If your headphones are plugged in, the background noise of moving vehicles (continuous horn) or the roar of an airplane engine can bother you. Wear something universal like Noise canceling headphones can save you from embarrassment. Here is an article describing exactly what noise canceling headphones are best suited to your needs and needs – and how do they work?
What are ear muffs?
As the name suggests, the noise cancellation headset is an audio technology that creates silence rather than noise. These devices are specially designed to prevent sound waves from reaching your ears. As such, the earmuffs, when plugged in, create an exceptionally comfortable and relaxing listening environment in very noisy areas.
How do earmuffs work?
Noise canceling headphones have an integrated audio processor that detects sounds and produces the opposite wave pattern. This reverse or reverse wave pattern sent by the driver of your helmet cancels the intrusive sound wave. Unlike mobile phones, noise-canceling headphones do not emit any radiation. So, they do not really represent a threat that may arise from the frequent use of a mobile phone and are therefore safe for use.
In general, there are 3 types of noise earmuffs that are used interchangeably, but have subtle differences.
- Headphones with passive noise cancellation technique
- Headphones with active noise canceling technique
- Headphones with adaptive noise canceling technique
Here are some key points to remember to choose the one that suits you best.
Headphones with passive noise cancellation technique
These helmets are based more on a phenomenon called "noise isolation". This is the most common type of noise suppression technique available in the helmets. The helmet is designed so that its shape and the materials used prevent the noise from reaching your ears. The extra padding acts as a cushion to form a strong seal around your ears.
Headphones with passive noise suppression technology work best in conditions requiring the isolation of irregular and high frequency sounds. Although very effective, they are bulky. So, if you're looking for a lighter and better alternative, try noise-canceling headphones.
Headphones with Active Noise Suppression (ANC)
Like passive noise cancellations, ANC earphones also use their shape and design to reduce external noise. In addition to that, they use advanced technology. For example, it has a small built-in audio processor, which detects and analyzes the sound pattern of the incoming noise, and suppresses noise by generating a "noise-canceling" mirror signal. Basically, these headphones emit a wave that is the direct inverse of what it captures. The peaks and troughs of the sound waves generated during the process meet and cancel each other, giving a flat line.
If you travel a lot, the ANC earphones are the perfect tool to help you feel the silence, even in the roar of an airplane engine or in heavy traffic. In addition, these headphones can help you focus or sleep in these environments.
That said, there is a lack associated with these earphones: the ANC earphones require a battery to activate their noise reduction function. The added component leads to an increase in price and weight.
Headphones with adaptive noise reduction technique
Adaptive noise suppression is an alternative technique for estimating signals corrupted by noise or additive interference. This technique is relatively new in the helmet industry. It differs from the old one in that it adjusts the intensity of the cancellation depending on the level and type of ambient noise. Thus, the noise cancellation is high (loud) when the background noise is strong (rumbling train) and small when the background noise is low (background noise, little cries of baby).
If your headset has this technology, it is advisable to activate this mode. In addition, some applications even allow you to fine-tune the settings and set the desired noise suppression level. The disadvantage of the adaptive noise suppression technique is that the higher the noise suppression level, the more aggressively the sound is cleaned up. This has a negative impact on the quality of the voice.
In total, the utility of these noise canceling headphones largely depends on what you intend to do with your headphones and where you want to use them. They are not perfect because they can not create silence or completely eliminate the noise, but simply reduce it. Some of the best are available here on Amazon.