMPLY 100 as an upgrade path rather than a finished product. These are black, large, Comply True Memory Foam replacement tips sold in a three-pair pack — six foam tips in total. The core idea is simple: the foam is activated by your body heat, so it softens and expands to fill the shape of your own ear canal instead of forcing your ear to accept a fixed silicone shape. That personalized fit is the whole point.
In practice, that matters most for two complaints. The first is earbud pain and pressure — the kind of ache you get after an hour with hard tips pushing against your canal. The second is slippage. Because the foam conforms and grips, these tips help keep earbuds from working loose during workouts, commutes or long listening sessions. The payoff for noise isolation is real too: a better in-ear seal blocks more background distraction and, as a side effect, makes bass and clarity easier to hear at lower volumes.
Who should buy it? If you own a compatible pair — Etymotic Research ER2XR, ER4SR, hf5, ISOtunes Pro IT-01, Westone, Klipsch or Jays models among others — and you want more isolation and less discomfort from gear you already like, this is a logical, low-risk swap. Who should skip it? Anyone without compatible earbuds, and anyone expecting an all-in-one sleep solution. You must check compatibility before buying, because a foam tip that does not seat on your nozzle is useless. Care is also a small chore: clean them gently with warm water and a soft cloth, and avoid alcohol-based cleaners or lotions, which degrade the foam.
The Hurdilen 20 is the opposite kind of product: nothing to pair, nothing to charge, nothing to plug in. It is a 20-pair set of reusable silicone earplugs in ten colors, each pair in its own storage case, rated at 32 dB NRR. That rating is the headline — it is the kind of reduction designed to take the edge off snoring, traffic, noisy neighbors and even airplane engine drone.
The detail I find most thoughtful is the stem. It is extended so you can trim it with scissors to sit flush with your ear, which is exactly what side sleepers need — no pressure point digging into the pillow when you roll over. The silicone stays soft through the night, and because there is no rolling or waiting for foam to expand, you just insert and give a gentle twist for a seal. Instant quiet.
Beyond the bedroom, the waterproof build opens up swimming, surfing and showering, and the multi-layer structure is designed to create a progressive seal that reduces more noise than standard single-layer or basic foam plugs. Twenty pairs in ten colors is a genuinely practical format: keep a case in the gym bag, the car and the work backpack, and hand spares to family. They are washable and reusable, which makes them a sensible alternative to disposable foam.
Who should buy this? Side sleepers, swimmers, students, frequent flyers and anyone sharing a home with a snorer. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to listen to music, take a call or hear an alarm through their ears — this is a passive plug, and it does not care about your playlist.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for improving earbuds you already own → COMPLY 100. It only makes sense on a compatible model, but on the right one it transforms fit and isolation.
• Best for pure, all-night silence → Hurdilen 20. The 32 dB NRR rating and multi-layer seal are built for blocking sound, not playing it.
• Best for swimming, showering and water sports → Hurdilen 20. The waterproof silicone is made for wet use; the COMPLY 100 tips are not presented as a swimming product.
• Best for all-day comfort with audio → COMPLY 100. Body-heat-activated memory foam is aimed at eliminating pain and pressure while you listen.
• Best for keeping bass and detail at low volume → COMPLY 100. A tighter seal means you do not have to crank the volume to hear the low end.
• Best for sharing and spares → Hurdilen 20. Twenty pairs in ten colors with individual cases is a supply, not a single item.
• Best if you own no compatible earbuds → Hurdilen 20. It works out of the box with zero accessories or compatibility checks.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on whether you want to listen or simply want quiet. If you already own compatible IEMs and your complaint is fit, pressure or weak isolation, I would buy the COMPLY 100 — the memory-foam seal is the fix that makes good earphones feel great. But if your goal is sleep, swimming or escaping noise with no electronics involved, I would buy the Hurdilen 20 instead. It is the more complete, self-contained product: 32 dB NRR, a stem you can trim for side sleeping, waterproof silicone, and twenty pairs to scatter wherever life happens.
are there earbuds for sleeping
Yes. There are two routes. The Hurdilen 20 is a 32 dB NRR silicone earplug designed for sleeping, with a trimmable stem for side sleepers so it sits flush against the pillow. The COMPLY 100 is a different route — memory foam replacement tips that improve isolation and comfort on compatible earbuds you already own, if you prefer to sleep with audio.
what are the best noise cancelling earbuds for sleeping
Strictly speaking, neither of these is an active noise-cancelling product — both rely on passive blocking. Among passive options, the Hurdilen 20 is the more purpose-built sleep choice thanks to its 32 dB NRR rating, multi-layer seal and side-sleeper stem. The COMPLY 100 is the better pick if you want to improve the seal and comfort of compatible earbuds rather than replace them.
can you sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
You can, and plenty of people do, but comfort is the deciding factor. Hard tips pressing on your canal for hours cause soreness, which is why foam like the COMPLY 100 memory foam and the soft, trimmable silicone of the Hurdilen 20 both target pressure relief. The Hurdilen 20 is explicitly designed around side sleeping; the COMPLY 100 helps if you are sleeping with compatible earbuds in.
is it bad to sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
Not inherently, but a few practical things matter. You should be able to hear an alarm, keep the fit comfortable enough to avoid pressure soreness, and keep whatever goes in your ear clean — the COMPLY 100 tips should be washed gently with warm water and a soft cloth, avoiding alcohol-based cleaners, while the Hurdilen 20 plugs are washable and reusable. If comfort or hygiene is a concern, a dedicated plug like the Hurdilen 20 is the simpler answer.
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See also: Rosmas Headphones vs Yatloml Earbuds: Wired Noise Isolating, Yatloml Earbuds vs YINYOO KBEAR K01: Wired Noise Isolating, Hears Sleep Earbuds & vs Exopine 55dB: Noise Blocking Sleep