Noise Cancelling Headphones - The Basics of How They Block Unwanted Noise6614379

There are basically 2 kinds of headphones developed to reduce background noise. Passive noise cancelling headphones and noise cancelling app free download. The passive type muffles extraneous sounds while the active ones electronically decrease external noise.

Passive-

Passive noise cancelling headsets use what is known circum-aural sound dampening design. They're shaped like a cup, which surrounds the ear. The rim of the cup consists of a high-density foam and sound wave dampening material. This produces a seal that blocks up to 20 dB of noise.

Active-

The active noise cancellation headphones provide an additional 20dB of noise reduction compared to the passive type. It employs the identical technology (circum-aural sound dampening design) because the passive headphones but in addition incorporates phase cancellation. This is actually the key feature of active noise cancelling headphones. A microphone is positioned inside the headphone that accumulates external noise that the aural cushions from the passive headphones are unable to block out. The phase cancelling technology is able to analyze the intensity and frequency from the pitch, also called the loudness and pitch with the noise. The circuitry then creates a precise replica of the noise and throws it 180 degrees out-of-phase. This, for all intents and purposes, eliminates the sound.

The headphone speaker then plays this "non-sound" along with whatever it is that you are listening to. This artificial noise will be the exact opposite of the extraneous noise that means it is past the ear cushions. They then cancel each other out due to the 180-degree phase reversal. Consequently the external noise is reduced significantly, enabling you to enjoy your audio using a dramatic decline in background noise.

These types of headphones are fantastic for airplanes or anywhere where there quite a bit of external noise. On airplanes, for instance, this type of noise reduction while using the headphones will dramatically reduce fatigue.

Another difference between the two is the active type requires a power source, usually a battery.

Noise cancelling headphones are generally larger and heavier that regular headsets or earphones. They could, however, be more comfortable when worn for long periods of time because of the large cushions that impose less pressure on the ears.