Active vs Passive Noise Isolation on crowd noise

[JNavas]

Objective: Find better external crowd noise isolation (reduction); e.g., when trying to work in a very noisy coffee bar.
 
Baseline: Comply Isolation foam tips on Xiaomi Hybrid earphones.
 
Procedure: Visited local Bose Showcase store to test active noise cancellation of:

1. QC20 noise cancelling headphones (in ear)
2. QC25 noise cancelling headphones (over ear)

 
Noise Source: Crowd Noise Sound Effect YouTube video on portable player. (Bose store was quiet.)
 
Methodology: Repeatedly compared (a) nothing to (b) baseline to (c) Bose with each ear, noise source at constant loud volume and distance.
 
Results: Subjective assessment of approximate amount of overall noise isolation (reduction):

1. Comply Isolation: 50%
2. Bose QC20: 40%
3. Bose QC25: 30%

 
I was disappointed that Bose active noise cancellation, generally considered the best active noise cancellation, failed to surpass Comply Isolation.
(I have no connection to Comply.)
 
Next Step: I plan to also test Earphones Plus tri level earphone cushions against Comply even though I doubt they will be better at noise reduction.
 
Comments: Invited and welcome.
 
Additional Notes:

• Most testing done without sound in order to best measure amount of isolation (reduction).
• Verified that active noise cancellation was working (audible difference on vs off).