I can barely hear noise from outside. Update : I contacted JBL and they are replacing the unit under the warranty. They are extremely easy to pair, not difficult or too techy to understand how to work them. They stick well and I have not had one fall down yet. However, the strap over the toes was incredibly loose on my feet and theyre nowhere near as comfortable as the OBTBs. Using to hang a bag containing air mattresses. If you transport it, I think I would still use a twistie tie, or velcro fastener to hold it down. It does NOT cover my belly, and I just had a c section. An overall good YA read with very likeable characters and a story to get lost in! I thought I would have!