Noise Cancelling Headphones - The Basics of How They Block Unwanted Noise7304451

There are basically two kinds of headphones designed to reduce background noise. Passive noise cancelling headphones and app for noise cancelling. The passive type muffles extraneous sounds even though the active ones electronically decrease external noise.

Passive-

Passive noise cancelling headsets use what is called circum-aural sound dampening design. They are shaped like a cup, which surrounds the ear. The rim of the cup is made of a high-density foam and sound wave dampening material. This results in a seal that blocks as much as 20 dB of noise.

Active-

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

The headphone speaker then plays this "non-sound" in addition to whatever it is that you're listening to. This artificial noise will be the exact opposite with the extraneous noise that makes it past the ear cushions. Then they 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 kinds of headphones are fantastic for airplanes or anywhere where there is a lot 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 would be that the active type needs a power source, often a battery.

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