Years before any prototype existed, Janne, the mind behind QuietOn, stood in the middle of a noisy Beijing airport and tried active noise‑cancelling headphones for the first time. The world disappeared. “It felt great. My pulse slowed, my mood improved. I just stood there listening to the lack of noise.”
He never bought the headphones, but the idea of meaningful silence stayed with him. When Nokia’s cellphone production ended, that memory resurfaced. What if the calming silence he felt could be delivered in a form small enough to sleep with? He shared the idea with his friend Matti —skeptical but curious—and that curiosity became the spark.
Prototypes Built with Hot Glue and Determination
The early prototypes weren’t built in a lab. With no 3D printer available, they used hot glue and nail polish to shape the first tiny electronics capable of real active noise cancellation. And surprisingly, they worked—matching the performance of some of the best noise‑cancelling devices at the time, but now in a size small enough for the ear.
Originally created for travelers, the team soon discovered a much bigger need: sleep. Traditional earplugs failed to block low‑frequency noises—snoring, traffic hum, thin‑wall neighbors—yet their small ANC device could. It became clear they were building more than noise‑cancelling ear plugs; they were building sleep‑saving sleep buds.
Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well
From day one, the philosophy was simple: do one thing and do it exceptionally well.
Dozens of shapes were tested. Millimeter‑level adjustments were made. Each tweak required new acoustic, durability, and pressure tests. And user feedback guided every change. Messages like “Thank you for saving our marriage” reminded the team that these weren’t just gadgets—they were lifelines.
QuietOn’s vision Meets Real‑World Needs
User insights reshaped every detail. Discomfort from rotation, unclear markings, swelling foam tips, wax buildup—every challenge led to a redesign. The new natural oval ear shape created a stable fit, enabling better low‑frequency noise blocking. Improved Comply foam tips, moisture resistance, and wax guards responded directly to what sleepers asked for.
Because poor sleep isn’t a small problem. “Lack of sleep affects your joy, your health, your ability to function.”
For many users, inserting the earbuds feels like entering a personal safe space—portable silence that travels with them.
QuietOn 4: The Quietest, Smallest, Most Comfortable Yet
The latest version, QuietOn 4, continues this evolution. It’s the smallest and most comfortable model yet, designed specifically as noise‑cancelling sleep earbuds for side sleepers and light sleepers alike. With ergonomic oval design, upgraded foam tips, better moisture protection, and wax guards, it stays clean, comfortable, and quiet through the entire night.
It’s not just about blocking noise—it’s about truly resting.
Looking Back—and Forward
QuietOn’s journey—from a silent moment in an airport to hand‑built prototypes—has always been about creating meaningful silence. User stories still fuel the mission, and Janne’s guiding principle remains unchanged: “Let’s make this earbud exceptionally small with great battery life, and keep improving comfort and performance.”
The goal is still the same: do one thing exceptionally well—and help people sleep.
