| Think all noise cancelling headphones | | | | diminish the potential of your |
| are alike? Do you think there's | | | | entertainment. |
| basically just one use for head phones? | | | | 4. Use when you want to play video or |
| Incorrect! There are many, many uses for | | | | computer games and you want to truly |
| head phones and - more specifically - | | | | become a part of the experience. A |
| for noise canceling headphones. Once | | | | quality set of noise cancelling |
| you start using and wearing them, you'll | | | | headphones will do just that. Many |
| find you won't want to leave home | | | | sporting events become better when the |
| without them. Especially the small and | | | | sound is made to be an integral part of |
| compact earphone style. | | | | the game. This occurs when you forget |
| There are basically two different types | | | | that you're in a busy college dorm or a |
| to choose from...active and passive. | | | | loud apartment building and you actually |
| Active uses electronic circuitry to | | | | feel that you are in the race car or the |
| sense the incoming sounds to lower the | | | | dungeon or the football game (or |
| amount you hear. These are the type | | | | wherever else your game happens to take |
| that are over the ears. One of their not | | | | place. |
| so goods is they require batteries to | | | | 5. They are also great if you are a |
| operate. Passive uses no electricity or | | | | passenger in a car on a long trip and |
| batteries and are the type that go in | | | | have trouble sleeping in the car. The |
| the ear canals to block outside | | | | head phones will cancel out the road |
| sounds....earphones, and to a lesser | | | | noise, the rustling of the map, the |
| degree the type that come with the | | | | sound of the car radio, etc. and you'll |
| Ipod...earbuds. | | | | be able to sleep peacefully. |
| 1. Use these while you're traveling. | | | | 6. Use when your child is learning to |
| Listen to music at a low volume and the | | | | play an instrument. If they are learning |
| circuitry in the headphone will remove | | | | an acoustic instrument, like guitar, |
| any background sound. That way, if you | | | | bass, or keyboards, you can give them |
| need to have some quiet or to get a good | | | | these headphones so they don't hear |
| sleep, this is the ideal way to do it. | | | | other noises (and so no one else can |
| They are ideal for the business traveler | | | | hear them!). You'll have a happy son or |
| who wants a little quiet on a loud | | | | daughter with a good musical ear and |
| airplane (piercing voice?) or wants to | | | | you'll also have peace and quiet in your |
| get a fantastic night sleep in a hotel | | | | house! |
| (why do they always seem to put YOU | | | | 7. So, check out the main manufactuers: |
| beside the party room?). | | | | Shure, Etymotic Research, Ultimate Ears, |
| 2. Use when you have to listen to | | | | Sennheiser, Bose and others. Remember, |
| training and seminars at work when you | | | | to make a great gift for everyone and |
| want the world to yourself, or the | | | | particularly to make a great gift for |
| ringing phones or the sound of the fax | | | | the person who has everything, these are |
| machine. | | | | ideal. For that hard to buy for person |
| 3. Use when you want to hear music or | | | | on your list this year, give them a pair |
| watch movies and you don't want to | | | | of noise cancelling headphones. And if |
| subject others to your entertainment | | | | they listen to music you don't like, you |
| while at the same time you don't want to | | | | can consider it a gift to yourself, too! |
| have to hear other sounds, which will | | | | |