| Most people who have traveled with an MP3 player or | | | | interrupt. The intrusion of additional noise canceling |
| other portable device have had the experience of | | | | sound waves generally has some effect on the overall |
| intruding background noise ruining their listening | | | | music quality that the listener hears but at least for |
| experience. Noise canceling headphones can be a | | | | some of the better models the effect on sound quality |
| way of eliminating much of that interfering noise. | | | | is minimal. |
| How do most headphones reduce noise? | | | | What features will need to be considered when buying |
| Many headphones use a passive means of blocking | | | | noise canceling headphones? |
| out noise to keep it from reaching a listeners ears. | | | | When choosing noise canceling headphones users |
| Both the padding on around-the-ear headphones and | | | | need to determine which style, around-the-ear or |
| the ear canal blocking aspect of earbud style | | | | earbud, they prefer to wear. Comfort is important and |
| earphones can reduce the amount of intrusion. | | | | if a user is irritated with the sensation of an earbud in |
| Blocking noise passively is the primary means of | | | | their ear for instance, around-the-ear or on-the-ear |
| reducing higher pitch sounds and very loud sounds | | | | type headphones would be a better choice. |
| such as explosions. | | | | Like any product, the effectiveness of the various |
| How do noise canceling headphones function | | | | makes and models of noise canceling headphones |
| differently? | | | | varies significantly. Some report a 70% rate of |
| Noise canceling headphones go a step further and | | | | effectiveness and others might be as high as 90%. |
| actively block sound via a microphone placed near the | | | | Considering the technical specifications is important, but |
| ear to identify interfering background noise and a circuit | | | | sometimes hearing is believing so while trying on the |
| which generates a new sound wave that cancels out | | | | headphones to determine comfort, it is advisable to |
| the intruding sound wave from the background. This | | | | also compare effectiveness. |
| does not significantly increase the volume of sound | | | | For most consumers, pricing is also a significant |
| reaching the listeners ear drum and thus does not | | | | consideration. At the low end, some earbud |
| increase the risk of damaging their hearing. | | | | headphones can come in around $20-$50, while at the |
| The active noise cancellation employed by noise | | | | high end spending around $350-$400 is also common. |
| canceling headphones works fairly well in eliminating | | | | For true audiophiles, those that travel in noisy |
| low to mid range frequencies, but are less effective at | | | | environments, and those who find themselves fatigued |
| blocking the sound of a human voice. In many | | | | by noisy crowded environments, noise canceling |
| instances, this is a positive attribute as it allows the | | | | headphones can be a remedy worth considering. |
| wearer to hear those nearby who might need to | | | | |