11/17/2012

Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Perform?

By Allan F. Sansone


Noise-cancellation - a typical enough term. We've all heard of it, and it appears like an ideal idea. But exactly how do noise-cancellation headphones really work? They don't simply block the sound - that is what regular headphones do. Just how do they do it?

Everything relies on sound waves. The headphones have mics that catch the sound waves as they reach your ear, after which electric circuitry generates an "antinoise" signal. This signal is definitely an inverted copy of the original sound wave, which in turn travel together in your ear. The waves interfere with one another, known as destructive interference, and no sound gets to your ear.

So why bother? It seems a little excessive, right? Regular headphones perform a pretty good job of blocking the sound. Even if your own surroundings are noisy, you can just turn your headphones' volume up, right? Nicely, yes, obviously you can. But when you're on an airplane, trying to rest next to the roaring engines, and you have an option between turning up the volume - significantly - and cancelling the noise entirely, what would you select?

Also, if you think about it, you are doing oneself a favor. Any time you turn up your headphones to cover up the exterior sound, you harm your own ears just a bit more. You know how whenever you walk out of a concert plus your ears are usually ringing? That's damage to your eardrums. So, rather than turning up the volume, you need to cancel out the ambient noise, and also save your hearing. Eventually, you'll be thankful later.

For me personally, I've no need for noise-cancelling headphones. I am not constantly around loud noises, as with the city, so regular earphones are adequate. But then again, I reside in a small town. Possibly someone within San Francisco, or New York, or even Los Angeles will find the occasion to utilize them far more than I would. It all depends upon what you're looking for.

An additional substitute is definitely the happy medium - noise-reducing headphones, which usually still block a great amount of ambient noise. They don't require electric batteries, are lighter, plus, of course, are far less pricey, while retaining high quality sound. As the noise-cancelling headphones and also the regular headphones have their own niches, the noise-reducing headphones are ideal for any occasion.

Then again, next time I am on an airplane, I believe I'll be yearning for the noise-cancelling earphones all the same.




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