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