| It may seem a little silly to describe a pair of | | | | Cheaper active-cancellation headphones may not |
| headphones as soundproof; after all, is not the whole | | | | properly calculate the proper counter-wavelength to |
| point of the system to make sound? However, | | | | cancel out everything you do not want to hear, |
| soundproof headphones are a worthwhile purchase. | | | | producing an audible hiss behind your music that is not |
| Soundproof headphones simply block out all ambient | | | | desirable. Active cancellation headphones also cost |
| noise, making a peaceful den of silence about your | | | | more, both to buy, and to maintain with the cost of |
| ears, leaving nothing but the smooth sound of the | | | | batteries to deal with. However, with some smart |
| headphones themselves. A good pair of soundproof | | | | shopping, high-quality, reasonably priced active sound |
| headphones should be able to block everything from | | | | cancellation headphones are easy enough to find. |
| the humming of computer fans, to the rough play of | | | | The second major method of sound damping comes |
| nearby children. A good pair of soundproof | | | | in the form of passive noise cancellation. Unlike active |
| headphones should be comfortable, able to be worn | | | | noise cancellation, passive cancellation gets rid of |
| for hours. A good pair of soundproof headphones | | | | background noise via noise absorption and deflection. |
| should leave you with no distractions, nothing to | | | | Because all the noise cancellation is caused just by the |
| separate you from complete aural immersion. | | | | headphones' body, no extra batteries or settings are |
| There are two separate philosophies for making a | | | | needed to make them work. Passive noise |
| good pair of soundproof headphones. Some sound | | | | cancellation also tends to be cheaper to produce, and |
| systems use active noise cancellation to make | | | | thus to buy. However, most of these headphones will |
| background noises less prominent. These systems | | | | use tight-fitting ear covers, that may squeeze |
| usually require an extra set of batteries to work, but | | | | uncomfortably and become hot and sweaty, causing |
| the result is well worth the cost. Active noise | | | | discomfort if worn over long periods. Passive |
| cancellation works by analyzing the noise outside the | | | | headphones also tend to be bulky, and heavy, causing |
| headphones, and generating an equally loud sound of | | | | neck discomfort. Finally, passive headphones are not |
| the exact opposite wavelength. This anti-sound is then | | | | sleek, stylish, or discreet. While they are sure to give a |
| played along with the rest of your music, where it will | | | | satisfying level of performance, carrying them around |
| interact with the background noise, canceling it out. | | | | and using the headphones in public might be difficult. |